Leeds United’s hopes of automatic promotion now look all but over.
The Whites have been involved in a monumental three-horse race with Leicester City and Ipswich Town over the last few months, but look as though they will be the ones that fall short, much to the joy of the former’s players and fans.
Though Ipswich are yet to officially confirm their place in the top two alongside Leicester, last night’s win at Coventry City means it is very much in their hands going into the final day.
Ipswich sit three clear of Leeds and know they only have to avoid defeat at home to all but mathematically relegated Huddersfield Town to secure second place.
With that in mind, Leeds will now all but certainly have to go through the dreaded play-offs in order to seal an immediate return to the Premier League. Martin O’Neill, though believes the disappointment of missing out on automatics could be a disadvantage for Leeds.
Leeds now all but certain for play-off drama
Not only for Leeds, but the play-offs is certainly a time in the season which gets the nerves going for all supporters whose team are involved.
However, this club in particular certainly does not have many, if any fond memories of the play-offs at all. Their defeat to Derby County in the semi-finals back in 2019 was an excruciating watch.
This will be the sixth time Leeds will be involved in a play-off campaign, and Daniel Farke will have to do something no manager in the club’s history has ever done to secure promotion.
In either the old Division Two, League One or the Championship, Leeds have never been promoted via the play-offs. They’ve also not won a home play-off tie since 1987.
Farke will have to do something no Leeds manager has ever done for promotion
37 years ago, Leeds were beaten 2-1 by Charlton Athletic in a replay after they could not be separated in a two-legged final. Back in 2006, Leeds were then demolished 3-0 in the Championship final by Watford, having overcome Preston North End 3-1 on aggregate thanks to a 2-0 win at Deepdale.
Just two years after being 90 minutes away from the Premier League, Leeds were then in League One play-off final action with Doncaster Rovers, where they were beaten 1-0. Again, in the semi-finals, it took a 2-0 away win to overcome Carlisle United on aggregate 3-2.
Just a year later, and for the third time in four seasons, more play-off heartache followed, this time against Millwall. The Lions ran out 2-1 winners over two legs in the semi-finals.
As mentioned, Leeds’ most recent play-off defeat came five years ago against Derby. Having won the first leg away from home 1-0, Leeds were somehow beaten 4-2 in the second leg at Elland Road.
Farke will be looking to do what Billy Bremner, Kevin Blackwell, Gary MacAllister, Simon Grayson and Marcelo Bielsa all tried and failed to do before him.
