Suffolk-based fans of top four predict Championship run-in

Although these four fans have allegiances to their individual clubs, they have Suffolk as their home in common

Leicester City, Leeds United, Ipswich Town and Southampton are locked in a nail-biting race for Premier League promotion.

Ahead of Saturday's games, Championship leaders Leicester City top the table on 82 points, Leeds United are second on 79 points, with Ipswich on 78 and Southampton on 73.

It looks set to be season where a points tally much higher than normal is needed to secure promotion.

What do Suffolk-based fans of all four sides make of their teams' performance so far and what's their verdict on who will make the top two?

Leicester City: 'As long as Leicester go up, I hope Ipswich do too'

Paul Wain, 25, from Ipswich, comes from a family born and bred in Leicester

League leaders Leicester - Premier League champions less than a decade ago - have been the stand-out team of the season so far.

The Foxes looked certain to be scurrying back to the Premier League at the first time of asking before recent patchy form brought the chasing pack closer.

Despite being from Ipswich himself, Paul Wain's family are all from Leicester and he is a lifelong fan of the club.

"Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been the player of the season," he said.

"I am slightly fearful of the Premier League, because you can get battered every week. Winning the Premier League was a fairy-tale but seems so long ago, and you still look back and think 'How?'

"I think fair play to Ipswich. The buzz around the place towards the end of last year was mental. It was great for the town, great for a Saturday night. As long as Leicester go up, I hope Ipswich do too."

Prediction: Leicester City winners, Leeds United promoted.

Leeds United: 'We never do things easy'

Ollie Ward runs a YouTube channel on Leeds United from his home in Ipswich and has more than 13,000 subscribers

After a shaky start, Leeds United look to be the form side of the division.

Under Daniel Farke, the Yorkshire team are many people's pick to pip Ipswich to second place.

Ollie Ward, 22, a YouTuber whose channel is dedicated to the club, said: "The last 12 games, we have won 11, drawn one, and only conceded three goals in 2024. We've hit form at the right time.

"We never do things easy. There are games we should win which we don't. Farke has done this before, he knows how to win games at this point of the season."

Mr Ward, who lives in Ipswich, said: "Credit to Ipswich. Their football last season in League One was made for the Championship. I expected Southampton and Leicester to be up there, but Town and McKenna have been performing miracles.

"Most of my mates are Ipswich fans, and whenever Leeds lose or even draw, I have to turn my phone off.

"Its going to be a tough nine games. All form goes out of the window at this point."

Prediction: Leeds United winners, Leicester City promoted.

Ipswich Town: 'Unbelievable from McKenna and the players'

Richard Woodard remembers the last time Ipswich got promoted to the Premier League and is hoping for a repeat

The Tractor Boys have been the surprise package this season following their automatic promotion from League One last season.

Kieran McKenna's side have lost the fewest games this season (five) and scored the joint most goals (74).

Richard Woodward, 40, from Ipswich Town podcast Blue Monday, said: "If you told me we would be in this company back in August, I would have been absolutely staggered.

"The fact that we are in the business end and still part of it is unbelievable from McKenna and the players.

"Football is such a massive part of Suffolk. We are a one-club county. When the club does well, it matters. To businesses, to school kids. The Premier League has recently felt so far away, but now, it is in touching distance.

"I remember the turnaround in the town when we got promoted in 2000, and it will be great to feel that again.

"There is not anyone in the Championship who doesn't have something to play for. There are always weird results around Easter time. There are turns yet.

"I am not sure about Leicester's form, Leeds have something about them, and Southampton could go on a run.

"We are a little too open, and I think we might fall just a little short. But I am happy to be wrong".

Prediction: Leeds United winners, Leicester promoted.

Southampton: 'We have our club back'

Dan Hiscock, a Saints fan living in Suffolk, said the end of Southampton's Premier League tenure was "painful" and believed his club have the hardest run-in

Southampton set a new club record earlier in the season, going 25 games unbeaten. That run saw them spend time in an automatic promotion spot at the expense of Town and Leeds.

However, poor form since has seen them fall five points adrift of third-placed Ipswich, with nine games to play in April alone.

Dan Hiscock, 33, moved to Ipswich aged three but his family are rooted in Southampton.

"Where the club was last season to where it was this year, I feel as though we've got our club back," he said.

"I'm just really enjoying it. The day Ipswich beat us was horrendous because my phone blew up.

"We'd gone from two wins over 12 months, and two 9-0 losses over two seasons. It was awful in the Premier League.

"The fact we went 25 games unbeaten, and still weren't in the top two afterwards just goes to show the quality of the Championship this year.

"The crest of the wave that Ipswich are riding is huge. It's great for the area, it's great to see kids wearing Town tops, rather than Manchester United shirts."

He added: "We'll happily go under the radar and see what happens, but it is a very tough ask."

Prediction: Leicester City winners, Leeds United promoted.