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2024/25 EFL Championship: Leeds leave it late to spur an amazing comeback that also extends their lead up front against 2nd-placed Sheffield United by 3-1 at Bramall Lane

by Sports Benches

So there you have it, Sheffield United thought they could stop the clear 2nd tier leaders as of late in Leeds United thanks to a Leeds own goal by lIlan Mesiler (GK) earlier on – and have led the way 1-0 for the most part until Leeds struck back this late on their opponents’ hallowed turf (Bramall Lane) with 15-20 odd mins to go thanks to three stunning late strikes that secured yet another win by 3-1.

Gotta say the Blades have came a long way from minus two points to challenging at the top end of the table but they’ll just have to find another way now since Sheffield United were unable to hold off their 1-0 lead when Leeds have been searching with attacking intent all game long.

Which other team is gonna try and stop them in its tracks now that Leeds have gained another few points up front? 

We started the new season back in August 2024 with 2-3 teams closely trying to snatch that elusive first spot where one of them will not just be crowned the Championship winner but also regain Premier League status for next season (2025/26) come May.

Now looking at February 2025 as of Matchday 34/46, it seems that Leeds have set the benchmark once again tonight even though they nearly had all game to connect the dots, and they did that successfully with all the time they’ve got left to lock this game up with the win.

Meanwhile, if Burnley win next time around v relegation battlers Cardiff City and Sheffield United lose, then looks like hope is not lost after all when it comes to reclaiming 2nd off Sheffield United by a two point difference. Although there’s a still long way to go as they are currently eight points behind Leeds – despite the way they play is based on defensive football rather than the bang, bang attacking ones that Leeds are so happily craving right now.

If Leeds win the title with Daniel Farke onboard for the third time coming, good for him as no can do for others trying to stop them – just wait and see how they go in the PL and he hasn’t been that great at the bottom end of the table unfortunately not once but twice after topping the Championship with Norwich City all those years ago.

Next up, Leeds will go back home at Elland Road at the same time this weekend v West Brom & Sheffield United travelling to London against Queens Park Rangers while Burnley look to go into the sixth round of the FA Cup comp v fellow Lancashire team in Preston North End.

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2024-25 EFL Championship 29/46: Burnley hold out another draw this time against another title contender in Leeds United

by Sports Benches

Another week, another draw between two of the Championship title contenders in 3rd-placed Burnley & 1st-placed Leeds United at Turf Moor. The good news is that Burnley is still three points away off top spot with Sheffield United standing in the way by one place & point behind in 2nd, so still plenty of time as of Matchday 29/46 + a bit more if they end up outside the Top 2.

It would be awesome if Scott Parker can add that Championship trophy to his silverware cabinet like the Leeds manager (Daniel Farke) has done twice before when he was managing Norwich City (although his record at the PL wasn’t great much like Parker) so he can complete his hat-trick of Championship honours 1 (champion), 2 (runner-up), 3 (play-off winner).

However, it’s been frustrating and insipid at times when it comes to Burnley’s final third attacking play unlike Leeds and even Sheffield United except their defensive record including the goalie James Trafford is ever so strong. They wish they could do that more often like the Plymouth Argyle game last week 5-0 but then Burnley would rather hope for the best for a draw, especially when it’s against a top side.

Yes, the January transfer window isn’t the best time as always but it can also be a good time to make a few changes that could hopefully help them with the distance on the road towards May & be accepted back in the Premier League. 

So far two of the signings they made were free transfers on short term deals with another being a young right back from Denmark while a few have already left to get more minutes on-loan.

They could’ve also done any better when it comes to signing right winger Morgan Whittaker who did extremely well at Plymouth Argyle last season but again, it seems Burnley weren’t serious enough to get over the line at all and Middlesbrough won that race instead. Although you can tell he had attitude issues having declined to play v Burnley the other day just 48 hours before he joined Boro for £6m + another £2m in add-ons.

You never know what could happen like they did by surprise lately going into deadline day. Even if they don’t sign more after January 31, maybe giving Mike Tresor a chance initially as a sub in the second tier while starting out for their next FA Cup game v Southampton would be great – as he still has something to offer despite his setbacks in last recent months.

Burnley will be back a few days later this weekend on the road to Fratton Park v Portsmouth and Leeds return home at Elland Road v 18th-placed Cardiff City.

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EFL Championship: Thoughts on Carlos Corberan heading back to Spain from West Brom with a huge relegation battle ahead at the struggling Valencia CF side in La Liga

by Sports Benches

Well, it’s Christmas Day today and Valencia CF has decided to change managers having just swiftly sorted a replacement in Spanish compatriot Carlos Corberan via £2.5 million/€3 milloon compensation from West Brom – something West Ham wouldn’t want to do under their current owners.

This comes not long after their 2-2 all draw v Alaves the other day even though it wasn’t enough to keep Ruben Baraja in the hot seat at least a bit longer when they’re currently four points off to escape the bottom three in 19th. The time is now for Corberan to try keep the once-decorated club in the La Liga top flight as his first game will be the postponed game v Real Madrid next Saturday morning (7am AEDT 4th Jan) at their home Mestalla venue due to the floods that impacted the city two months ago.

Yes, he has yet to have won a trophy as manager before other than U23 level with Leeds United but he has been very established at Championship level for a number of years. He helped Huddersfield Town finish 3rd only to lose in the Play-Off Final two seasons ago v Nottingham Forest before he quit shortly after, as well as the two-legged Play-Off semi off the back of 5th last season at West Brom when they lost to also eventual Play-Off winners this time by Southampton. 

Now he will leave the Black Country club in 7th by just a goal difference shy or two from the Top 6 spots at 35 points that could give West Brom the chance either way back to the Premier League. I know it’s such an incredibly difficult league with the Top 2 being handed automatic and the other being the Play-Off winner but whoever comes in would be at the right time to keep up with the Top 6 ahead of the January winter transfer next month.

And once he arrives at the Mestalla soon enough as said above, sure he will continue to unpack his tactics like his mentor Marcelo Bielsa, who spent some time with him before as assistant coach at Leeds prior to his first top job a few years ago.

We wish him all the best as not only Valencia will get out of this on the field but off the field as well when they will finally be allowed to finish their new half stadium come January 10.

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