Leeds United finally edged clear of Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United on Saturday after a hard-fought 1-0 win over city rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
The Blades’ dramatic 1-1 draw with Millwall at 3pm, coupled with the Whites' 1-0 victory over the Owls in the late kick-off, saw Marcelo Bielsa’s men establish a three-point lead in second place.
With just four games to go in the race to reach the Premier League, United now have a little bit of wriggle room.
However, the Whites found themselves one point behind Chris Wilder’s side at the start of the week. Two match days later, there has been a four-point swing, which shows how quickly things can change in football, particularly in the Championship.
Norwich City, meanwhile, dropped two points on Sunday, when they faced relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic, who needed the points to secure their league status.
After that game, the Canaries hold a four-point lead over United, after drawing midweek with Reading too.
Here is a breakdown of each team's fixtures, with four games to go.
Norwich City P41 85pts
- Sheffield Wednesday (H)
- Stoke City (A)
- Blackburn Rovers (H)
- Aston Villa (A)
Norwich saw their eight-game winning run ended in midweek as a 97th-minute Reading equaliser denied them another win at Carrow Road. They travelled to the DW Stadium today, looking to make amends, but failed to get the win.
Coming up, the Canaries take on Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City over Good Friday and Easter Monday. As the Whites saw yesterday, the Owls are a much-improved, resilient side, although their play-off hopes are now over. Stoke won’t make things easy either, as they look to continue their rebuild under Nathan Jones.
Blackburn is the easiest of their remaining fixtures, while Daniel Farke will hope to have promotion sewn up by the time they travel to Villa Park on the final day.
It’s still all in their own hands, but Norwich's lead is looking a little more vulnerable than a week ago.
Marcelo Bielsa's full message to Leeds United players and fans as their promotion dream edges nearer
Leeds United P42 82pts
- Wigan (H)
- Brentford (A)
- Aston Villa (H)
- Ipswich Town (A)
What a day for United. Saturday seemed scripted, as Millwall’s 95th-minute equaliser at Bramall Lane lifted the mood at Elland Road before the Whites had even kicked off.
I predicted last week the Whites would need 16 points from their last 18 to gain promotion. After back-to-back wins, they will be guaranteed a place in the top flight with 10 from their last 12.
Wigan’s visit on Good Friday should see a fairly routine win at Elland Road, although it’s never that simple with United. A trip to Brentford on Easter Monday will test United’s resolve and mettle, before a real humdinger at home to Villa.
If the Whites can make it through those games with a lead intact, I make them worthy winners in the race for second spot. Ipswich on the final day will be a party atmosphere and one the long-suffering Leeds supporters should enjoy.
Jack Harrison on how Marcelo Bielsa's secret to keeping Leeds United focused during the run-in
Sheffield United P42 79pts
- Nottingham Forest (H)
- Hull City (A)
- Ipswich (H)
- Stoke (A)
It’s been a very tough week for the Blades. Two points from as many games has seen a four-point swing between second and third, with Wilder’s side now firmly playing catch up.
Forest are in poor form, making their next game a potentially nicer fixture than it first seemed. Hull, however, have improved of late, and a trip to KCOM Stadium is never easy.
If the Blades can reduce the deficit by this point, they’ll definitely fancy themselves to take six points from their final two games against rock-bottom Ipswich and a Stoke side in transition.
'Impossible to stop' Pundit assesses Leeds United and Sheffield United promotion chances
I could see Blades matching United's point-haul in the final four games, but with a three-point swing needed, it is most definitely the Whites’ to lose.
