LATEST UPDATES: “IPSWICH & LEEDS WILL BE FUMING.” Paul Merson responds to the “huge paradigm shift” in the championship race.

One of the best leagues in the world is the Championship, where the top teams include Southampton, Leeds United, Ipswich Town, and Leicester City.

With only five points separating Leeds United in third place and the current Championship leaders, all four teams are vying for automatic promotion.

However, if Sunderland had been given a penalty in stoppage time during their 1-0 loss to Leicester on Tuesday, everything might have turned out rather differently.

After analyzing the play yesterday, Paul Merson told Soccer Special on Sky Sports (06/03/24 at 7:30 pm) that he believes Hamza Choudhury’s lack of punishment for his foul on Daniel Ballard will make Leeds United and Ipswich Town “fume.”

The former player for Aston Villa and Arsenal was certain that it was a “stonewall penalty” as his opponent pulled back the Sunderland defender after he was put through.

The last whistle was sounded to the jeers of the home supporters inside the Stadium of Light, but play continued.

The Sunderland player wasn’t booked for diving, but Paul Merson questioned why the on-field official didn’t think it was a penalty.

In any case, it was called a “huge game-changer” since it allows the Foxes to relax at the top after two straight losses.

Drama surrounding Sunderland’s penalty kick

Merson remarked, “If you were Ipswich and Leeds, then you would be fuming.”

“I see it as a stonewall; he gets on his back, is pulled back, and is penalized. It appears to me to be a penalty.

This significantly alters the game. Though it doesn’t help Ballard win the penalty, I believe the spectacular fall to be the one. However, why don’t you book him if he dove?

“It’s a big one, with five elements that are obvious. These games do end quite rapidly.

Competition to get into the Premier League
You would have predicted that Leicester would win this easily and that it would just be a matter of time a few weeks ago.

However, a string of poor performances, such as that loss to Leeds, has only partially opened the door.

As they are five clear and have had their wobble, the Foxes will actually look at this and say that normal service should now resume.

It should, considering how brilliantly they have played this season, but since this is the Championship, you get the feeling that there will be more dramatic moments to come.