All eyes are on Middlesbrough vs Leeds at 8pm on Monday with the result at the Riverside potentially setting up a promotion party for City at home to Southampton.
Promotion is in sight for Leicester City.
After back-to-back defeats to Millwall and Plymouth, a return to the Premier League still felt some distance away, but the victory over West Brom put them back on top of the table and within touching distance of a place in the top flight.
The season has reached a point where every result changes the complexion of the promotion race. And so Leeds’ trip to Middlesbrough (8pm kick-off) can have a big impact on City ahead of their showdown with Southampton on Tuesday night.
This is the big one.
If Leeds slip up on Monday evening and lose at the Riverside Stadium, then City will have a chance to seal promotion on Tuesday night.
City already have a four-point lead over Daniel Farke’s side, and if that gap does not close on Monday, victory over the Saints at the King Power Stadium will boost the lead to seven, an unassailable advantage over both Leeds and Southampton. City will be celebrating promotion with two games to spare.In the case, a defeat to Southampton would not be devastating.
If Leeds lose to Boro, City just need three points to go up. It doesn’t matter if that win comes against Southampton, Preston, or Blackburn, or if they draw all three.And it’s not out of the question that Leeds do lose.
They’ve taken five points from a possible 15 since the March international break, while Middlesbrough are unbeaten in nine, a run in which they have drawn with both Southampton and Ipswich.
If Leeds draw with Boro…
If the spoils are shared at the Riverside, then the promotion party is put on hold. However, victory for City over Southampton would then put them on the brink.
A draw for Leeds would leave City needing four points from their remaining three matches. If they got three of those against the Saints, Leeds could then only catch them on goal difference, with both clubs currently on +42.
If Leeds beat Boro…
Then the pressure is on for City. That would leave them still requiring two wins from their final three games to be certain of going up.
And no matter what happens at the Riverside, City still need to win all three of their remaining matches to win the title. Ipswich do not play this weekend, and instead have three games in the final eight days of the campaign.
