Gary Rowett shares his thoughts on Norwich and Leeds United being in the Championship’s top two

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Norwich and Leeds United both recorded valuable wins in recent days.

Gary Rowett has admitted that he finds it ‘bizarre’ that Norwich and Leeds are sitting in the Championship’s top two because he wouldn’t have believed you at the start of the season.

On Friday, Daniel Farke’s side claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Swansea City to keep their place at the top of the table, while Leeds saw off Bristol City by the same scoreline on Saturday.

Third-placed Sheffield United, who are two points and four points behind each respective team, also picked up three points which keeps the race for automatic promotion places well and truly alive.

But speaking to Radio 5 Live (08/03/2019), Rowett, who was sacked by Stoke City in January, admitted that based on last season he didn’t expect the top two to be where they are now.

“It’s bizarre really because if you had said to me at the start of the season, like most Championship seasons, that Norwich and Leeds on the basis of last year would be the two standout sides then I wouldn’t have believed you,” Rowett told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“We actually beat Norwich 1-0 down there, but I have to be honest, we didn’t really deserve to win the game. They were outstanding.

“And Leeds were the same, we lost to them on the first day of the season. When you play teams and it just seems that they seem to have that extra little bit of energy about them. That extra bit of fizz about them.”

There is no doubt that the current top three have been the most attacking, entertaining and consistent throughout this unpredictable Championship season.

But at least one of them will end up in the play-off places, with West Brom, Middlesbrough and Frank Lampard’s Derby County all currently sitting in those other top six positions.

There are 10 matches to go in the race to the Premier League and there is no doubt that the upcoming matches will spring a surprise or two.

On Tuesday night, Marcelo Bielsa’s side travel to relegation-threatened Reading, while Norwich will host Hull City the next day as the Yorkshire outfit could briefly go top with a win.