Leeds United v Ipswich Town: Sky Sports pundit issues score prediction for huge Championship clash | OneFootball

Leeds United take on Ipswich Town in the Championship at Elland Road on Saturday.

It is a crucial game in the automatic promotion race, and the Whites will be looking to return to winning ways after a run of two games without a victory.

After losing 1-0 at Sunderland last Tuesday night, Leeds were held to a frustrating 1-1 home draw by Coventry City on Saturday.

Leeds controlled the first half, but they were unable to find a breakthrough, with Georginio Rutter and Joel Piroe's efforts being kept out by Brad Collins.

The Whites eventually took the lead in the 58th minute when Crysencio Summerville slotted home after being set up by Rutter, but the Sky Blues equalised just eight minutes later when Bobby Thomas headed in from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto's cross.

Leeds pushed for a winner, with Collins making a stunning double save to deny Rutter before Dan James missed a golden chance to seal all three points in stoppage time.

Daniel Farke's side currently sit third in the table, 10 points behind second-placed Ipswich and 13 points behind leaders Leicester City.

Ipswich extended their unbeaten run to five games with a 2-2 draw against Norwich City in the East Anglian derby at Portman Road on Saturday.

The Tractor Boys dominated the opening exchanges, and after missing a host of chances, they deservedly took the lead in the 34th minute through Nathan Broadhead, but the Canaries responded well, with Jonathan Rowe equalising just six minutes later.

Rowe scored his second to put Norwich ahead just after the break, but Ipswich levelled through Wes Burns' strike in the 60th minute to secure a share of the spoils.

While Ipswich will have been relieved not to lose the game, it does extend their winless run against their rivals to 14 years.

Kieran McKenna's men are second in the table, three points behind leaders Leicester, and 10 points clear of third-placed Leeds and fourth-placed Southampton.

David Prutton's Leeds United v Ipswich Town prediction

Sky Sports presenter Prutton believes there will be little to separate Leeds and Ipswich on Saturday, predicting a 2-2 draw.

"This is a very big game. Is it must-win for Leeds even now? Quite possibly. The gap is 10 points, and with Ipswich up against Leicester on Boxing Day, that could change very quickly," Prutton said on the Sky Sports website.

"Ipswich will have been frustrated not to find a way to beat Norwich last time out. The hoodoo against their fierce rivals continued even in the position of strength they are currently in. They will play to win this, but Kieran McKenna will be very happy with a draw, which I think he’ll get."

Will Leeds United beat Ipswich Town?

As Prutton says, even at this stage of the season, this is a game you feel that Leeds have to win.

The Whites will be incredibly disappointed to have dropped points against Sunderland and Coventry in their last two matches, and they cannot afford to lose further ground on the automatic promotion places.

Ipswich will be confident heading into the game, and as the top scorers in the Championship, they are certainly capable of causing problems for Leeds, but the Tractor Boys have been vulnerable defensively in recent months, and that is something the Whites will look to exploit.

Given their strong home record, Leeds are perhaps slight favourites, but it could come down to who handles the pressure of the occasion.