It could be a long Good Friday for Leeds fans as they await results from their two automatic promotion rivals before their side face relegation-threatened Oxford in a crucial Championship fixture on Easter weekend.
Daniel Farke’s side appear to have put their spring jitters behind them with back-to-back wins, but there will be added pressure on them at Kassam Stadium if Burnley and Sheffield United do the business in their earlier kick-offs.
The Clarets’ afternoon trip to face Watford, the Blades’ teatime tussle with Cardiff and the leaders’ evening clash with the U’s should provide plenty of drama.
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Friday football betting tips
Bet of the day
Under 0.5 Watford goals v Burnley @ 11/10
Four years ago, Watford equalled the record for the fewest goals conceded in a 46-game Championship campaign as they sealed promotion.
But their mark of 30 goals allowed looks set to be smashed by Burnley, who have shipped only 13 with four games to go.
The Clarets’ reputation as the tightest defence the second tier has ever seen should survive this trip to Vicarage Road, where the home team have scored 25 goals in 21 games, intact.
Scott Parker’s side have kept 14 clean sheets in their last 19 away league trips, which makes the 11/10 about them shutting out the Hornets look like good value.
Watford have failed to score in three of their last seven at home and will not find it easy to get past a hard-working Burnley side refreshed after a seven-day break.
Special of the day
Tyrese Campbell to score anytime @ 7/4
Sheffield United have to end a three-game losing streak if they are to keep up the pressure on the two clubs ahead of them in the title race.
Chris Wilder will no doubt have his team well prepared and fired up for Friday’s visit of a Cardiff side who appear to be in panic mode.
The Bluebirds sit one point adrift of safety with four to play as they desperately try to avoid slipping into the third tier for the first time in 22 years.
Head coach Omer Riza is on thin ice and his team are without several first-choice players through injury.
Cardiff lost 5-0 at Burnley and 7-0 at Leeds earlier this season, so it will be interesting to see how the Blades measure up to their rivals here.
A big win might be possible if United score early and the Bramall Lane crowd cajole them for more goals.
Club top scorer Tyrese Campbell looks set to return to the starting line-up after beginning on the bench at Plymouth last weekend.
He has scored four goals in his last seven starts and looks capable of adding to his 10-goal league tally this Easter.
Long shot of the day
Correct score after 30 min: Oxford 0-2 Leeds @ 11/1
Leeds have been scoring a lot of early goals lately, breaking the deadlock after one minute against Swansea, two minutes at Middlesbrough and four minutes into last Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Preston.
Farke’s team are the Championship’s top scorers by a distance – having registered 19 goals more than Norwich – and they have also been the most potent side in the opening 30 minutes of their contests.
The Whites have scored 28 of their 82 total goals in the first half-hour and will look to maintain their recent record of fast starts against Oxford, who were a goal down after seven minutes of their latest home game.
If Leeds are in the mood and Oxford are sloppy from the outset, there is a chance that the visitors can race a couple of goals clear in the opening 30 minutes – as they have done in two of their last seven away league games.
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