WIGAN ATHLETIC’S DOMINANCE OF the top spot in this division so far this season has, for many, settled one half of the debate as to the destination of the automatic promotion prizes. Less surprisingly, the other had been more difficult to call, but if Ipswich Town manage to maintain their run of form, they seem to be the likely contenders to rejoin the Premiership. Unbeaten in 11 games, and in 12 at home, Ipswich, after the weekend’s results, are equal on points with Wigan, just three goals separating them.

Neither will have noticed the hectic, and often critical, Christmas schedule emerging on the horizon, though, because December 18 is blocking their view. On that day, Wigan travel to Portman Road for the first of two matches that could determine the leading positions in the Championship come the season’s finale.

Ipswich’s latest victory came care of a scruffy goal from Darren Bent. Shefki Kuqi unleashed the initial shot, demanding an impressive save from Neil Sullivan. Bent pursued the rebound and won the scrap with Sullivan to secure all three points and a foot in the door of first place. “It’s nice and we are looking forward,” Joe Royle, the manager, said, reflecting on the league after the match. “There’s other sides there and a little gap developing maybe two or three places behind us. But we can look after our own results and that’s why today was so important really. There’s going to be tight games like that.”

The game witnessed few clear-cut chances and Leeds United deserved a point. Instead, Leeds have now lost four in five games, and in that light the previous week’s uplifting 4-2 victory over Preston North End looks like false hope. They lie nineteenth in the table and off-the-pitch problems show no sign of abating. However, much to the satisfaction of Kevin Blackwell, the manager, the Yorkshire side displayed no evidence of having been affected by last week’s failed takeover bid, which led to the announcement of the sale of Elland Road on Friday.

“I defy anybody to walk into work and not know what’s going to be there at the end of the week, and to say it doesn’t affect you,” Blackwell said. “But it hasn’t shown any effect today and that’s the pleasing thing.” The club have leased their ground for a period of at least 25 years, but if they fail to meet payments, they will be evicted, so it would seem that uncertainty is set to hang over Leeds for some time to come. Yet, as Blackwell pointed out, it’s something they’ve come to accept. “As you know, at Leeds it’s been going on for three or four years now. It’s at a point where everyone accepts that we should be talking about football and not what goes on off the pitch.”

With the experience of players such as Gary Kelly and Paul Butler, the Irish pair, and the return of Eirik Bakke and Seth Johnson expected in the new year, there is enough influence to maintain focus on the task at hand.

On Saturday, Leeds had a goal disallowed after just 55 seconds, David Healy being denied his third in two games by the offside rule. Leeds had the better of the opening half, with John Oster, their new on-loan signing, together with Healy, adding zest to a solid midfield performance. In Royle’s own words, the first half was a “non-event” for the home side. Healy was again denied a chance by the assistant referee’s flag after some fancy footwork from the 17-year-old Simon Walton, and Oster forced at least two saves from Kelvin Davis. The tables were turned after the break, though, and Ipswich enjoyed most of the attacking play having gone one up.

The best chance of an equaliser fell to Brian Deane four minutes from time. Julian Joachim, a substitute, headed on a corner, Deane controlled the ball and turned but failed to get a clean strike and Davis saved. “It wasn’t a flowing performance by any means,” Royle said, “but that’s what you get when you’re chasing promotion. You can’t flow every week.”