Leeds United, Leicester City and Ipswich Town are all feeling the pressure at the top of the Championship.
Though Southampton do still have faint hopes of winning automatic promotion, it does appear like it will be a three-horse race for the top two in these final four matches of the season.
On paper, all three sides were facing extremely winnable games in the final midweek schedule of the Championship season, as Leeds faced Sunderland, Ipswich hosted Watford, and Leicester made the trip to Millwall.
However, nerves clearly got the better of them as they all failed to win, with Leeds and Ipswich both being held to 0-0 draws at home to mid-table sides, and the Foxes losing at a relegation struggler.
Heading into the weekend, both Leicester and Ipswich still occupy the top two positions on 88 points, but Leeds are just a point further back in third.
Deeney shares why Ipswich will beat Leeds to promotion this season
Given the form of the three teams, it is now looking impossible to predict who will get over the line, but former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has attempted to do so on Sky Sports News today.
Ipswich face arguably the toughest run-in with trips to Hull and Coventry City to come after hosting Middlesbrough on Saturday, though both Leeds and Leicester still have to face Southampton.
Leeds are unbeaten in all of their league matches at Elland Road this season but it is clear the nerves of the crowd affected the players in midweek against Sunderland.
And it is for that reason Deeney believes Ipswich will pip Leeds to second spot behind Leicester, with ‘all the pressure’ being on the Whites in the run-in.
He said: “I’m going to go with Ipswich. The reason why is, Leeds are going to come at you one way. The Leeds crowd expect you to win, they expect you to be on the front foot. I’ve been fortunate to play there quite a few times and get some decent results.
“If you sit in and hit them on the counterattack, all the pressure is on them, with and without the ball. If you look at Ipswich, they are one of the only few teams, especially at the top, that can play football, beat you up and do whichever way you want to do it.
“They’ve got enough off the bench and enough characters. They’ve got goals throughout the team, a style of play and a belief with the manager, the crowd and the new board, everyone has bought into what this club is all about and they’re riding the crest of a wave.”
Leeds run-in compared to Ipswich and Leicester
Leeds kick off the first of their four remaining matches at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. Nothing but a win would do here given Rovers’ recent struggles.
Daniel Farke’s side then face back-to-back away matches at Middlesbrough and QPR, and it will be interesting if either have anything to play for by then. It all, of course, ends with a home clash with Southampton.
As mentioned, Ipswich have arguably the toughest run-in as they face three play-off chasing sides in Boro (H), Hull City (A) and Coventry City (A). Leeds will be looking for a favour from loanees Luke Ayling and Sam Greenwood against the former. They round off the campaign against a Huddersfield Town side fighting for survival.
Leicester, meanwhile, actually have a game in hand over Leeds and Ipswich, though it could not come much tougher as they host Southampton.
Both West Brom and Blackburn will also make the trip to the East Midlands, while away matches at Plymouth Argyle and Preston North End still remain.
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