Why the history books back up Leeds United's Premier…

Why the history books back up Leeds United's Premier League promotion case

Only one of the last 20 clubs to be automatically promoted from the Championship wouldn't have made it if the season were ended after 37 games, boosting any promotion claim Leeds United would have if the season ends early.

Exactly how, or even if the 2019/20 Championship season will be concluded remains a matter of speculation.

However, the EFL released a statement on Wednesday, which said that clubs could return to training on May 25.

While this suggests the season might be resumed, the statement also went on to say: “the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be rectified simply by a return to play behind closed doors.”

That would suggest that the prospect of ending the season now is still on the cards, and that some other way of determining promotion and relegation would have to be found.

One possibility is taking the table as it stands right now, with 37 games of the season played.

Historically speaking, this would by and large result in the “right” clubs being promoted in the top two.

If we take the table as it would have looked based on every club’s record after 37 games, only one of the last 10 seasons had a team in the top two who didn’t finish there.

That was the 2018/19 campaign.

Norwich City and Leeds United had the highest number of points after 37 games - 75 and 73 respectively.

Sheffield United had the third highest tally with 71 points.

However, by the time the season ended the Blades had overtaken the Whites and finished six points ahead of them.

How the top two would have looked after 37 games vs how it ended