Leeds, Sunderland promotion chances updated by supercomputer after Elland Road clash
Leeds United have been battling it out with Sunderland all season to achieve automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
Leeds secured a crucial win against Sunderland on Monday night (17 February), giving them an even bigger advantage in the race to get promoted.
Dan James impressed yet again as the Whites secured a 2-1 win, and moved seven points clear of third-placed Burnley, heading into the final 13 games of the campaign.
That gap is certainly a healthy one, but not one that is unsalvageable and Leeds must remain consistent with some huge games coming up against Sheffield United and West Brom.
Championship promotion race forecasted by supercomputer
It doesn’t take a supercomputer to know that the win at Elland Road provided Leeds with a massive boost towards their hope of a Premier League return, nor does it take that to know that Sunderland took a huge hit in theirs.
However, the latest predictions are certainly telling, with a much clearer picture now painted heading into the latter stages of the season.
Via Opta Analyst (18 February), Leeds now have a remarkable 77.14 per cent chance of winning the title, with a 95.3 per cent chance of achieving promotion.
The story is very different for Sunderland, who now have a 0.48 per cent chance of finishing top of the Championship, and just a 4.82 per cent chance of automatic promotion.
Daniel Farke’s side are forecasted to finish on 98 points, 15 above Sunderland.
Leeds cannot let this slip now
Leeds are in excellent form and it seems as though no one is able to stop them at the moment, but that could change when they travel to Bramall Lane to face another promotion rival in Sheffield United.
With it looking like there are now only three teams involved in the automatic promotion race, a win in Sheffield would be another huge result, while a loss would be a blow of minor margins.
Consistency will be key for Leeds at this stage in the season and finding a way to win is essential, just as they did against the Black Cats.