Patrick Bamford makes prediction on Leeds United automatic promotion race in the Championship
Leeds United star Patrick Bamford is predicting five or six clubs will be gunning for automatic promotion from the Championship this season.
The Whites have had a solid start to their league campaign so far, sitting fifth in the table with 16 points, three behind league leaders Sunderland after failing to beat the Black Cats in their previous fixture.
Several sides have started the season well and outlined their credentials to be challenging at the top end of the table and Bamford believes it will remain that way throughout the campaign.
Speaking on The EFL Podcast (9 October), Bamford said: “I think it’s going to be another close league again. If anything, this year could even be a bit harder than last year because there’s probably five or six teams who could go for the top two positions. Hopefully, we are one of them.”
Leeds need to beat the teams around them
Daniel Farke’s side are yet to pick up three points against any of the sides who currently occupy the top six spots.
Defeat to Burnley and draws away to West Brom and most recently Sunderland are a big factor as to why Leeds currently sit fifth, albeit one win away from potentially topping the table.
In the short term, it’s not a particularly big concern, especially if points are accumulated elsewhere, however, results like that could prove to be detrimental towards the end of the season should the trend continue, especially if those around them continue to pick up big results.
The conclusion of the international break will provide a huge opportunity for Farke’s men to put an end to their winless run against the top six when they face second-placed Sheffield United on 18 October.
However, failure to win that game could ramp up the pressure on Farke whose side could drop down to ninth depending on results elsewhere.
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