In the expected four-way race for automatic promotion, Leeds United is in the lead.
Tom Cleverley, the head coach of Watford, maintains that Leeds United and their opponents for automatic promotion are superior to the rest of the Championship in both skill and mentality.Despite four losses in five games, Cleverley has managed a fairly strong start to the season at Vicarage Road, keeping Watford in the play-off picture for the most part and within striking distance. The Hornets have occasionally demonstrated their capacity to overwhelm opponents, but their lack of consistency has been a problem, since poor performances frequently result in losses.
Although many Leeds supporters would contend they presented a more difficult test than anyone else this season, even the victorious Burnley, such was the result when Watford arrived at Elland Road in October. However, Daniel Farke’s team showed the resilience to endure pressure after two early goals from Largie Ramazani and Brenden Aaronson, and Cleverley thinks it distinguishes them from their opponents for automatic promotion.
Leeds is “a level above.”
After his team’s loss to Sheffield United on Saturday, Cleverley told the Watford Observer, “With all due respect to the other teams outside the top four, I think there is quite a big gulf in the league this season between Sunderland, Sheffield United, Burnley and Leeds, and the rest.”
“The others, in my opinion, are comfortably outside of those top four.”In addition to technical proficiency and quickness, these clubs need a particular mindset. They play as though they’re hoping to win. Even though we haven’t always been at our best this season, they know how to make it happen. However, they are only a step up.
“We were the superior team for the most part, but Sheffield United managed to grind out a victory despite having numerous injuries to important players. I understand what it’s like to be at both sides of the table, and sometimes being at the top isn’t due to quality.
When you’re at the upper end, you’re just supposed to win and know how to find a win.
With four teams vying for those automatic promotion spots, Leeds and their immediate top-two rivals have widened their lead over the pursuing group during Christmas. Despite losing their last two games, Farke’s team is still leading by one point, even if it could have been more.
Sheffield United and Burnley both won on Saturday to close the gap to one point behind them, but Leeds has a better goal differential than both, which could be important considering how close the game is. Despite being three points behind the Whites, Sunderland seemed to have recovered from a minor slump in play.
Although there is still time for a late challenger, that is currently where the automatic promotion race ends. Long predicted to finish in the top two, Middlesbrough has already fallen behind with two wins in eight games, leading Sunderland by nine points and Leeds by twelve.
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