Andy Hinchcliffe makes ‘worried’ Leeds United and Leicester City claim ahead of Ipswich Town games
Andy Hinchcliffe insists Leeds United “will be worried” about facing Ipswich Town this weekend in a huge showdown at the top end of the Championship.
Leeds failed to take advantage of Ipswich’s 2-2 draw with neighbours Norwich City at the weekend as they were themselves held 1-1 by Coventry City.
The Whites enter Saturday’s (23 December) contest at Elland Road third in the table, 10 points adrift of Ipswich in the second and final automatic promotion spot.
Ipswich follow up the Leeds match with a home game against leaders Leicester City, but Hinchcliffe believes they will enter both matches feeling fearless.
“To me, they proved what ability they have in the games they have played so far,” he told Sky Sports News [19 December, 10:48am]. “They’ve got nothing to prove in those games with Leeds and Leicester.
“I do think the Leeds game is more important because Leicester will probably run away with the title. It’s about keeping Leeds a fair number of points behind them.
“I’m going to Elland Road on Saturday and I can’t wait for it. It’ll be a very exciting game with both sides going for it. But Ipswich, if they were to win or even lose both of them, it would not change my view of them.
“They’ve followed on from how they played in League One, so Leeds and Leicester will be worried about playing Ipswich. Just because they drew with Norwich, there won’t be any fear from them.”
Make or break
If Leeds are serious about going up automatically this season – and that has to be the aim – then beating Ipswich on home soil this week is surely a must.
The Tractor Boys have been superb all season long in their pursuit of successive promotions, whereas a slow start to the campaign has left Leeds playing catch up.
After a run of six wins and a draw from seven matches, the Whites have taken just one point from games with Sunderland and Coventry.
It means that the pressure is now on Daniel Farke’s men for the visit of Ipswich, who will likely target all three points at Elland Road as that is just what they do.
Should United come out on top, all of a sudden there will be pressure on Ipswich as they also have that game with Leicester to come.
If the gap stands at seven points come the end of the weekend, United will have every chance of finishing in the top two. A 13-point margin, though, and it is game over.
In other Leeds United news, a journalist has shared an unseen Joe Rodon moment from after the draw with Coventry as it all “kicked off”.