When you take the promotion race out of the equation, you would have to say that Leeds United’s easiest remaining fixture may actually come against Southampton.
Obviously, the Saints are the best side of the three. However, Sunderland and Blackburn have now shown Middlesbrough and Queens Park Rangers how surprisingly easy it can be to stop Leeds.
We appear to have run out of steam at the worst possible time. And with that, Daniel Farke now needs to give some serious thought to springing a few surprises over the next few games.
Of course, it would be a gamble to rest the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter. But based on their last two performances, it would be a risk to stick with the same system and most of the same personnel.
Leeds have become too predictable. With that, many will want to see the likes of Connor Roberts, Ilia Gruev, Willy Gnonto and Mateo Joseph in the starting lineup at the Riverside Stadium. Funnily enough, none of the quartet played the full 90 minutes against Blackburn.
But perhaps there is another player who deserves the chance to be Leeds’ wildcard in the final three games.
Joe Gelhardt could yet be the answer as Leeds toil in promotion race
Any Leeds fan may have felt a sense of disappointment whenever there was a throw-in on the near side in yesterday’s game, as the camera would often show Joe Gelhardt in the background, warming up on the touchline.
Gelhardt has not played a single minute in the Championship since February. He has been an unused substitute in five of the last 10 league games.
It is sad to see the 21-year-old completely out of the picture. And it does appear to be ominous for his future at Leeds.
But we know what Gelhardt can do. Of course, the highlight came when he scored a stoppage-time winner against Norwich in 2022.
But few will forget that run which won Leeds a penalty against Wolves in 2021, when he glided past Ruben Neves and a couple of his teammates.
Meanwhile, there was an amazing assist for Pascal Struijk against Brighton. Gelhardt audaciously lifted the ball over Lewis Dunk before clipping a perfect pass over to Struijk to nod in.
Daniel Farke needs to try something different now
Obviously, it has been a while since Gelhardt has had a chance to steal the show. But the fact is that he can. And he can do it in those tight spaces.
Leeds have run out of ideas so quickly in the last two games. Sunderland did not face a shot on target on Tuesday. And Aynsley Pears barely had to make a decent stop on Saturday.
It should be Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe who should be finding ways through right now. But both have been woefully out of form of late.
Farke could do a lot worse than see what Gelhardt can do if Leeds’ remaining opponents set up as Sunderland and Blackburn have done.