Leeds United being kept on their toes by 'very important opponent' Brentford

Thomas Frank's Bees have a 100 per cent record since returning from the coronavirus shutdown, and have won six consecutive matches in all.

It means Leeds still require 10 points from their final five matches, starting at home to Stoke City on Thursday, to secure their place in next season's top division. Two points per game is slightly more than they have managed in their previous 42, showing how Brentford are keeping up the pressure.

Trailing at home to relegation-threatened Charlton Athletic with 15 minutes to go, it seemed like Brentford's run might come to an end on Tuesday, but they claimed a 2-1 win with a 75th-minute penalty from Said Benrahma, and an 85th-minute winner from former Barnsley centre-back Ethan Pinnock.

That cut the gap to Leeds to three points, albeit the Whites are still to play their midweek fixture. Brentford have a far superior goal difference.

“They are a team playing at a good level,” commented Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa. “It's the only team that has success in every match in this period. This makes them a very important opponent to consider.”

The Whites' remaining five matches are all against teams with something to play for at this stage of the season, and they took seven points from the reverse fixtures.

Their form has been more patchy since going into lockdown on the back of five straight victories. They lost at Cardiff City on their return, and frustratingly dropped two points to struggling Luton Town. Either side of that came encouraging wins against Fulham and Blackburn Rovers.

The pressure Brentford are applying has even forced Sky Sports to change their plans. They have dropped plans to show Sunday's Swansea City versus Leeds game to allow them to show the following Tuesday's match at home to Barnsley and still have the ability to be there when the promotion or the title is secured.

Promotion back to the top division for the first time since 2004 looks the most likely outcome for Leeds, who will lose the leadership of the Championship if West Bromwich Albion avoid defeat at home to Derby County on Wednesday, but Brentford's form means it cannot yet be taken for granted.

Leeds, who have taken four points off Brentford this season, complete their run-in with matches against Derby and Charlton Athletic.

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