D-Day for Leeds


By Rich Baggott
April 28 2007

It really is a case of D-Day for Leeds United as they entertain Ipswich at Elland Road. With the Championship relegation battle delicately poised, the Whites could be relegated today, or with a victory and the correct results around them, it could turn into something of a V-Day.

Mathematically, it is still possible for two of five teams to join Luton in the relegation zone, here we take a look at the different connotations that could occur today.

 

 

Played

GD

Pts

1 19 9

Leicester

44

-13

50

20

Barnsley

44

-24

50

21

Hull

44

-16

46

22

Leeds

44

-24

45

23

Southend

44

-28

42

24

Luton

44

-25

37

Leicester & Barnsley - A crunch match  today with both teams only just within touching distance.  The ideal outcome would be for some kind of victory rather than a draw that would see both teams picking up a point and virtually assure Leicester of safety. Perhaps more relevant is what is happening further up the table. Barnsey play West Brom next week and Leicester take on Wolves - both of which are currently just one point inside the play-off places with a chasing pack of three of four teams that are trying to creep in with them.

Ideal Result - Barnsley Lose and West Brom end with a result today that still requires them to win next week (Same for Leicester however with their superior goal difference, they only need to pick up one point from the next two games to be realistically safe!)

Hull - Perhaps the easiest run-in of the five teams - playing away to Cardiff today.  Cardiff City, despite their earlier success this season that had them looking odds on for one of the two automatic promotion places have slumped to 1th in the Championship and are currently 11th in the league. Whilst still mathematically possible, their play-off prospects are all but gone with only a miracle run of results from five or six teams around them leaving them with any prospects.  In addition, Hull entertain Plymouth next week and again, Plymouth sit in 12th and have nothing to play for. 

Ideal Result : We can only hope for a Hull loss or draw - Either result today would be good for Leeds United .

Southend are all but gone with Luton and if they can catch us, then we are as good as down anyway! if both Leeds and Hull lose today and Southend win, then all three teams will be fighting for one safety place next week.

Ideal Result - Southend lose.

Leaving Leeds United - A tricky tie today at home to Ipswich - by far the easier of our two remaining games but their sporadic form of late has seen them rack up a 5-1 victory against Barnsley and beat promotion hopefuls, Derby.  At last outing though, they only managed a draw against Norwich and we have to hope the players are starting their summer holidays a few weeks early. 

Ideal Result - nothing less than a win will do for Leeds today.

Turning our attention to next week though, and the difficult away trip to Derby .  Currently sitting third in the Championship, Derby could also find their fate sealed this weekend If they fail to pick up any points, and Birmingham win, then Derby can only finish third at best and will go into the Play-offs after their match to us next week. This is the best result for Leeds rather than a playing a team fighting for an automatic promotion spot (Derby play tomorrows v Crystal Palace).

Ideal Result - Birmingham win - Derby lose (Sunday)

So whether you are sat looking at the scoreboard at the end of the match, listening on the radio, flicking around on teletext or sat glued the the Sky Sports Center, here are the  teams to look out for today;-

Leeds - Victory Required
Hull City - Draw at worst required
Leicester - Some kind of result today against Barnsley but Leicester have a better goal difference
Barnsley - Same as Leicester - worst case is a draw!
Southend - Looking for a loss today
Birmingham - Win required to put them 4 points ahead of Derby before their match tomorrow.
Wolves and West Brom - We want results today that do not guarantee them a Play-off place and keeps them within touching distance of the chasing pack next week!

And we have to mention it! It is possible Leeds United could be relegated today;

Leeds lose and Hull win - Leeds relegated
Leeds draw - guarantees Leicesters and Barnsleys survival - If Hull win, then it almost guarantees our demise on goal difference but if Hull lose, it all goes to the final game
 

 

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