Leeds United promotion verdict made as Simon Jordan shares ‘fascinating’ playoff prediction
Simon Jordan and Martin O’Neill have suggested Leeds United could struggle to earn promotion via the playoffs this season if they miss out on automatic promotion.
With a place in the playoffs now looking more likely than automatic promotion, Jordan claimed it would be “fascinating” to see how sides in the competition cope with their mixed form.
While nothing is sealed yet, the 4-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers opened the door for Ipswich to take advantage, with Leeds’ future no longer in their own hands.
Speaking live on talkSPORT [29 April, 11:45], Jordan explained: “What’s going to be fascinating if Leeds do miss out is that none of the teams in the playoffs spots have got any momentum.
“Sheffield Wednesday have just spanked West Brom, Southampton have lost their way all of a sudden, Leeds have fallen on their own swords and taken defeat from the jaws of victory. The only one that’s holding water is Norwich.”
O’Neill then weighed in: “Leeds United a month ago were thinking about automatic promotion. They were on this charge, doing brilliantly, looking as if they could get goals at any given stage. But now they might miss out.
“If you are so close but miss out, you go into the playoffs on a bit of a downer so you have to get your minds set and go again.”
Leeds United promotion precision emerges amid playoff claim
Given Leeds’ current place in the Championship table, sitting in second, talk of the playoffs may be slightly premature in a season which has already proven anything can happen with all clubs experiencing inconsistent form.
However, their fate has been taken out of their hands. If Ipswich take all three points from their game in hand, they will move three ahead of Leeds in the table, meaning all they have to do is match their rivals’ result on the final day to achieve promotion.
This would condemn Leeds to the playoffs where, historically, they have struggled – adding further credibility to the claims made by Jordan and O’Neill that Daniel Farke’s side may fail to gain promotion this season.
Should they fall into a playoff place, Leeds’ most likely opponents will be West Brom or Norwich, who would head into the playoffs full of confidence against a side that, as Jordan and O’Neill shared, has dropped off at the worst possible time.
In other Leeds United news, fans will fear immediate relegation if they are promoted this season.
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