Leeds United’s hopes of securing second place in the Championship table appear to have dwindled as they head into the final weekend of the season, with Ben Parker sharing his thoughts on the situation.
Following their defeat to QPR last Friday, Leeds missed an opportunity to pull four points ahead of Ipswich in second place. Ipswich’s team, managed by Kieran McKenna, managed to capitalize on this slip-up by accumulating four points from their two additional matches, cementing themselves three points ahead.
Approaching the last weekend of the season, Leeds will face Southampton at Elland Road. This match could serve as a preview of a potential play-off final, provided both Daniel Farke’s squad and the Saints are victorious in their respective matches.
On the other hand, Ipswich will be playing at home against Huddersfield Town at Portman Road and must secure at least a draw to secure their second-place finish. Huddersfield, currently sitting in 23rd place, face a daunting task of winning and achieving a 15-goal difference in order to stave off relegation.
While Leeds’s chances of surpassing Ipswich on the final day appear slim, hope remains alive as long as there is a possibility. Ipswich was forced to rely on an 87th-minute equalizer to salvage a draw against Huddersfield in their previous encounter.
Ben Parker has chimed in on the likelihood of Leeds pulling off a “miracle”:
“It is not impossible for Leeds to claim second place,” said Ben Parker
A potential Leeds resurgence would mark a remarkable conclusion to the Championship season, one that would be etched in memory for years to come. Merely defeating Southampton would be a notable achievement, especially considering Leeds’ recent 3-1 defeat on the road.
The odds seem stacked against Huddersfield, who face an Ipswich side on the verge of a Premier League promotion and securing two consecutive promotions. Yet, as we head into this weekend’s fixtures, Parker maintains a glimmer of hope.
In a recent interview with LS11, he expressed, “Miracles do occur. It would be fitting for Leeds and in line with the unpredictable nature of the Championship this season. The chances are slim, but why not believe? We have witnessed more improbable events in this league.”
Daniel Farke Confirms Dan James’ Absence for Southampton Match
During a press conference on Thursday afternoon, manager Daniel Farke confirmed that Dan James would not recover in time to play against Southampton, joining Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas on the injury list.
Farke also provided updates on the fitness of Patrick Bamford and Connor Roberts, labeling both players as doubtful. Bamford sat out the QPR match, while Roberts has missed the last two games.
After a lackluster performance against QPR, the German manager faces tough decisions ahead of the Southampton game, with Glen Kamara likely to receive another chance in the midfield.