Cardiff City manager Neil Harris has given his thoughts on the title race currently ensuing in the second-tier of English football, with Leeds United and West Brom currently leading the way.

Many Bluebirds' fans and neutrals will have expected the South Wales outfit to be challenging at the top of the division themselves following their relegation from the Premier League but are having to settle for a watching brief as things stand.

This weekend sees them clash with Leeds at Elland Road and in the build up, Harris was asked for his opinion on both Marcelo Bielsa and Slaven Bilic's sides.

"Leeds and West Brom look like the two best teams," he told his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, reported by WalesOnline.

"They’ve (Leeds) been the most consistent and that’s what makes it the best challenge and one we can look forward to. Less expectation on our shoulders than normal.

"Brentford dominated possession the other night in really good areas and what was key was that the possession stats and passes made were identical in both halves. Leeds will have a lot of the ball but what they do is key to them."

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It is Bielsa's side who lead the way after 21 games, sitting top of the table but only ahead of the Baggies on goal difference.

However, there is an 11 point gap between the top two and third-placed Fulham as the chase for the second-tier title slowly becomes more and more of a two horse race.

Cardiff, on the other hand, currently sit in ninth place and three points off play-off pace. They parted ways with Neil Warnock back in October after a slow start to the season, bringing in Harris as his replacement.

A defeat to Brentford on Wednesday was his first in his new role, however, so he will be determined to bounce back against Bielsa's side and tighten the competition at the top of the table in the process.

The verdict

It is always so difficult to call the Championship table, however it looks like it will take an awful lot to catch either side.

Leeds and West Brom simply look a cut above. Both play with such ruthless dynamism with managers who are adored by their respective fan bases and that feel-good factor cannot be underestimated.

One or both may still collapse, but it is looking very unlikely.