We are now 14 games into the 2019/20 Championship season and it is shaping up to be one of the most enthralling promotion races we have seen in recent years.
After 14 rounds of pulsating, enthralling second-tier fixtures, just five points separate West Bromwich Albion at the top of the table on 27 points and Nottingham Forest in 10th on 22 points.
Currently, Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United lie 3rd in the table on 25 points, just outside the automatic promotion places on goal-difference to Preston North End.
But whilst there is no great surprise about seeing the Whites right in the thick of the promotion shake-up, especially after coming so close to ending their Premier League exile last term, United have certainly faced their fair share of stern fixtures since kicking-off the campaign in August.
Of United's first 14 league outings, seven of them have come against fellow top 10 rivals. In those seven matches, which have been against Bristol City (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Swansea City (H), Charlton Athletic (A), West Brom (H), Preston North End (A) and Sheffield Wednesday (A), Bielsa's side have collected just nine points from a possible 21, winning just twice.
But whilst United's form has been far from blistering against fellow promotion rivals, they have only lost once - that being a frustrating 1-0 reverse to Charlton Athletic.
Here, LeedsLive takes a close look at how the fellow nine sides inside the top 10 have gone on against fellow top 10 clubs so far this season...
West Bromwich Albion
Played: 5
Won: 2
Drawn: 2
Lost: 1
Points: 8
Average points per game vs top ten side: 1.6
Preston North End
Played: 5
Won: 1
Drawn: 3
Lost: 1
Points: 6
Average points per game vs top ten side: 1.2
Leeds United
Played: 7
Won: 2
Drawn: 3
Lost: 2
Points: 9
Average points per game vs top ten side: 1.3
Swansea City
Played: 6
Won: 4
Drawn: 1
Lost: 1
Points: 13
Average points per game vs top ten side: 2.2
Sheffield Wednesday
Played: 4
Won: 0
Drawn: 2
Lost: 2
Points: 2
Average points per game vs top ten side: 0.5
Bristol City
Played: 5
Won: 2
Drawn: 2
Lost: 2
Points: 8
Average points per game vs top ten side: 1.6
Fulham
Played: 4
Won: 0
Drawn: 3
Lost: 1
Points: 3
Average points per game vs top ten side: 0.75
QPR
Played: 4
Won: 1
Drawn: 0
Lost: 3
Points: 3
Average points per game vs top ten side: 0.75
Charlton Athletic
Played: 6
Won: 1
Drawn: 3
Lost: 2
Points: 6
Average points per game vs top ten side: 1
Nottingham Forest
Played: 6
Won: 2
Drawn: 3
Lost: 1
Points: 9
Average points per game vs top ten side: 1.5
As you can see from the statistics outlined above, Leeds have, in fact, faced more top 10 counterparts than any of the other top 10 clubs.
But in terms of who has scooped the most points against top 10 teams so far this season, it is Steve Cooper's Swansea City. The Swans have collected 13 points from six matches against fellow top 10 teams, winning four of them.
Whilst Leeds have faced a challenging start to the season, though, their upcoming fixture list seems a lot more lenient, with just three of their next games being against sides currently inside the top 10.
Visit our dedicated Leeds United page for the latest news, views and analysis from Elland Road.
