Many Leeds United fans have been discussing the club’s upcoming schedule against that of Fulham’s, after we lost at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
The weekend’s result saw our 11-game unbeaten streak come to an end and West Bromwich Albion open a three-point lead at the top of the Championship, while Sheffield Wednesday moved closer in third and Fulham reduced the gap in fourth.
Scott Parker’s Cottagers are now nine points behind us in the second of the Play-Off places, while Garry Monk’s Owls are riding the wave of six games without a defeat as they sit third on 39 points to our 47.
Dropping all three points in South West London on Saturday may not be the end of the story for Marcelo Bielsa and his men, though, as the after-effects may be felt for the next few weeks.
We host promotion hopefuls Preston North End at Elland Road on Boxing Day and round out the year with a trip to Birmingham City, before kicking off the new decade away to league-leaders West Brom and at home to Sheffield Wednesday after facing Arsenal in the FA Cup.
How many points is achievable in our next four league games?
None
1-4
5-9
10-plus
As for Fulham, they travel to 21st-placed Luton Town on Boxing Day, round out the year at home to 24th-placed Stoke City, then begin 2020 at home to 16th-placed Reading and away to 11th-placed Hull after facing Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Sheffield Wednesday’s upcoming league fixtures would also appear to be easier than ours, on paper at least, as the Owls face Stoke, Cardiff and Hull before travelling to Elland Road on January 11.
The next few games for Fulham, Wednesday and us has seen some Whites supporters feel we ‘cannot afford any more blips’ otherwise the lead we hold over third place will soon be evaporated.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans discussed the potential extra effect losing at Fulham on Saturday has caused to our hopes of Premier League football…
Preston (H)
Birminghan (A)
WBA (H)Huge 3 games in 7 days. Fulham play Luton, Stoke and Reading in the same period. We can’t afford any more blips over the next 2 weeks. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/N7uMPQMuMZ
— LUFCMOT (@LUFCMOTcom) December 23, 2019
Not just Fulham Wednesday are flying as well
— steve harris (@steveharris1965) December 23, 2019
I think it’ll be 5 points, draw with Preston and WBA and win at Brum. Not losing to Preston is a biggie, of course 7-9 would be ideal.
— DemonswithRyu 💣 (@DemonswithR) December 23, 2019
Fulham aren’t nailed on for 9 points
— Batleywhite (@batleywhite) December 23, 2019
WBA (A)*… makes this run of fixtures even worse
— Hessing (@JackHessing1) December 23, 2019
You say that , but the season doesn’t finish mid January, weeks will come around when Fulham have hard fixtures and we have the easier ones.
— Silky (@silkyjohn30) December 23, 2019
4 points for us and 9 for Fulham.
— carl smith (@carlsmith_88) December 23, 2019
We’ll go into each game playing for a win and there’s no reason that we can’t get all 9 points. Right now it’s all about 3 points at home to Preston, no more and no less.
— Paul LUFC 🇬🇧💙💛🇬🇧 (@Paullufc888) December 23, 2019
In other Leeds United news, the club are claimed to have moved on from plans to sign a £3.6m-rated striker in January.