Leeds United clash v QPR predicted by Sky Sports pundit as ‘question marks’ arise
David Prutton has shared his prediction ahead of the Championship clash between Queens Park Rangers and Leeds United at Loftus Road on Friday (26 April).
Leeds come into the match off the back of a 4-3 victory over Middlesbrough, their first win in four attempts, and could go four points clear of Ipswich Town to consolidate their place in the top two.
Leeds now head to Loftus Road for their penultimate match of the season against a QPR side who defeated Preston 1-0 last time out, and speaking on Sky Sports’ Championship predictions podcast, Prutton is giving Daniel Farke’s side the edge to win 2-1.
“It’s been crunch time for a while but I think that result (against Middlesbrough), Leeds really needed it”, Prutton said.
“I don’t think it will be an easy trip for Leeds even though they have a very decent squad, which seems to have bounced back to goalscoring form at just the right time. Defensively there’s a couple of question marks from the Boro game, and a big helping hand from a (offside) decision for Willy Gnonto’s goal.”
Given this game’s permutations at the top end of the table, Prutton added: “I’m sure if you’re a Leicester fan, you’ll be watching that praying for a Whites slip up, but I can’t really see it. I’m going Leeds to win 2-1.”
Leeds, Leicester and Ipswich set for promotion shoot-out
Leeds United kick off a pivotal weekend in the Championship promotion race when they head to QPR on Friday night, in the first game of several which could have huge ramifications going into the final day.
A victory for QPR would see Leicester promoted without having to kick a ball, due to their four-point advantage over Leeds at the summit following a 5-0 thrashing of fourth-placed Southampton.
While a Leeds win in west London would see them move up to 93 points, one behind Leicester and four clear of Ipswich in third, the Tractor Boys will then have two games in hand on Leeds – against play-off chasing Hull and Coventry.
Should they win both of those matches, they’ll go above Leeds (and potentially Leicester) into the automatic promotion places, leaving the Peacocks’ fate out of their own hands by matchday 46.
Leeds will be hoping that Hull and Coventry both have enough gas left in the tank to take some points off Ipswich, but the Whites still have a job to do themselves, and a win over QPR would put the pressure back on Ipswich’s shoulders to make the most of their games in hand.
Anything other than a Leeds win, however, would certainly cause some panic in parts of West Yorkshire. The Whites have been here before and faltered at the final hurdle, but with promotion specialist Farke in charge, can Leeds get over the line?
In other Leeds United news, a teenage starlet looks set to snub Manchester United in order to move to Elland Road.
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