Suffolk-based top four supporters predict Championship run-in
Leicester City, Leeds United, Ipswich Town, and Southampton are all in a tight competition for Premier League promotion.
Ahead of Saturday’s fixtures, Leicester City leads the Championship with 82 points, Leeds United is second with 79, Ipswich has 78, and Southampton has 73.
It appears that this season will require a significantly greater point total than usual in order to secure promotion.
What do Suffolk-based fans of all four clubs think of their teams’ performances thus far, and who do they think will finish in the top two?
Leicester City: “As long as Leicester go up, I hope Ipswich do too”
League leaders Leicester, who won the Premier League less than a decade ago, have been the season’s standout club thus far.
The Foxes appeared to be on track to return to the Premier League at the first opportunity, but recent inconsistent form has pulled the following pack closer.
Despite being from Ipswich, Paul Wain’s family is all from Leicester, and he has been a longtime supporter of the club.
“Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been the player of the season,” that’s what he stated.
“I’m little afraid of the Premier League because you may get pummeled every week. Winning the Premier League was a fairytale, but it seems so long ago, and you still wonder, ‘How?’
“I believe fair play to Ipswich. The buzz around the place at the end of last year was insane. It was excellent for the town and for a Saturday night. As long as Leicester improves, I hope Ipswich does as well.
Prediction: Leicester City winners, Leeds United promoted.
Leeds United: “We never do things easy”
Following a difficult start, Leeds United appear to be the division’s form team.
The Yorkshire team, led by Daniel Farke, is widely expected to beat Ipswich to second place.
Ollie Ward, 22, a YouTuber whose channel is dedicated to the club, stated: “In the last 12 games, we have won 11, drawn one, and only conceded three goals in 2024.” We’ve hit form at the perfect time.
“We never take things easy. There are games that we should have won but did not. Farke has done this before; he understands how to win games at this stage of the season.
Mr Ward, who resides in Ipswich, stated, “Credit to Ipswich.” Their football last season in League One was destined for the Championship. Southampton and Leicester were anticipated to be in contention, but Town and McKenna have been brilliant.
“Most of my friends are Ipswich fans, and everytime Leeds loses or draws, I have to switch off my phone.
“It will be a tough nine games. “At this point, all form is lost.”
Prediction: Leeds United winners, Leicester City promoted.
Ipswich Town: ‘Unbelievable from McKenna and the players”
The Tractor Boys, who were promoted automatically from League One the previous season, have been this season’s surprise package.
This season, Kieran McKenna’s team has scored the most goals and lost the fewest games—five—together. (74).
“I would have been absolutely staggered if you had told me back in August that we would be in this company,” stated 40-year-old Richard Woodward of the Ipswich Town podcast “Blue Monday.”
“It is amazing that McKenna and the players are still involved in this even though we are in the business end.”
“Suffolk has a huge football culture. The county has only one club. It matters when the club does well. To companies, to students in schools. The Premier League feels so close now, yet it felt so far away a while ago.
It will be wonderful to experience the town’s transformation once more. I recall it from 2000, when we were promoted.
Nobody in the Championship doesn’t have anything to contend with. Around Easter, strange results are consistently observed. Turns still remain.
“I’m not sure how Leicester is playing, Leeds seems to have it together, and Southampton might have a big run.
“We are a little too open, and I think we might fall just a little short. But I am happy to be wrong”.
Prediction: Leicester winners, Leeds United promoted.
Southampton: “We have our club back”
Southampton’s 25-game unbeaten streak earlier in the season set a new club record. They were in an automatic promotion spot during that period, but Town and Leeds were not.
Even though they still have nine games left in April alone, their poor performance subsequently has caused them to drop five points behind Ipswich in third place.
Dan Hiscock, 33, moved to Ipswich when he was three years old, but Southampton is still home to his family.
“Where the club was last season to where it was this year, I feel as though we’ve got our club back,” he stated.
“To put it simply, I’m loving it. My phone blew up the day Ipswich beat us, which made the day terrible.
“We had gone from two victories in a 12-month period to two 9-0 defeats in two seasons. The Premier League was terrible.
“The caliber of this year’s Championship is demonstrated by the fact that we went 25 games without losing and were still outside the top two.
“Ipswich is riding a massive wave at its crest. Kids wearing Town jerseys instead of Manchester United shirts is fantastic for the community.”
He continued: “We’ll happily go under the radar and see what happens, but it is a very tough ask.”
Prediction: Leicester City winners, Leeds United promoted.
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