EFL announcement major boost for Leeds United but will break hearts at Millwall
Leeds United are in one of the tightest title and automatic promotion races in the Championship’s recent history as they continue to go toe to toe with Leicester City and Ipswich Town.
The battle at the top of the table couldn’t be much closer at this stage of the season and the next few weeks of the season could prove decisive as Daniel Farke’s side hope that the Foxes or the Tractor Boys blink first.
With one game to go before the March international break, the Whites will be hoping to go into those fixtures in the automatic promotion places and a win over Millwall on Sunday (17 March) will guarantee that.
A new announcement from the EFL may have boosted Leeds’ hopes of claiming all three points against Neil Harris’ side after they confirmed on its website (11 March) that Stephen Martin will be the referee for Sunday afternoon’s clash.
Will Leeds United remain in the automatic promotion places and return to the Premier League?
While some would question whether or not the appointment of a referee could actually give Leeds United an upper hand in Sunday night’s clash, the Whites’ record when Martin has taken control of fixtures has been incredible.
Leeds have won seven of their eight matches when the Englishman has taken charge and they have never tasted defeat, drawing their only other game to give Farke’s side plenty of confidence ahead of their showdown with Millwall, according to Transfermarkt.
Alternatively, Harris’ side has been officiated by Martin on 18 occasions, winning 50 per cent of those matches, drawing on three occasions and tasting defeat in six matches.
When these two sides met earlier in the season, the Whites were made to battle for three points but impressed at The Den to boost their hopes of promotion in the early stages of the campaign.
Millwall have won three of their last four matches and have yet to lose since Harris returned to East London, but if Leeds want to pip Ipswich and Leicester to the top two this term, these are the sort of games they simply have to win.
Hopefully, Farke’s side will claim all three points at Elland Road on Sunday and their good luck charm of Martin will give them the upper hand ahead of kick-off.
In other Leeds United news, a minor injury has ruled one Whites star out of first-team training with Farke’s side at Thorp Arch
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