Leeds began the weekend with a seven-point cushion in the division’s automatic promotion places but third-placed Burnley were presented with the chance to close through Friday night’s hosting of Sheffield Wednesday.
Scott Parker’s Clarets approached the fixture having recorded an incredible 11 Championship clean sheets in succession but somewhat held back by a lack of goals at the other end.
Burnley, though, gave themselves a big double boost in Friday’s fixture by recording a 4-0 success which vastly improved their goal difference as well as giving the team another three-point haul.
Marcus Edwards, Josh Brownhill, Connor Roberts and Manuel Benson all netted for Parker’s side who are now just four points behind Leeds and two adrift of second-placed Sheffield United but having played one game more.
Leeds, though, maintain the extra factor of still having a far better goal difference of plus 48 compared to Burnley’s plus 34 and Sheffield United’s plus 24. As part of a clear breakaway top four, Sunderland then got their chance to close in on the three teams above them on Saturday lunchtime with a home clash against Hull City.
The Black Cats lined up having fallen eight points behind second-placed Sheffield United and ten adrift of Leeds through Monday night’s dramatic 2-1 loss against the Whites at Elland Road. In a hammer blow to their promotion prospects, the Black Cats suffered a 1-0 defeat to Hull which leaves them six points behind third-placed Burnley, eight behind Sheffield United and ten behind Leeds.
But has a four-horse race now become a three-runner one? Here is how the bookies now see it in their new predicted final table based on the very latest odds using prices for relegation to determine sides expected to end up in the bottom half.
