Burnley, who are third in the table, could cut the difference to five points with the Whites if they beat Cardiff City away from home tonight and breathe some life into the automatic promotion race.

Leeds are set to travel to Fratton Park this weekend to take on Portsmouth and while it is a game that looks straightforward on paper, it is anything but.

Leeds United journalist reveals scepticism about the trip to Portsmouth

Portsmouth are 17th in the league table and are looking for points to ensure that they maintain a healthy distance between them and the relegation zone.

On paper, Leeds should beat them, but the memories of the two sides playing out a pulsating 3-3 draw at Elland Road on the opening day of the season are still fresh.

Leeds would love to get back to winning ways on Sunday but Graham Smyth has insisted that the Whites should just look to get back from Portsmouth without getting beaten.

He pointed towards the 3-3 draw at home against Portsmouth and also stressed that Leeds often struggle a bit in the early kick offs,

The Leeds journalist also admitted that away from home, Leeds remain a bit iffy, so these could be conducive circumstances for more dropped points this weekend.

“I think just stay unbeaten”, he said on The Square Ball podcast.

“Honestly, I know what you’re saying about a statement, but I remember the opening game of the season. And I think Portsmouth will probably remember that as well and think ‘oh, this is the team that we scored quite a few goals against, let’s go and do that again’.

“It was [weird], but early kick-offs can quite often for this Leeds team be a bit weird and random and away games for this Leeds team can quite often be a bit weird and a bit random.

“And this is both an early kick-off and a very long away trip. But I don’t know, I’d maybe just caution against being too gung-ho.”

Leeds cannot afford to drop more points this weekend

The 1-1 draw at home against West Brom has brought forward some questions that were not being asked when they were on that brilliant run of wins.

Brenden Aaronson’s form has come under the scanner and Leeds fans are desperate to see their team get back to winning ways despite their lead at the top.

A trip to Portsmouth will always be tricky given what is at stake for both teams. Leeds need the points to maintain their promotion charge and the home side need a result to stay away from the relegation zone.

The early kick off and a tricky away ground will test Leeds but if they want to get promoted, the Whites should be getting a result at Fratton Park.

A draw would still be acceptable but if Leeds’ 17-game unbeaten run comes to an end at Portsmouth, it could set the cat amongst the pigeons in the promotion race.