WAITING GAME
PARTY PUT ON HOLD AS LEEDS KEEP UP PRESSURE
LEICESTER City’s potential promotion party is on pause after Leeds United kept the pressure on with a thrilling 4-3 win at Middlesbrough last night.
Three points for Daniel Farke’s men at the Riverside Stadium mean that, as it stands, City still need two wins from their final three fixtures to earn their place back in the Premier League.
If Leeds had lost, victory over Southampton tonight would have been enough to get City back in the top flight.
As it is, three points this evening will now just be a very significant step towards promotion.
It has been a tumultuous couple of months for City as poor form threatened to see them miss out on promotion, prompting anger among supporters - but there’s a chance to send them home in a fine mood tonight.
Maresca said: “I’m completely happy with the fans home and away, even if sometimes – because we don’t win or they don’t like the way we play – some of them are not happy. But overall, we are in love with our fans and feel them every game at home and away.
“But they have to recognise we are trying to change things and bring this club where everyone thinks we deserve to be.”
While Leeds’ win did not help Southampton’s cause, they won’t be giving up the fight while they are mathematically in the race, particularly with a trip to Elland Road to come on the final day.
Maresca acknowledges that it won’t be easy tonight.
“Tuesday will be tough,” he said. “We are similar (to Southampton) in that we try to keep the ball and dominate. Even when they’ve lost games, they were playing well. But now they’re improving and are in the final rush. They’re there and they will be there at the end.” CHAMPIONSHIP TOP SIX
D L F A Pts 4 10 81 39 91
27 9 8 80 37 90 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Ipswich Town 43 26 11 6 85 53 89 Southampton 43 25 9 9 85 56 84 West Bromwich Albion 44 20 12 12 67 44 72 Norwich City 44 21 9 14 77 61 72