Leeds promotion chances predicted by supercomputer after huge win v Preston
Leeds United have returned to the top of the Championship table after their 2-1 win over Preston on Saturday.
Burnley had leapfrogged the Whites into first place with their 2-1 victory against Norwich on Friday, but Daniel Farke’s men now sit at the summit once again with just four games left to play.
Leeds took an early lead against Preston thanks to Manor Solomon, but Kaine Kesler-Hayden equalised for the visitors just two minutes later.
However, the West Yorkshire giants bagged all three points courtesy of Jayden Bogle’s winner and should now be confident of winning promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds are all but certain to clinch promotion
Crucially for Farke and Co, the Whites’ win over Preston was coupled with Sheffield United’s shock defeat at relegation-threatened Plymouth.
The Blades now sit third in the Championship table, five points behind the automatic promotion spots occupied by Leeds and Burnley.
Opta’s supercomputer has now outlined that Farke’s men now have a 98.2 per cent chance of winning promotion back to the Premier League.
Alongside that, they have a 65.4 per cent chance of the title, with Sheffield United only having an 8.4 per cent chance of finishing in the top two.
Promotion race is in Leeds United’s hands
Leeds recently slipped from the top of the Championship table and into third place when they managed just one win in six attempts before their victory over Middlesbrough on Tuesday 8 April.
The Whites faithful will have been worried that Farke’s men would end up in the playoffs rather than winning automatic promotion.
| Championship table (top three) | Games played | Goal difference | Points |
| 1 Leeds | 42 | 53 | 88 |
| 2 Burnley | 42 | 44 | 88 |
| 3 Sheffield Utd | 42 | 24 | 83 |
However, Farke’s side have turned things around with two wins in two after the crucial victory over Preston.
Contrastingly, Sheffield United have now endured three consecutive defeats, as their Saturday’s poor result at Plymouth followed back-to-back losses at the hands of Oxford and Millwall.
To keep their high promotion chances intact, Leeds must now only worry about their results and maintaining their strong vein of form.
Favourably for the West Yorkshire giants, Sheffield United and Burnley still have to face each other on Monday, 21 April.
The Whites’ next game could prove fruitful too, as the Elland Road club clash with Oxford, who are still threatened by relegation.