Leeds United’s slender hopes of achieving automatic promotion on the final day of the Championship season were dashed by Ipswich Town as Kieran McKenna’s men secured second place.
It means the play-offs for Leeds, who go into the shootout for the final promotion place in dismal form. Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Southampton saw Daniel Farke’s men suffer a fourth defeat in their last six games.
The pressure of trying to keep the heat on Ipswich and keep pace with the Tractor Boys proved too much for Leeds and they now have to fight it out with Norwich, Southampton and West Brom to be promoted.
With Norwich losing on the final day of the season to Birmingham City, West Brom secured fifth place and will take on Southampton while Leeds face Farke’s old side with the first leg at Elland Road on Sunday.
Leeds will go into the game with confidence having won both matches against The Canaries both at Carrow Road, and then at home but on both occasions by one goal but the play-offs are unforgiving.
Troy Deeney spoke of who he thinks will be promoted from the play-offs on Sky Sports over the weekend. Here is what the former Premier League striker said:
Troy Deeney predicts who will be promoted via the play-offs
Four big clubs will be competing for a chance to play at Wembley and the promised land of the Premier League. Leeds of course finished in third and on paper, that makes them the best side in the competition.
But recent form has seen Farke’s men struggle, losing to the likes of QPR, Coventry and Blackburn as well as fourth-placed Southampton. Leeds need to rally and improve a whole lot to stand any chance.
However, Deeney offered some optimism to Leeds fans as the play-offs get underway on the weekend. He believes Leeds have the best side of the four and that should get them over the line in the play-offs.
“He [Farke] has to believe in that positivity. They have got to a point where that’s going to be really gut-wrenching. You expect Leeds to go up if everybody plays to their best ability. Leeds have the best team.
“The pressure is on those two [Leeds and Southampton]. With the form Leeds are in going into this, that fan-base is going to be a bit like ‘hold on, are we sure we can get up here?’ That could turn very quickly.”
What the play-offs will look like based off 2023-24 results
Leeds beat Norwich both home and away, thanks to a late Crysencio Summerville winner at Carrow Road and then a Dan James strike at home to win 3-2 and 1-0 so it is expected Farke’s men reach the final.
Southampton also did the double over West Brom having beaten Carlos Corberan’s side 2-1 at St. Mary’s before a 2-0 win away. Expected by many, a Leeds v Southampton final looks likely off the prior results.
But that is where the good news ends for Leeds and Saturday’s result highlights just how tough a task it will be for Farke’s men to beat Southampton, having lost twice to The Saints both home and away.