Boost for Leeds as automatic promotion rivals lose key player for big game

It's still tight at the top of the Championship. Just one point separates Leeds United and West Brom, with six points between Brentford and the Whites. 

All of the top four won over the weekend and it means that Leeds fans are still chewing their fingernails.

Leeds play last in the next round of fixtures that start on Tuesday night. Fulham travel to Forest in the first game on Tuesday, with Brentford and West Brom playing on Wednesday.

West Brom host Derby County and the Rams are homing in on the play-offs.

That's a tricky game and the Baggies will be without key player Ahmed Hegazi who was sent off in the 4-2 win against Hull.

The centre-back has played every minute of every game for West Brom since the season resumed, but he picked up a second yellow card late on in the 4-2 win on Sunday against Hull.

That's a sizeable blow for Slaven Bilic for a Derby game that was already looking tough.

Derby have won three and drawn one (against Forest) since the return and that's got them to within three points of the play-offs.

They can't afford to lose again and we think this is a potential banana skin for West Brom.

The real focus might be on third at the moment but staying ahead of West Brom now is massive.

We think it's two from three, with Brentford now putting up the last challenge from the pack, and keeping our noses ahead of West Brom could be critical.

Marcelo Bielsa, by contrast, should have a full squad to pick from (minus long-term injured Adam Forshaw), with Stuart Dallas and Helder Costa expected to be fit.

In other Leeds United news, Bielsa to make key change in huge call, hero drops out – Predicted Leeds XI v Stoke