Andy Hinchcliffe makes Leeds United promotion admission – ‘No disrespect’
Leeds United are back in pole position to secure the Championship title after their 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
The Whites bounced back from a run of just one win in six matches to take advantage of Sheffield United and Burnley dropping points on 8 April.
There had been speculation surrounding Daniel Farke’s job after that miserable run, but now, the focus at Elland Road is firmly on securing a place in the Premier League next season.
Leeds labelled as promotion favourites after Boro victory
Leeds are now the favourites for promotion to the top-flight after a remarkable turnaround at the summit of the second tier.
Former England international turned Sky Sports pundit, Andy Hinchcliffe, believes that the Whites will get the job done and that they are the best side in the division.
Speaking on the Essential EFL podcast (10 April), he said: “I’ve always said, and my confidence in them hasn’t wavered, I said it is Leeds plus one. Leeds are the best side.
“You look at their performances, look at their dominance of the ball, the chances of goals they’ve scored, the goals they’ve conceded.
“They are the best team, comfortably the best team in the league, the best team to watch as well.
“So that’s no disrespect to Burnley and Sheffield United. If they finish above Leeds and go up, well done.”
Championship promotion race still has twists and turns for Leeds
Farke’s side needs to stay concentrated and ensure that the win over Boro was not a one-off, as there are still plenty of twists left before Premier League football is guaranteed.
The Elland Road outfit cannot afford to revert back to the form that saw their five-point lead at the top wiped out and them drop to third-place before Tuesday’s results.
| Championship | Played | GD | Points |
| 1. Leeds United | 41 | +52 | 85 |
| 2. Burnley | 41 | +43 | 85 |
| 3. Sheffield United | 41 | +25 | 83 |
Leeds will have been relieved to get back to winning ways, but they cannot allow complacency to creep in as the season comes to a close and need key players such as Dan James to stand up and be counted in the final few weeks of the campaign.
They have a favourable fixture list, with only one match against a top-half team, the clash with Bristol City on 28 April, but they cannot take their foot off the gas until the job is complete and they are a Premier League team again.
If they slip up, they could be resigned to the playoffs and a heartbreak that would arguably be worse than last season’s playoff final defeat to Southampton, given how dominant they have been this time around.