Niall Quinn shares 'Fear' of Leeds United live on air in new promotion verdict
Leeds United are the team most likely to usurp Sunderland at the top of the Championship this season, according to Niall Quinn.
Speaking on talkSPORT with Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist (29 October, 7:55am), Quinn said that despite Sunderland's flying start to the new season, the Whites and Burnley are well-placed to catch them.
Daniel Farke's side surrendered two points at the Stadium of Light after Illan Meslier's late howler on 4 October, leaving them five points behind the league leaders and level on points with Burnley in second.
Quinn said: "Let's be honest – Leeds I think look very strong.
"I think they were really unfortunate not to come away with the three points at the Stadium of Light a few weeks ago, and they'll be up there.
"You know when the heel of the hunt arrives, they'll be knocking on the door, and certainly I would fear them, possibly more so than Burnley."
Leeds United need to keep up the pressure on Sunderland
While this season hasn't seen a side start anywhere near as well as Leicester City and Ipswich Town did 12 months ago, Sunderland have still set the pace and the benchmark for others to catch up with.
Even if the Peacocks had beaten them at the Stadium of Light earlier this month, other results would still leave the Black Cats top on 27 points, albeit just two clear of Farke's side on what would be 25.
Regardless, with 34 games still to go for both sides, and Burnley who are currently sandwiched between them in the table, there are 102 points to play for and a match-up at Elland Road to come in February.
Midway through last term, the Whites had a 17-point gap to Leicester at the summit, which they closed with a superb run of form before falling by the wayside in the final, decisive matches of the campaign.
No such chasm exists at this stage of the new season, and that will give Farke confidence that his side have exactly what it takes to seize the initiative by keeping pace with Sunderland for the time being.
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