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Leeds’ Potential Play-Off Semi Opponents: Analysed

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This weekend’s fixtures take on a different meaning on all sorts of levels. For Leeds, strangely, a chance to get some rest. But eyes will turn to the race for 6th place, which is currently a 3-way battle between Derby County, Middlesbrough and Bristol City. These teams sit on 71, 70 and 69 points respectively.
Derby County
Derby have the tricky task of hosting one of the other play-off teams West Brom this weekend. But they are in pole position. They are also the team Leeds could face that holds the most Narrative. It was never going to be avoidable after all the Spygate furore. I doubt there’s little more that Frank Lampard wants than to put a final twist in the tale. County have made a late surge to try and secure the play-offs, stringing together an unbeaten run of 5 games. Leeds should fancy this one, beating them fairly comfortably on both occasions that they have met this season. Another two games could change all that though.
Middlesbrough
This is who Leeds should be quietly concerned about. Though, Boro have to an extent ‘choked’ and Pulis has come in for some criticism from the Riverside faithful that in fairness does match a dire home record. They managed to keep Leeds from scoring for almost 3 hours this season with Kalvin Phillips’ 100 and something minute goal putting an end to that. Whether Pulis can keep this up over two legs is debatable, though he’s an assured head and will certainly have a plan to keep us out. Boro travel to Rotherham this weekend, who have nothing to play for after being relegated already.
Bristol City 
‘I’d love to meet Leeds United in the play-offs’ was the words of City manager Lee Johnson after Leeds secured a 1 nil win at Ashton Gate thanks to Bamford’s opener. In the game at Elland Road, Leeds rode to a 2 nil win after taking control when Bristol went down to 10 men. On paper, Bristol arguably look like the weakest of the 3 potential opponents. They travel to Hull, needing a win, Derby to lose and Boro to drop points. Task. Bristol have dropped off the pace somewhat and have won just 1 of their last 5 games. Not really the momentum that you need going in, but then again, what do we have?

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