Danny Mills has suggested that Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion could open up a gap at the top of the Championship during the Christmas period.

Marcelo Bielsa's side are third as things stand–only outside the automatic promotion places on goal difference.

They trail league leaders West Brom by just two points, meaning a win against Luton Town on Saturday could see them go top of the table–should the Baggies and Preston North End both slip up.

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After suffering defeat to Derby County in the play-offs last season, Leeds will no doubt be determined to finish in the top two this season.

It has been 15 years since the Yorkshire club were last in the Premier League and, speaking to talkSPORT, Mills suggested they had a great chance of ending that absence this season.

He said: "If you finish above Leeds, I think you get automatic promotion.

"I can't see them finishing much further down than third. I think they are one of the best teams in the Championship. I think they play some of the best football. Defensively they've been absolutely superb.

"They haven't quite been clinical enough at times in front of goal but they're still there or thereabouts and I think the experience of last season, hopefully, will drive them on."

He added that we may see West Brom and the Whites move away from the chasing pack over the next few months.

"I just hope now in the festive period there's a lot of good games, so West Brom and Leeds might be able to open up a bit of a gap."

The Whites should be confident of winning all of their games over the next few weeks, as they're facing four of the division's bottom eight teams in their next four matches–Luton, Reading, Middlesborough, and Huddersfield Town.

The Verdict

On the evidence we've seen so far this season, it's hard to disagree with Mills here.

Leeds have looked like one of the strongest teams in the Championship and if they can improve in front of goal, they should be very well set to end their 15-year absence from the top flight, while West Brom have been fantastic under Bilic so far.

The Whites next four games are very winnable and taking 12 points from those would surely put them in a fantastic position heading into the Christmas schedule.

The Baggies' run is slightly tougher, with Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City, Preston, and Swansea City their next four opponents but on early season form, there is no reason they can't head into the festive period in a strong position.