Huge Leeds United benefit predicted as promotion rival undergoes big overhaul, but with a long-term twist
Big Leeds United boost is expected amid a huge change at a particular promotion rival – but with the prospect of a long-term twist.
Leeds will begin their Championship promotion bid against another demoted team, Southampton, who were second favourites to win the league after a solid start to the current season.
Russell Martin’s team started the season with ten points out of a possible twelve, but they have subsequently lost four games in a row and are now in 15th position.
Meanwhile, Leeds, who started the season with just two points from a possible nine, moved into the division’s top six with last weekend’s 3-0 home success over Watford, and the bookmakers anticipate the Whites to win Saturday’s noon clash at St Mary’s.
Despite being away at home, Leeds are favorites with every bookmaker, with odds ranging from 11-8 to 6-5, while the hosts can be backed at 2-1. The draw is available at 11-4, with the visitors accounting for three of the top four in the first scorer market.
The Whites’ Joel Piroe and the fit again Patrick Bamford are 6-1 joint favourites to score first, with Southampton’s Adam Armstrong and United’s record signing Georginio Rutter also 7s. After that, Saints forward Che Adams and Leeds attacker Joe Gelhardt are both 15-2, with a break in the market to Southampton’s Sekou Mara at 9s.
Southampton remain among the favourites for promotion, despite being fourth favourites to win the league at 25-1 after being roughly a quarter of that early this summer. Leeds, on the other hand, are now 11-2 to win the league, but the twist is that the bookies still anticipate both the Whites and the Saints to make the play-offs.
Leicester City are very strong favourites to go up as champions in being firm 13-10 market leaders and the oddsmakers think Ipswich Town will take the division’s second automatic promotion spot. The Tractor Boys are 9-2 second favourites, marginally shorter than Leeds.
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