Over the past two weeks the big question being asked is, does anyone want to win the Championship title, or secure automatic promotion? Leicester City have taken zero points from their last two games, Leeds United just one point and Ipswich Town have fared only slightly better with two points.
Where once there was talk of all three clubs claiming over 100 points, now the talk is simply of who can rediscover their form to claim enough to get over a finishing line that the trio appear to be stumbling towards. Perhaps the question which should be asked is, do we now have a four-team race for the top tow once again?
Southampton have had their own stumbles, but six points from six available has propelled them back into contention and by the time Leeds play again, the Saints could be level on points with the Whites having played the same amount of games.
Currently two games short of Leeds’ 43 match total, Southampton play the first of their rearranged matches on Tuesday night when hosting Preston North End. Next up after that is a trip to Cardiff City on Saturday, with Leeds not playing until Monday April 22 in the televised game at Middlesbrough.
The door has been opened to Southampton and the pressure will now switch to them to see if they can walk through it. Saints’ goal difference is significantly less than Leeds’ and they’ll not go above the Whites by winning their two games in hand, but with a final day date between the pair at Elland Road, Russell Martin will be happy to achieve parity knowing an opportunity will come in the last game to leapfrog Daniel Farke’s side.
