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Key events
The playoff race: Sunderland (76pts) are guaranteed a playoff place, while Bristol City and Coventry have the edge in the race with Middlesbrough for the final two top-six spots. West Brom and Millwall are in with an outside chance of making it in, and the Baggies could play a big part in deciding who goes down to League One.
Bristol City (67pts) Luton (A), Leeds (A), Preston (H)
Coventry (66pts) Plymouth (A), Luton (A), Boro (H)
Middlesbrough (63pts) Sheff Wed (A), Norwich (H), Coventry (A)
West Brom (60pts) Derby (H), Cardiff (A), Luton (H)
Millwall (60pts) Norwich (H), Swansea (H), Burnley (A)
Title race run-in: Let’s have a look at the remaining games for the top three. If Burnley beat Sheffield United at home on Monday, they’ll be promoted; any other result and things could get complicated.
Burnley: Sheffield United (H), QPR (A), Millwall (H).
Leeds: Oxford (A), Stoke (H), Bristol City (H), Plymouth (A).
Sheffield Utd: Burnley (A), Stoke (A), Blackburn (H).
Full time: Sheffield United 2-0 Cardiff City
Goals in each half from Gustavo Hamer and Ben Brereton Díaz get the Blades back to winning ways, and two points behind Leeds in second place. As for Cardiff, they’re second-bottom on 42 points and are running out of games to get out of trouble.
No changes from Daniel Farke from the side that saw off Preston at home last Saturday, while Oxford make two changes from the team that won at Sheffield Wednesday. Poland international Przemyslaw Placheta replaces Stanley Mills on the right, with Mark Harris starting up front in place of Tom Bradshaw.
At Bramall Lane, Sheffield United have just gone 2-0 up at home to Cardiff, Ben Brereton Díaz the man on target. Chris Wilder’s side will move two points behind Leeds, and just turn up the pressure a notch before kick-off at the Kassam.
Team news
Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Cumming; Long, Helik, Nelson, Bennett; Brannagan, Vaulks; Placheta, Matos, Goodrham; Harris.
Subs: Ingram, Phillips, Romeny, El Mizouni, Rodrigues, Leigh, Kioso, Bradshaw, Mills.
Leeds United (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Tanaka, Gruev; Gnonto, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe.
Subs: Meslier, Byram, Schmidt, Wober, Guilavogui, James, Ramazani, Joseph, Bamford.
Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire)
Preamble
It’s a marathon, not a sprint – but this season’s Championship promotion race has felt more like an Ironman endurance battle, an initial pack of four teams eventually shedding Sunderland, with Leeds wobbling dramatically before Sheffield United took an unexpected spill. The Blades are in action at home to Cardiff right now, and still have to visit leaders Burnley on Easter Monday.
For Leeds, the equation is simple enough. Despite a run of one victory in six after winning at Bramall Lane in February, wins over Middlesbrough and Preston have given Daniel Farke’s side a priceless advantage in the top-two race; with four games to go, they just need to keep winning and put the permutations aside.
Tonight’s opponents, Oxford United, are on the fringes of the relegation battle, kicking off here five points clear of danger. Gary Rowett’s side are a tough proposition at home, where they have earned 10 of their 12 league wins this season. It was their 1-0 win over Sheffield United that kickstarted the Blades’ slide; can they put another spanner in the works here tonight? Kick-off is at 8pm, BST.
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