Championship table that sends Leeds United a play-off warning ahead of semi-final Norwich

Leeds United will be hoping not to continue their play-off end to the season as they prepare to travel to Norwich City this weekend.

The Whites’ regular Championship campaign ended with a whimper, losing to fellow promotion rivals Southampton at Elland Road on the final day. And that form is cause for concern ahead of the knockout stages of the season.

Daniel Farke’s side effectively handed the title to Leicester City after shock defeat to Queens Park Rangers in their last game on the road. However, the absolute drop in form has been alarming in the penultimate month of the term.

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In April, Leeds managed just seven points from a possible 21 available. It was a run that included defeats to Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City, with their only triumphs coming at the expense of Hull City and Middlesbrough.

It was a stark contrast to the side United supporters have been used to for much of the Championship season. Prior to their 3-1 win over the Tigers, Farke had put together a 15-match unbeaten run which included nine league wins in a row.

And when you look at the form table from the last six games, it makes grim reading for those in all-white. Leeds managed just four points while also having a goal difference of minus 6, their points tally placing them second in the table with only Preston North End and Coventry worse.

Compared to the other three teams competing in the play-offs this weekend, it shows that each enters with a slight momentum advantage for their respective ties. Leeds’ opponents managed five more points in the same time span on Sunday, losing once, as they clinched their final place in the top six.

Russell Martin’s side joined the Canaries on that total with victory at Elland Road on the final day. While West Brom signed off the regular season with a comfortable win over Preston in front of their home supporters.

Having been in contention for an automatic promotion place for much of the campaign, the disappointment of losing cannot linger for Farke’s side. In recent years, it is very rare to see the third-placed team reach the Premier League in the play-offs.

Leeds have shown throughout the term that they have the ability to buck not only that trend but their own play-off history. The Whites enter their sixth campaign in the knockout stages, having previously failed in their last five attempts at this stage, the most recent of which came at the hands of Derby County in 2019.