Sky Sports pundit Danny Higginbotham thinks that Norwich will win the Championship and that Sheffield United will go up in second, despite dropping two points against Birmingham on Wednesday night.
That has left them in third, one point behind Leeds, but the Sky pundit believes Chris Wilder’s men have enough to get the job done.
Talking on Sky Sports Match Centre (Thursday, 10am), Higginbotham was asked whether Sheffield United or Leeds were “better equipped” to go up, presuming Norwich are already there. The league leaders currently have a six-point lead over Leeds after drawing with Reading.
“I think when you look at the run-in, Sheffield United are in a better position.
“Yes they’re a point behind and, yes, many people would say that last night’s performance was disappointing. I think the reason it was disappointing to a certain extent was the manner of it, they were patient, they took the lead, they just didn’t hang onto it until half-time.
“At the end of the season though I think that will be a valuable point for them. I said Sheffield United before the game and I’m going to stand by them after it. Leeds have Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend and have to play Aston Villa and they’re the form team at the moment.”
OPINION
There are five games left in the Championship and it’s a classic two-way race for the two automatic promotion spots. It’s nip-and-tuck between Leeds and Sheffield United, who are swapping places almost every week, but it’s advantage Marcelo Bielsa at the moment with a one-point lead meaning the fate is in Leeds’ hands. Leeds have three home games left and while Aston Villa are the form team – they’ve won their last seven league games and are now in fifth – playing them at Elland Road gives Leeds the edge. The same goes for Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. Sheffield United also have three home games left, but it’s not plain sailing for them, with Hull on a run of three straight wins, and Nottingham Forest and Stoke no pushovers. If it goes down to the last game of the season, which looks likely, we’d rather be playing Ipswich away than Stoke. And for that reason, we’re going with Leeds to stay where they are and finally win their way back into the top-flight.