Leeds United automatic promotion picture becomes clearer after massive Leicester City and Southampton result — YEP 23/4/24
Leeds United watched on as two of their Championship promotion rivals went head-to-head on Tuesday.
By Kyle Newbould
Leicester City took another huge step towards promotion
after thrashing Southampton 5-0 on Tuesday, a result which also virtually ends
the Saints’ hope of a top-two finish and leaves Leeds United and Ipswich Town
set to battle for second.
Abdul Fatawu was the main man on the night in which one of
Leeds United’s main promotion rivals all but sealed a return to the Premier
League. Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy were also on the scoresheet to secure a
massive three points for Enzo Maresca’s side, who saw their lead at the top
extended to four points as a result.
A five-point gap over third-placed Ipswich comes from having
played a game more but there is every chance the Foxes secure their return
before the final day, needing just three points to go up and four for the
title. Defeat leaves Southampton six points adrift of second-placed Leeds but
the latter side’s vastly superior goal difference means automatic promotion is
virtually impossible.
Fatawu opened the scoring inside 20 minutes after the winger
got in behind Kyle Walker-Peters to open the scoring. Southampton were calling
for a foul on Che Adams in the build-up but replays showed it to be a fair
challenge from Wout Faes, although Fatawu did look to be slightly offside when
receiving the ball.
Leicester continued to dominate but were unable to extend
their lead going into half-time. Southampton’s misery was compounded when Joe
Rothwell was forced off with an injury, making the midfielder a doubt for the
final-day trip to Leeds.
Martin’s side came out swinging after half-time and created
a few slight openings but Leicester soon got a grip back on the game and
doubled their lead just past the hour mark. Stephy Mavididi was afforded too
much space on the left and his cross was met by an unmarked Ndidi to head home.
Fatawu got his second of the game with 15 minutes remaining,
cutting inside from the right and, under almost no pressure from Southampton,
curling a trademark effort into the far corner. Vardy then capped things off
shortly after, finding acres in the Southampton box to finish a Fatawu cross.
On Monday, Leeds pulled themselves back into the top two
after beating Middlesbrough 4-3, with Crysencio Summerville’s brilliant brace
bookending efforts from Patrick Bamford and Wilfried Gnonto. Daniel Farke’s
side rode out a nervy finish at the Riverside Stadium after Emmanuel Latte
Lath’s late header to take all three points and leapfrog Ipswich.
Victory at Queens Park Rangers on Friday would see Leeds
open up a four-point gap between themselves and the Tractor Boys, albeit having
played two games more. Kieran McKenna’s side have two tricky away-days at
play-off chasing Hull City and Coventry to contend with and anything less than
four points could see promotion out of their hands.
Leeds host Southampton at Elland Road on the final day with
the promotion race likely to be decided during that 90-minute spell. Leicester
and Ipswich are also both at home to Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield Town
respectively.