Leeds United need New Year reboot

Leeds United must rediscover the best form of their woefully inconsistent season to revive their flagging automatic promotion challenge.

The 1-0 defeat by West Brom last time out was the Whites’ second on the bounce and the third in five matches.

In the space of four days Leeds United went from trying to dislodge second-placed Ipswich Town to dropping down to fourth, with a six-point deficit to make up on Southampton in third.

Four points from a possible last 15 on offer is the kind of wretched form that derails promotion challenges and causes dreams to be deferred.

All to play for

The saving grace for Daniel Farke’s side is that Ipswich Town are also suffering a bit of a stutter, having taken just three points from the last 12 on offer.

The Tractor Boys, who are now eight points adrift of leaders Leicester City, have Southampton looming large in their rear-view mirror.

Having seen their lead over their closest pursuers reduced to just three points, Kieran McKenna’s men are increasingly looking like sitting ducks.

Ipswich’s loss of momentum in recent weeks will give the chasing pack some encouragement that the Championship newbies can be caught and overtaken.

Time to front up

Leeds United have flattered to deceive all season, looking like genuine promotion contenders for a spell and then slipping back into old infuriating habits with alarming regularity.

After an instantly forgettable Christmas during which they lost their way, Leeds United must staunch the bleeding if they are to keep their receding hopes of an instant return to the Premier League alive.

With Leicester City looking assured at the top the emerging consensus is that first place is the Foxes’ lose,  but the second automatic promotion berth is up for grabs.

However, if Leeds United wish to insert themselves into that squabble then they will need to prove their mettle before they run out of games.

The New Year home fixture against out-of-sorts Birmingham City represents the perfect opportunity for a reboot.

Carpe Diem.

Happy New Year my beloved Leeds United.