Leeds United blew chance to win Championship title and they only have themselves to blame

It should never have come down to this. The title dream is well and truly over for Leeds United and their hopes of securing automatic promotion are hanging by a thread.

Yes, the Whites remain second in the Championship going in the final week of a rollercoaster campaign. Yes, Ipswich Town are also limping across the finishing line and it is not guaranteed the Tractor Boys will beat Coventry City in their game hand this evening.

But United have endured an untimely and worrying dip in form and results at the high-pressure juncture of the campaign. All their hard work to reel in Leicester City thrown away in the space of a couple of weeks.

Read more: Ipswich Town sweat on fitness of star defender as Leeds United hope for Coventry City favour

Everything looked so rosy for the Whites after a 2-0 win over Millwall moved them to the top of table on March 17. They had momentum and looked capable of challenging for the title. Promotion was in their hands.

The brutal truth, though, is United have not looked the same team since the last international break. Their top-two bid has stalled following an alarming run of just two wins from seven matches. Thirteen goals have been shipped in and Daniel Farke has lost the services of several key players through injury. His team has been anything but ruthlessly efficient in both boxes, opening the door ajar for Leicester and Ipswich to change the dynamic of the promotion picture.

Will there be one final twist? Regardless of what happens at Coventry City tonight, the battle to go up is nailed on to go the final day. A crucial advantage United have is their superior goal difference to Ipswich.

The Whites were a mess when Farke arrived at Elland Road last summer. There were plenty of issues the two-time Championship winner needed to tackle and sort out. He deserves big credit for turning them into promotion contenders.

But Farke is not immune from criticism. If United miss out on the top-two and have to make do with the lottery of the play-offs, it will be down to a slow start and a poor end to the season.