David Prutton has offered his assessment regarding Leeds United’s prospects in the Championship play-offs. Despite falling short of securing automatic promotion, with Leicester City and Ipswich Town claiming those coveted spots, Leeds now have a second chance to secure a swift return to the Premier League. Their play-off journey commences with a clash against Daniel Farke’s Norwich City, promising an intriguing encounter for fans.
While momentum typically plays a crucial role in such high-stakes matches, Leeds currently find themselves lacking in that department, dampening confidence among supporters following their recent season finale. Making matters more challenging, Leeds must defy history, as no team has ever clinched promotion through the play-offs after suffering four defeats in their final six league fixtures. Prutton highlights that despite these odds, there’s a quality Leeds can’t be denied when it comes to play-offs.
According to OPTA’s projections, Leeds emerge as the frontrunners for promotion, with support also coming from Blackburn Rovers’ Sammie Szmodics. Szmodics acknowledges Leeds’ roster brimming with talent, though he cautions that individual prowess doesn’t always translate into success under playoff pressure. Despite Leeds’ impressive tally of 90 points, their five previous unsuccessful attempts at promotion via this route raise doubts. Prutton echoes this sentiment in his recent column for the Yorkshire Evening Post, suggesting that labeling Leeds as the “likeliest winners” might be premature.
Prutton deliberates on Leeds’ status as favorites, acknowledging their strong season performance statistically but pointing out the unpredictable nature of playoff football. He emphasizes the significance of player involvement, their caliber, and experience across all participating teams, rendering the outcome as uncertain as possible for neutral observers. While Leeds supporters may desire the tag of favorites, Prutton raises the question of whether such expectations could potentially burden the team with undue pressure.