Leeds United’s chances of finishing in second place in the Championship table seem to be all but over going into the final weekend of the season and Ben Parker has given his verdict.
Last Friday’s defeat to QPR saw Leeds miss the chance to go four points clear of Ipswich in second. Kieran McKenna’s side took advantage, securing four points from their two games in hand to go three clear.
Going into the final weekend of the season, Leeds play host to Southampton at Elland Road. A game that could be a dress rehearsal of the play-off final, if Daniel Farke’s men and the Saints beat their opponents.
Ipswich meanwhile are at home against Huddersfield Town at Portman Road and need to avoid defeat to clinch second. Huddersfield currently sit in 23rd and need a win and a 15-goal swing in order to survive.
It is incredibly unlikely Leeds can topple Ipswich on the final day but while there is a chance, there is hope. Ipswich needed an 87th-minute goal to equalise at Huddersfield in the reverse fixture and draw 1-1.
Ben Parker has had his say on whether Leeds can produce a “miracle”:
Leeds can still finish in second place, according to Ben Parker
It would be a dramatic end to the Championship season and one that would be remembered for years. Simply for Leeds to beat Southampton would be some achievement with The Whites losing 3-1 away.
But even more so, for Huddersfield to beat an Ipswich side on the cusp of the Premier League and two successive promotions seems impossible as we go into this weekend’s games but Parker has some belief.
He told LS11: “Miracles do happen. It would be typical Leeds and typical of this Championship season that it will happen. Small, small chance. Why not? We’ve seen crazier things in the Championship.”
Daniel Farke confirms Dan James will miss clash v Southampton
Speaking in his press conference on Thursday afternoon, manager Daniel Farke confirmed that Dan James would not be fit enough to return in time and will join Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas on the sidelines.
Farke also gave an update on Patrick Bamford and Connor Roberts and said that both players are doubts. Bamford missed the clash against QPR while Roberts has been sidelined for the last two games.
The German manager will have some decisions to make to his side against Southampton after such a poor display at QPR with Glen Kamara surely given a chance again in the middle of the park.