As Leeds United hosts second-place Ipswich Town at Elland Road on Saturday, Sky Sports Pundit Andy Hinchcliffe claims Leeds will be “worried” about the newly promoted side.
Leeds are currently occupying third place in the Championship after their recent relegation from the Premier League. However, Daniel Farke and his side find themselves ten points adrift from the automatic spots, whose occupant Ipswich they face next in the league.
After a slow start to the campaign with just one win in their first five matches, the Yorkshire side have found themselves chasing the runaway leaders from the beginning. And despite remaining unbeaten at Elland Road, they still have a sizable gap between themselves and guaranteed promotion.
In their last two matches, The Whites dropped points back-to-back to both Sunderland and Coventry City, the first time they’ve not won in any two-game period since August. A three-game streak of two draws and a loss which they put an end to with a 4-3 win over The Tractor Boys at Portman Road.
The last time out was a feisty end-to-end affair and the only difference between the two sides proved to be Leeds’ superior quality in the final third. Leeds bagged their four goals from just a 1.63 xG, compared to the home side’s 2.47 xG which they could only produce the three goals from.
Despite being successful last time out, Sky Sports Andy Hinchcliffe believes the West Yorkshire outfit will be “worried” about high flying Ipswich this weekend. Speaking to Sky Sports News he claimed:
“(About Ipswich) They’ve proved what ability they have in the games they have played so far. They’ve got nothing to prove in those games with Leeds and Leicester.
“I do think the Leeds game is more important… It’s about keeping Leeds a fair number of points behind them.”
He continued about the upcoming game this weekend, he said. “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.
“Leeds and Leicester will be worried about playing Ipswich. Just because they drew with Norwich, there won’t be any fear from them.”
Following the big clash between promotion contenders, Leeds will travel to Preston North End on Boxing Day. Meanwhile, Ipswich will have to play host to league leaders Leicester City in another huge promotion clash.
Writer’s View
This is a must-win game for Leeds, a win in both their next two could bring them as close as four points behind Ipswich, whilst a loss versus Kieran McKenna’s side would leave them with a fairly insurmountable thirteen points gap.
Daniel Farke will however be wary of Ipswich’s quality on the break as he looks to achieve a third Championship automatic promotion of his managerial career, his other two coming with Ipswich’s rivals Norwich City.
