Good Morning. It's Thursday 21st May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road. Project Restart edges closer It is looking increasingly likely that the Championship season will recommence in less than a month. A provisional date has been set for the 20th June. We should also hear in the next 24 hours that Championship clubs can resume training on Monday. We also await news via Government sources whether the remaining fixtures will be played at neutral grounds or not, though a decision on this is not expected until next week.. Leeds have a seven point cushion at the top of the table over third place Fulham, with a possible 27 points still to play for. The final play off spot is currently occupied by Preston on 56 points, but with 9 games to go 11th place Swansea City are only three points behind. Theoretically, 15th place Sheffield Wednesday could make up the eight point difference, and join the top six. Perhaps Derby and Sheffield Wednesday will receive their punishment from the EFL for financial fair play misdemeanors. A 12 point deduction for either club would leave hem both in severe relegation territory! At the foot of the table 17th placed Stoke City are only three points from the drop zone. Before football was suspended, Leeds were the in form side in the Championship with 5 wins and a draw. Hull had the worst form with five loses and a draw, followed by the Wendies, Bristol City and Boro. Surprisingly, Wigan were third (3 x W 3 x D), Luton 5th (3 x W, 2 x D 1 x L) and Barnsley 7th (3 x W, 3 x L). West Brom were the fourth best in form team, Fulham 8th and Brentford 15th. Leeds have a tricky tie against Cardiff on the first game back. Third place Fulham play fourth place Brentford. A win for the Bees would leave them a point behind the Cottagers. Some may say that Bentford are more dangerous than Fulham. Who would you want to win that one? At the other end of the table a win for Charlton against Hull would see Lee Bowyer's team change places with the Tigers. Game 1 Blackburn Rovers v Bristol City Cardiff City v Leeds United Fulham v Brentford Huddersfield Town v Wigan Athletic Hull City v Charlton Athletic Luton Town v Preston North End Middlesbrough v Swansea City Millwall v Derby County Queens Park Rangers v Barnsley Reading v Stoke City Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City There's a double six pointer at the top of the Championship in game Two. Leeds entertain Fulham whilst Brentford play West Brom Game 2 Barnsley v Millwall Brentford v West Bromwich Albion Bristol City v Sheffield Wednesday Charlton Athletic v Queens Park Rangers Derby County v Reading Preston North End v Cardiff City Birmingham City v Hull City Leeds United v Fulham Nottingham Forest v Huddersfield Town Stoke City v Middlesbrough Swansea City v Luton Town Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers During the third round of games, top of the table Leeds play 23rd place Luton Town. Get your popcorn ready for Hull v Boro, surely a six pointer at the foot of the table. Game 3 Barnsley v Blackburn Rovers Birmingham City v Huddersfield Town Cardiff City v Charlton Athletic Hull City v Middlesbrough Leeds United v Luton Town Millwall v Swansea City Nottingham Forest v Bristol City Preston North End v Derby County Queens Park Rangers v Fulham Reading v Brentford Sheffield Wednesday v West Bromwich Albion Wigan Athletic v Stoke City At the half way point, Leeds travel to Blackburn (never an easy tie) whilst second placed West Brom face relegation threatened Hull. Game 4 Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United Brentford v Wigan Athletic Bristol City v Cardiff City Charlton Athletic v Millwall Derby County v Nottingham Forest Fulham v Birmingham City Huddersfield Town v Preston North End Luton Town v Reading Middlesbrough v Queens Park Rangers Stoke City v Barnsley Swansea City v Sheffield Wednesday West Bromwich Albion v Hull City With four games to go, Leeds face Stoke City. Although in 17th place, Stoke are only three points from the drop zone. They will be desperate to get something out of the game. At the foot of the table Barnsley play Luton Town. Forest entertain Fulham whilst Brentford have a tricky tie against Charlton. Game 5 Birmingham City v Swansea City Brentford v Charlton Athletic Bristol City v Hull City Cardiff City v Blackburn Rovers Leeds United v Stoke City Luton Town v Barnsley Millwall v Middlesbrough Nottingham Forest v Fulham Reading v Huddersfield Town Sheffield Wednesday v Preston North End West Bromwich Albion v Derby County Wigan Athletic v Queens Park Rangers Leeds play Swansea City in game Six of the season. There is no reason why, if the Swans went on run why they wouldn't be around the play offs, so all to play for. Huddersfield v Luton and Preston v Forest look interesting fixtures! Game 6 Barnsley v Wigan Athletic Blackburn Rovers v West Bromwich Albion Charlton Athletic v Reading Derby County v Brentford Fulham v Cardiff City Huddersfield Town v Luton Town Hull City v Millwall Middlesbrough v Bristol City Preston North End v Nottingham Forest Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield Wednesday Stoke City v Birmingham City Swansea City v Leeds United With two games to go, top play bottom (assuming and hoping Leeds are still top at this point), West Brom face Fulham (Come on you Baggies) and Brentford face off against Preston. Game 7 Birmingham City v Charlton Athletic Brentford v Preston North End Bristol City v Stoke City Cardiff City v Derby County Leeds United v Barnsley Luton Town v Queens Park Rangers Millwall v Blackburn Rovers Nottingham Forest v Swansea City Reading v Middlesbrough Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield Town West Bromwich Albion v Fulham Wigan Athletic v Hull City Leeds will hope to for a Ram raid on the penultimate game of the season. At the bottom Hull play Luton. Game 8 Barnsley v Nottingham Forest Blackburn Rovers v Reading Charlton Athletic v Wigan Athletic Derby County v Leeds United Fulham v Sheffield Wednesday Huddersfield Town v West Bromwich Albion Hull City v Luton Town Middlesbrough v Cardiff City Preston North End v Birmingham City Queens Park Rangers v Millwall Stoke City v Brentford Swansea City v Bristol City The roller coaster season comes to an end against Lee Bowyer's Charlton Athletic. Imagine if both promotion and relegation rested on this result!!!! Similarly Brentford face Barnsley whilst Wigan entertain Fulham! Game 9 Birmingham City v Derby County Brentford v Barnsley Bristol City v Preston North End Cardiff City v Hull City Leeds United v Charlton Athletic Luton Town v Blackburn Rovers Millwall v Huddersfield Town Nottingham Forest v Stoke City Reading v Swansea City Sheffield Wednesday v Middlesbrough West Bromwich Albion v Queens Park Rangers Wigan Athletic v Fulham
Good morning, Clearly we have a decent run in. If we're still a few points ahead I would expect most of the games to be no trouble. I think we have to get something from the first two games though. If we were down to a one point gap by week 3 then who knows what the pressure could do. I'm sure no one needs to be reminded of Wigan at home last year.
Morning Tommo, The good news is it is in our hands. If we draw against Fulham, it harms them a lot more than us. Good to see Fulham and Brentford have yet to play the Baggies
Morning all. I think playing behind closed doors may favour Leeds in some of the away games. Most teams raise their game when they play Leeds as their supporters see it as a big game. Without the fervour of the crowd they may find this more difficult.
Morning all. What a disorganized outfit the football authorities. Why isn’t the championship back in training same time as the pl and same start dates. Word Of caution, some experts saying six weeks training to get footballers up to match fitness. Less than that could lead in particular to hamstring injuries. Our small settled squad can not afford any of these. Just look at the three gams Kalvin missed. Imagine him pulling his hamstring in first game back. Far too many fans on social media believing we are virtually certainties if football returns.
The Fulham game reminds me of the Sheff Utd home game last season. It's not a must win game but its definitely a must not lose game. If we lose that game then it not only brings them closer to us but it has major mental repercussions. Leeds all of a sudden will be looking over their shoulders and Fulham will have the belief that they can catch us. It's a season defining fixture and the one I am most worried about. Last year we were the better team against Sheff Utd in that game but a couple of mistakes cost us a goal and a red card. It really affected the rest of the season.
Win at Cardiff coupled with a Brentford win, 10 point cushion. Win or draw against Fulham and it’s job done. IF it restarts. Issue is cost of testing players. EFL saying they will fund it but clubs pointing out that this is money coming from future payments to them. Vested interests of championship clubs beginning to show cracks as well I believe.
Playing behind closed doors against Cardiff is a plus in my book. We usually hit the ground running, here's hoping that continues.
Do you really believe Bielsa and Co will have let the squad fitness slack. The will have had the word, don't you dare comeback unfit. Have you seen the photo's of our new striker, lost about a stone from the look of it, if not more.
I like the comment from Luis Enrique, the Spain manager. “Football without fans is sadder than dancing with your sister”
Nothing to do with match fitness. Many managers and players have said there is no substitute for match fitness and its a totally different level to what can be achieved at home
Yes but I was making point that our system is hugely dependant on certain players remaining fit, eg Philips. Nobody else likely has a player as influential. Hopefully won't be an issue anyway given the slim chance of more footie in this season
Season will finish, new cases will be less than 1,000 a day and probably about 500 in 3 weeks time. Most of them will be health care workers, families of health care workers and care homes.