Burnley star makes ‘dream’ Leeds United admission
Leeds United are locked in a brutal promotion battle with Sheffield United and Burnley as the Championship season grinds to a close.
The Whites are top of the second tier but are level of points with the Blades and just two points ahead of the Clarets.
The final two months of the campaign will be full of twists and turns but Daniel Farke must ensure that his side come out on top and secure a Premier League berth next season.
Connor Roberts makes Leeds promotion admission
Roberts spent last season at Leeds, making 14 appearances in the Championship as the Elland Road outfit fell just short of promotion.
The 29-year-old has been a key player for Scott Parker’s side this season, making 33 appearances in a league campaign that has seen the Lancashire outfit concede just 11 goals.
The Wales international has stated that his preference would be for Chris Wilder’s side to miss out on automatic promotion due to his affiliation with the Whites.
In quotes reported by Burnley Express (21 March), he said: “If I’m being honest, I would love for them to get promoted and us to get promoted as well. That is the dream when the whistle goes on that last game of the season.”
Leeds need to ensure they are on top form
Farke must ensure that his side are on top form in the final few weeks of the campaign, otherwise they will have to settle for a playoff berth, which historically has not gone well for them.
Leeds have never been promoted via the playoffs and lost the final to Southampton last season in a heartbreaking end after missing out on automatic promotion despite finishing on 90 points.
| Leeds’ Playoff final record | Result |
| Southampton (2023/24) | 1-0 (L) |
| Doncaster (2007/08) | 1-0 (L) |
| Watford (2005/06) | 3-0 (L) |
| Charlton (Premier League v Championship, 1986/87) | 3-2 (L, on aggregate) |
If they are to avoid a similar fate, the Whites must improve their away record in the final stages of the campaign as it is drastically worse than their form at Elland Road.
They have dropped points in 11 matches on the road (drawn eight, lost three) compared to just four at home (drawn three, lost one).
With four matches away from home in the run-in, Farke must ensure that his side can end their away hoodoo, otherwise the Blades and the Clarets may very well overhaul them and they may suffer the same anguish as they did last year.