Leeds United

Image source, PA Media

The Championship resumes on Friday and with most teams having eight matches to play, the race for automatic promotion could hardly be closer.

Only one point separates leaders Leeds United, Leicester City and Ipswich Town, and while fourth-placed Southampton may be eight points adrift of third spot, they have games in hand on the sides above them.

Before Friday's game at Watford (20:00 GMT), Leeds supporter Heidi Haigh told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's a breath of fresh air after last season. We've got a team now who want to play for the shirt, they want to play for the fans, they're enjoying their football and they're making us enjoy our football again.

"Last year was absolutely dire and I knew by Christmas we were going down [from the Premier League]. There's a different vibe about the club and with the fans. We're all enjoying the ride and it'll take us where it's going to take us."

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford puts comedian and podcast co-host Joe Wilkinson's football skills to the test at the Championship club's training ground.

Listen to the latest episode of My Mate's A Footballer on BBC Sounds

BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Gary asked: As a Leeds fan, I was wondering how you liked your time at Elland Road?

Michael replied: I enjoyed the challenge and I had a great rapport with the supporters.

It was at times a difficult situation because of the manager change and different owners, but we had great fun.

It was a brilliant environment to work in and I thoroughly enjoy it when I get to go back to Leeds United now.

It was at the latter end of my career and I wish I could have done it a little bit earlier. As players we steadied the ship of uncertainty and it was a good group.

It is great to see Leeds doing well this season and hopefully we will see them back in the Premier League because that is where they need to be.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Top of the Championship, Leeds United look well placed to bounce straight back to the Premier League, but would their squad be capable of succeeding where they failed last season?

Former Whites goalkeeper Paul Robinson tells The Football News Show why Daniel Farke's side are already in position to make a better fight of the top flight than the team that were relegated.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United's Archie Gray says it has been "a crazy" season for him playing as a versatile midfielder and right-back.

Gray has made 36 Championship appearances this season and only turned 18 two weeks ago.

Daniel Farke moved the teen to right-back after an injury crisis and Gray has since played almost exclusively in that position.

"I am still wary of getting ahead of myself because that is not my usual position," said Gray on the My Mate's A Footballer podcast. "I am not really bothered about where I play. I just want to play games.

"The boss asked me if I had ever played a game at right-back and I said yes, but only in one game at under-15 level! Then that weekend I went and sat in the meeting room and I saw I was not playing. But then someone tapped me and started laughing. So I looked at the sheet again and saw I was playing right-back!

"I would probably be all right with playing there for the rest of my career. If I am playing then I am totally fine with it, but then when you switch back to the midfield it feels weird."

Gray's versatility caught the eyes of Lee Carsley, who recently called him up for the England Under-21s to play alongside Liverpool's Harvey Elliott and Chelsea's Noni Madueke.

He made his debut as a substitute against Azerbaijan and scored within five minutes of being on the pitch.

Promoted to start against Luxembourg, Gray was used at right-back and finished his international stint with one goal and one assist.

Listen to the My Mate's A Footballer podcast on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United winger Dan James would "feel a bit gutted" to miss out on automatic promotion but knows the top three teams are very "tight".

The Whites are top of the Championship table and level on points with Leicester City, but the Foxes have a game in hand. Breathing down their necks are Ipswich Town, with just one point separating the three teams.

"It would be gutting to miss out on the top two," James said on the latest episode of the My Mate's A Footballer Podcast. "Hopefully we don't have to go through that, but we would have to get on with it and get ready for play-offs.

"The teams that finish fifth and sixth go into those games buzzing, but we would feel a bit gutted."

Listen to the My Mate's A Footballer Podcast on BBC Sounds

Leeds forward Patrick Bamford and comedian Joe Wilkinson have spent almost an entire podcast series speaking to each other but are yet to meet in person. Until now.

The latest episode of BBC Sounds' My Mate's A Footballer takes place at the Whites' Thorp Arch training ground as Wilkinson lines up a free-kick and wanders round the complex chatting to all the players he meets.

Listen now on BBC Sounds

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media ahead of Leeds United's Championship game at Watford on Friday (20:00 GMT kick-off).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Georginio Rutter, who had minor hernia surgery during the international break, has returned to group training and "looks good". Farke added: "I'm carefully optimistic he'll be in the squad [to face Watford]."

• He confirmed Pascal Strujik will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery last week.

• Connor Roberts is a doubt after "limping" off for Wales on Tuesday and Willy Gnonto and Ilia Gruev have reported hamstring and ankle strains respectively.

• On lifting Roberts and Dan James after disappointment with the Wales team: "We will speak a bit, but I want them to focus pretty quick on Leeds as we have a lot to play for and fight for. Our fingers were crossed for them but it's sport. I'm sure they'll draw a line under it pretty quick."

• He said he would "love" to have Stuart Dallas in his team, but "there’s no time pressure" for his return. He added that Dallas "is a Leeds legend and has everyone's backing".

• On the international break and the chance to reset: "We tried to do our best and put some proper work in, but when so many players are away it's difficult. The good thing is we were in red-hot form, so on Friday we just have to press a button and be on it."

• Farke said his squad will not have a full training session together before Friday's game but "it is reality and we have to adapt to it".

• On being top of the table: "We don't have to speak about the table right now. It's just about concentrating and finding a way to be competitive. There's still so much work to do."

• He said he feels "honoured to work with these lads every day" and described the dressing room spirit as "extraordinary".

• On opponents Watford: "They have lots of experienced, physical and quality players. It's a home game so they will be highly motivated. We have to prepare for a difficult game, dig in and show great unity. We'll need our away support to carry us in difficult points of the match."

Former Leicester City captain Wes Morgan and ex-Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson tell The Football News Show what will make the difference in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship and why the games against teams in the bottom half of the table could be more pivotal than those higher up.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

Leeds United are on the precipice of a historic promotion, but the final stretch of the Championship season has caused the Whites problems in the past - a capitulation against 10-man Wigan Athletic and subsequent play-off heartbreak during the 2018-19 season turning fans into seasoned cynics.

To avoid similar disaster and secure promotion this campaign, they need three things:

Togetherness

In 23 games this season, one goal would have altered the result. A fitness coach keeping a player healthy. The crowd lifting the team in a tense moment. Everyon connected to the club must be united.

Focus

Leeds have been affected by off-field distractions before. From Sarfraz Najeib to spygate, and the start of this season when players refused to play. The squad and staff must remain focused.

Performances

Finally, injuries and dubious decisions have cost Leeds league titles and European silverware before. The whole squad must step up when needed, while performances must remove refereeing errors from affecting results.

"We have had a good season, but it will mean nothing if we do not get promoted," Marcelo Bielsa said after that infamous Wigan game, as United slipped to third with three to play.

A stark reminder to maintain the high standards set this year, stay focused and stick together.

Adonis Storr can be found at The Roaring Peacock, external

Are you feeling at a loose end without any football?

BBC Radio Leeds have you covered in their latest episode of the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, as Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix sets the United quiz questions for Jonny Buchan, and Adam Pope.

Join in and listen on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts on Leicester City being charged by the Premier League for allegedly breaking spending rules during their past three seasons in the top flight.

Here are some of your replies:

Richard: This surely gives Leeds grounds to sue Leicester, Everton and Nottingham Forest? By being financially responsible as owners, Leeds have suffered unjustified relegation, costing millions in revenue and value.

Gareth: I feel that if they deduct the points now, it would be unfair on the excitement and competition in the Championship. If they want to deduct points, they should be taken off when they join the Premier League.

Andy: Everton, Forest and Leicester: the three teams that finished above us in the Premier League have all been found to have done so unfairly. That is really unlucky and unjust on Leeds - but there is nothing new there!

Peter: It makes no difference to the final race in the current Championship with eight matches remaining. Each of the contenders would be sadly mistaken to be distracted by the maybe-yes, maybe-no penalty position that Leicester sadly find themselves in.

Howard: Leicester, Everton and Forest finished above Leeds last season and all three have been charged with cheating. How is it fair that teams who play by the rules get relegated when others (appear to) cheat? Consider the impact on fans, staff and players at clubs relegated and a points deduction after the fact isn’t sufficient.

Bud: I hope that we are not penalised by dithering. We suffered relegation despite the Everton fiasco... don't want to miss out on promotion due to the Leicester case.

Adrian: The problem with all the profitability and sustainability rule decisions is the length of time it takes. So if Leicester are found guilty, but the punishment is not issued until next season, one of Leeds, Ipswich or Southampton could miss out in promotion.

Leicester City have been charged by the Premier League with allegedly breaking spending rules during their past three seasons in the top flight.

The Foxes have been referred to an independent commission for breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and failing to submit audited finances.

If found guilty, they could face a points deduction that might spill into next season, regardless of whether they are promoted.

However, with six weeks to go, it is unlikely the situation will be resolved before the end of the Championship promotion race.

Leeds fans, tell us how you feel about the situation

Southampton supporters, what do you make of it?

After receiving hundreds of messages, Patrick and Joe have released a part two of answering your questions on this week's My Mate's A Footballer podcast.

Leeds striker Bamford was asked about his recent goal against Rotherham which appeared to go in off his arm:

"At the time, I thought, ‘it’s really close to me, but I can’t quite get it with my body, so I’m just going to nudge it with my elbow’.

"I thought, ‘that’s really subtle, everyone will think it came off my chest’. I ran off and as I’m running off, I tried to make it look normal. Looked back and their players are going mental. The ref’s given the goal. Stupidly, I did a celebration where I tapped my elbow. The goal was already given.

"Afterwards, we’re walking back to the centre circle – one of their players asked me, ‘did you handball it?’ I said yeah. The ref said, ‘did it touch your hand?’, before it had kicked off again. To be fair, it didn’t touch my hand, it touched my elbow, so I said ‘no, it didn’t touch my hand’."

Would he prefer the game with or without VAR?

"For supporters, it needs to be refined a lot to not take the joy out of the game. I think simple things like, with offside, if it’s that close, you’re literally just an inch offside, I think it has to be really obvious. If it’s not obvious to the natural eye, then it’s not offside. I’d keep goal line technology and then I’d just keep it for penalties or red cards."

On the Crystal Palace collapse last season – was there a dressing room bust-up?

"They scored just before half-time, so it was 1-1. We ended up losing 5-1. Afterwards, it came out that there was this fight in the changing room. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. People were maybe shouting a little bit because we’d just conceded before half-time.

"I’ve been in the changing room where there’s been actual bust-ups at Leeds – like people have had to be separated, but that game, where everyone thinks there was one, there actually wasn’t. I guess it’s an easy way to explain the fact that we came out and lost 5-1."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Leeds United are set to offer midfielder Archie Gray, 18, an improved contract in the summer amid interest from top-six Premier League clubs. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column