Joel Piroe scored a stoppage-time penalty as Leeds edged past Preston 2-1 on Sunday to close on the Championship top two.
Daniel Farke's side needed all three points to keep pace with Southampton, who set a club record 21-game unbeaten run on Saturday with victory at Swansea to go second.
Ipswich can retake second spot if they avoid defeat to Leicester in a top-of-the-table clash on Monday.
But Leeds ensured they closed to within four points of both Saints and Ipswich with a third consecutive win.
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