Leeds United lost ground in the early race for the automatic promotion spots following their defeat to Stoke City. Ipswich Town’s win over Bristol City saw the Tractor Boys restore their nine-point gap to second place and now have a game in hand on Daniel Farke’s side.

The Whites had taken advantage of Ipswich’s postponement with Bristol City to close the gap to just six points, but the defeat at the Potters saw that gap grow once again. Leicester City, meanwhile, are 14 points clear of Leeds. However, Farke isn’t concerned about any points differences at this stage of the season and made it clear the only time he’ll look at the Championship table is after 40 games.

“Not at all,” Farke said when quizzed on the gap to Ipswich and Leicester. “The difference to Ipswich or whatever is not important for me.

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“The table is just important after 40 games. I also don’t like that we always have to be concerned by something so if you’d offered me third position after a really difficult summer break and said at the end of August we’d be in third position and the top six with a proper point tally, many people would have said that would be great if we’re in this position.

“I’m not concerned. We were on a brilliant run but it’s the Championship and sometimes there’s a little setback but you don’t have to take too much attention in point differences or point advantage

“For us, it’s just important that we deliver good performances, good results. We were not at our best, especially in the first-half in the last game and this is the only topic.

“I want to use our possession better than we did at Stoke but that’s the only topic.”

Leeds play in the early kick-off on Saturday when they host Huddersfield Town and will look to close the gap on Leicester, who visit QPR and Ipswich who host Plymouth in 3pm kick-offs.