Hordes of Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media to a graphic highlighting how many games each promotion challenger has remaining against the other clubs currently residing in the top seven of the Championship standings.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites were able to remain in the top-two on Saturday with a 1-0 win at home to Bristol City, while reducing the deficit to leaders West Bromwich Albion and pulling away from third-placed Fulham after the Baggies drew with Nottingham Forest and the Cottagers lost to Barnsley.
We now sit four points from the top of the table and three clear of the Play-Off positions, which are currently separated by three points and have Blackburn Rovers and Cardiff City only three points further behind.
But in what could be a boost to our hopes of promotion into the Premier League, Bielsa’s men have fewer games remaining against the current top seven than any other side contending for a place in the top-tier next term.
Will this come as a boost to our promotion hopes?
Yes, they'll take points off of each other
No, we struggle vs the others
Fulham are the only current promotion challenger that we are still yet to face twice this season, whereas the Cottagers have the most matches remaining as Scott Parker’s South West London outfit must face each of the other five – as well as us.
Brentford and Forest have the second-fewest fixtures remaining against other top seven teams with three games, while Bristol City and West Brom have four and Preston North End have five.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to the potential promotion boost…
That is amazing
— ben mines (@mines_ben) February 16, 2020
Just imagine if we were still 11 points clear of 3rd
— bri0142 (@bri0142) February 15, 2020
Wow!!
— WeAllLoveLeeds (@AllLoveLeeds) February 15, 2020
@leemeadows2 @ste_lufc its there for the taking….
— 𝘿𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨 (@DaveyMedz) February 16, 2020
My worry is that the ‘challengers’ come and play, which suits us better, whereas as the others tend to come and sit back against us…and then score from a set-piece.
— Harry Wood (@haralexwood) February 16, 2020
Oh I do like that!
— kildaregaa365 (@kildaregaa365) February 15, 2020
I’m not sure these fixtures mean too much… yes of course top 8 teams playing each other means dropped points but every team in the div are capable of beating another!!! the league is Topsy Turvy.. Let’s just beat em all👊
— Mr P… MBE 🏴 💙💛⚽🎱 (@lordofmymanor) February 16, 2020
Not sure if that is such a positive if I’m being honest
— LEEDSMORONS (@LEEDSMORONS) February 16, 2020
Problem is we struggle against the weaker teams as they have 10 men behind the ball for 80 minutes. However the fixture list should bring in positivity to the team
— Parma (@Hello_Parma) February 16, 2020
The best part about it is that they will take points off each other. Fulham play forest and Brentford soon
.We have to win on those weeks— Dirty Leeds ¡Carajo! (@DirtyLeedsFC) February 15, 2020
One game at a time Dave 😊
— Prince of Leodis 💛💙 (@RavReehal) February 15, 2020
In other Leeds United news, fans have been tearing into a 5 ft 10 Whites man for his performance on Saturday despite initial praise for his display.