Leeds face Derby in battle of former giants hoping for a return to the big time

The eye watering amount of money being pumped into the Premier League is filtering its way down into the Championship and we’re now seeing Championship teams splashing out up to 15m on one player. It’s hard to begrudge teams from spending these sums, as a £15m quality playmaker may be the difference between them bagging a place in the most illustrious league in the world or another gruelling 46 game championship campaign.

That’s not to say that pumping money into a team is going to guarantee success. We’ve seen countless teams over the years spend above their limit trying to get to the promised land, ultimately failing and finding themselves needing to quickly move on their high earners.

How prepared are the top six for the final push?

Gameweek 27 looks set to be a blinder at the top end of the division; top of the table Leeds United take on Frank Lampard’s Derby County under the Friday night lights at Elland Road.

Derby County and Leeds United were once giants of the top division. From 1968 to 1974, Leeds finished in the top six every year with two titles and three runners up spots. That run ended when Derby County won the 1975 title. their second title in four years.

Both have struggled even to remain in the top tier in recent years never mind win it or threaten a repeat, especially since Leeds won the league in 1992 under Howard Wilkinson, still the last English manager to win the title. The Yorkshiremen were relegated out of the EPL in 2004 and are yet to reappear.

Since 2002, the Rams have spent just one season in the top flight and they finished rock bottom, recording a club and top-flight record run of 32 league games without a win, and just 11 points, a record low since three points were awarded for a win.

Tonight, the two sides clash with a comeback on the cards for both.

Three points for Marcelo Bielsa’s side would see them go five points clear at the top, and would put extra pressure on second place Norwich City, who’d know they’d need to secure all three points on their travels to fourth place West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon to maintain the two point gap with Leeds. 

Derby will look to put the home side under pressure early on. Leeds have lost their last three games, two on the bounce in the league and one in the FA Cup and an early Derby goal on Friday could get the huge Elland Road crowd grumbling. Derby and West Brom will both be looking to close the gap on the top two sides and will be very aware of the fact that both Leeds and Norwich have shipped ten goals each in their last five league games, which isn’t automatic promotion contender form. 

The Rams will need to stay focused as Leeds have scored five goals on or after the 88th minute, and have picked up nine points from losing positions with goals scored after the 80th minute.

One other big game in the race for promotion takes place at Bramall Lane. Sheffield United, who’ve won their last three games, take on 9th place QPR, who are unbeaten in their last five.

 

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