Leicester City must do this to clinch automatic promotion
Promotion is the goal for Leicester City. Despite early season success, the battle at the top of the table is fierce, and there are few points remaining to play for. Here is what the Foxes must do to secure a return to the Premier League.
Leicester City's previous campaign was abysmal, the start to the 23/24 season was electric, and the end of this EFL Championship competition shall be nail-biting. That being said, everything is in Leicester's hands: the King Power club - with a game in hand - are a point ahead of Ipswich Town in second and two clear of Leeds United in third.
So, let us have a look at what has to be done to get automatic promotion from this point onwards, what our remaining fixtures are compared to our nearest competitors, and predict where the Foxes shall finish in a few game-weeks. After the victory over Birmingham City, LCFC are sitting pretty.
Leicester City's promotion charge
In its most simple form, if Leicester won all their remaining six fixtures, they are promoted as champions with a four points gap to Ipswich if they won all their remaining fixtures. This would mean the two clubs go up uncontested. Of course, this is football and not PlayStation, so points can still be lost.
As there is that four point cushion, one loss is permissible provided our competitors win their remaining five fixtures. They can get a maximum of 15 extra points, we only need 14 extra points. So, three wins and two draws while suffering one loss would still be enough. Remember Enzo Maresca's men have a massive goal difference, with only the Elland Road team competing on that front.
If either one of Ipswich or Leeds lose a match, this would mean the Foxes have an even better outcome. The gap to Leeds if both teams continue to win would end as five. one loss on their part pushes that to eight, meaning Leicester can lose two matches, draw two, and win two, and still get automatic promotion.
We remember the gap to Ipswich would be four if both LCFC and the fairy-tale team win their remaining games. However, one loss from them takes that to seven, which again means Leicester can suffer to losses and still stay ahead in the title charge.
The remaining ties predicted
These are the remaining fixtures for the three clubs implicated, as well as my predictions for whether they shall win or lose those matches. Of course remembering that Leicester City can get promoted even if they lose one, and that would get easier if their opponents lose any.
Leicester City | Ipswich Town | Leeds United |
|---|---|---|
MILLWALL (A) - DRAW | WATFORD (H) - DRAW | SUNDERLAND (H) - WIN |
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (A) - WIN | MIDDLESBROUGH (H) - WIN | BLACKBURN ROVERS (H) - WIN |
WEST BROMWICH ALBION (H) - WIN | HULL CITY (A) - WIN | MIDDLESBROUGH (A) - WIN |
SOUTHAMPTON (H) - LOSS | COVENTRY CITY (A) - LOSS | QPR (A) - WIN |
PRESTON NORTH END (A) - DRAW | HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (H) - WIN | SOUTHAMPTON (H) - LOSS |
BLACKBURN ROVERS (H) - WIN | ---GAME IN-HAND--- | ---GAME IN-HAND--- |
I do think all three will win most of their remaining games, although I feel the Foxes will struggle with Southampton and Milwall, ultimately giving away points to them. On the other hand, Ipswich Town lost to Norwich City in their most recent outing, so we know they could struggle with play-off battlers such as Coventry City and could have a foray against an inconsistent Watford.
Meanwhile, Leeds should win all but perhaps one of their matches, as Southampton will hope to secure a strong position for the play-off campaign or perhaps if Leeds had lost a few try and climb the table.
Where do you think Maresca's men will finish? Can they win their remaining fixtures, or will they falter and let their lead slip? Let Foxes of Leicester know through our social media channels.
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