The Championship is a fiercely competitive division. But Leeds United are the red-hot favourites to gain automatic promotion, according to OPTA Analyst, who have assessed the top four situation.

United have been handed an 83.98 per cent chance of finishing in the top-two, while Burnley and Sheffield United have been given the predicted chances of 68.40 per cent and 38.00 per cent respectively. Fourth-placed Sunderland currently have a 9.44 per cent chance of achieving automatic promotion while also having an 89.12 per cent chance of a play-off finish.

Despite playing out a dull goalless draw with the Clarets on Monday evening, the Whites remain in the driving seat to go up. They lead the way at the summit, two points clear of the Blades. Burnley are a further point back while Sunderland trail Leeds by five points.

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When asked about the promotion battle, United boss Chris Wilder told The Star said: “It's good, innit? I'll be surprised if anyone breaks into that four but it can happen. There are some good teams in there. Middlesbrough, and Blackburn went on a great run. The West Broms and Norwichs and other teams that have been in the Premier League and are finding it difficult to break into the top four. There's got to be a lot of credit for those teams in and around us, and what they've done so far.

“We're all immersed in it and looking. ‘What are Leeds doing, what are Sunderland doing, what are Burnley doing?’ Are they looking at our result at half-time against Swansea [when Sheffield United were 1-0 down] and going: 'That's alright?' Am I watching their games thinking something might happen?

“But you've got to compliment every team in terms of results, and I think that'll happen right the way through, listening to the pundits and the results going on and how teams are playing. And this is why I say we need to be at our strongest going into the last part of the season, because I don't see anyone else easing up. We've got to be strong, physically, mentally, tactically and technically, and take the big moments when they come up.”