The race for the Championship title and automatic promotion to the Premier League took another turn on Tuesday night as Leicester City smashed Southampton 5-0 – widening the gap on Leeds United.
Leeds beat Middlesbrough 4-3 despite differing form going into the contest at The Riverside on Monday night, reminding all that Daniel Farke’s side are still very much alive and kicking in the race to straight up.
Leicester and Southampton were up next on Tuesday night, with the Saints needing to win to keep any faint hopes of a place in the top two still alive. But they failed to do so, with Leicester absolutely rampant.
It was a close enough game for the first hour. Leicester took the lead on 25 minutes, Abdul Fatawu with the opener. Saints had chances, but Leicester looked as though they would secure all three points.
Leicester widen gap on Leeds to four between first and second
They did just that, but took the win to a new level in the last 30 minutes. Fatawu went on to score a hat-trick and win man of the match. Jamie Vardy and Wilfried Ndidi also got their names on the score sheet.
A win that now sees Leicester sit four points clear at the top of the Championship table with two games left to play. They have 94 points from 44 games. Leeds remain in second, sitting on 90 points from 44.
In third, Ipswich boast a game in hand over the top two, but are on 89 points. They do not play again until after Leeds do battle with QPR at Loftus Road on Friday night – with Ipswich going to Hull on Saturday.
Southampton are way back in fourth now, six points adrift of second-placed Leeds with Tuesday night’s loss their 44th game of the season. Russell Martin’s side will now be accepting they are in the play-offs.
Jamie Vardy on Leicester seeking promotion ahead of Leeds
So, it looks like a straight shootout between Leeds and Ipswich for second place behind Leicester – unless The Foxes completely bottle it in their final two games against Preston next Monday, and then Blackburn.
A win for Leeds on Friday sees the Whites go four above Ipswich, though Kieran McKenna’s side will have two game sin hand before their clash against Ipswich. Vardy spoke to Sky Sports after the game.
“We’ve still got two games left, six points to play for. We’ve got to make sure that we’re ready for Monday night now, we go again. Definitely [promotion at Preston]. We go into every game, wanting to win.
“Knowing that we’re capable of beating anyone. We’ll recover, the lads have put graft in, get back, train and then Monday night,” Vardy told Sky Sports after scoring in his side’s 5-0 win over Southampton.
