Often the last step is the hardest and the likes of Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Leeds United are experiencing that in their respective bids for automatic promotion.
After some impressive unbeaten spells, all three sides have wobbled as they approach the finishing line, with a return to the Premier League within touching distance.
Leicester Should Be Home And Dry
As a side that were streets clear of the rest and on course for a record points tally in the Championship, Leicester will be wondering how they got dragged into a battle for the top two. The Foxes, who are still favourites at 2/5 in the Championship betting to be crowned champions, were at one stage 17 points clear of Leeds in the standings. At 1/14 in the Championship promotion odds, Leicester are still expected to be playing Premier League football next season but the nerve levels have certainly gone up at the King Power Stadium since they started dropping points midway through February. Previously on a five-game winning streak, Leicester hit the buffers with a 2-1 defeat at home to Middlesbrough F.C, before losing their next two games against Leeds and Queens Park Rangers. Manager Enzo Maresca was quickly learning the unforgiving nature of the Championship after months of looking comfortable.
Leicester should still have the quality and experience in their squad to get over the line but the wobble since February will be a concern. The Foxes are certainly not alone, as Ipswich have also faltered after looking to have the second automatic spot all but secured. Manager Kiernan McKenna has worked wonders at Portman Road this season and it would be some story if Ipswich could make it back-to-back promotions on their way to the Premier League. However, the East Anglia outfit will need to hold their nerve in the final weeks after dropping points against rivals Norwich City, Watford and Middlesbrough.
Leeds Feeling The Pressure While Saints Make Late Push
The last international window came at a bad time for manager Daniel Farke and his Leeds United side. Unbeaten in 13 Championship games before the break in March, the Whites saw several players pick up knocks on duty with their respective countries. The rhythm Leeds had built up was lost and their results after that international break have been disappointing.
Draws with Watford and Sunderland, combined with defeats to Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers have seen Leeds fail to take advantage of Leicester and Ipswich dropping points. All the while Southampton, who looked to be out of the automatic promotion picture have been making up ground in the top three. Russell Martin’s side has been grinding out results and the Saints look like they still have a significant role to play in this intriguing promotion story.
This season the Championship has once again shown why it’s one of the toughest and most gruelling leagues in world football. In any other season, Leicester, Ipswich or Leeds might well have already secured promotion but this battle to go up is likely to go down to the final day.
