Sky Sports pundit Ray Parlour has singled out Leeds United’s clash against Aston Villa as a potential banana skin for the Elland Road outfit as they look to seal an “amazing” promotion.
Heading into Friday’s Easter fixtures, the Whites sit three points ahead of third placed Sheffield United in the battle to finish in the top two and seal automatic promotion to the Premier League.
However, with four games left to play, Parlour insisted their clash versus Aston Villa would be a decisive clash, Dean Smith’s side on an impressive run of consecutive victories, and that Leeds’ promotion would be a massive achievement.
He told Sky Sports’ The Debate (18/04, 22:00): “Aston Villa obviously is a big game for Leeds, they’re in the playoffs, playing really well under Dean Smith. With the three point advantage it’s got to be in Leeds’ hands now.
“I’d love to see Leeds back, I played at Elland Road many times and the fans have really come back now. This could be the season – after what they’ve gone through over the last five, six, seven years – it’s amazing how they’ve bounced back.
“Now they’re on the crest of being back in the Premier League which would be an amazing achievement.”
Opinion
Every game has the potential to see Leeds slip up but right now they should be feeling confident they can get over the line in the next four games. Even defeat to Aston Villa would leave Sheffield United level on points if both sides won all their other games and so maybe the focus should be on scoring as many goals as possible to ensure their goal difference is better than the Blades’. Whatever happens, Leeds will be in with a shot at sealing a return to the Premier League after so long away from the top flight and that is massive not only for the club but for the division. There are few fan bases as passionate as those at Elland Road and there will be many out there echoing Parlour’s sentiments about wanting the club to make their return this year. They have it in their hands right now – it is up to Marcelo Bielsa and his men to make sure they do not let it slip through their fingers.