United’s flurry of three wins was badly needed and an impressive reaction to their defeat at Brighton but it spanned a period of just eight days. The season as a whole has followed a different pattern. Every year, someone mutters the phrase ‘there’s always a side who come from nowhere and sneak into play-offs” but the reality is slightly different. Last season, all of the top-six teams were in the top seven with a month to go. Likewise in 2012-13. Brighton bridged a gap of three points in the final seven fixtures of 2013-14 but were right in the running. If a team’s not close by this stage then they’re clutching at straws, regardless of what might have happened with Crystal Palace 12 years ago. Leeds have long been destined for mid-table this term.