Alan Brazil believes that Leeds United will miss out on promotion this season, despite their fine form for most of the campaign.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side will secure third spot with a draw against relegated Ipswich Town on Sunday, but Brazil is backing either West Brom or Aston Villa to pip them to that final place in the top flight next season.
Speaking on talkSPORT (May 3rd, 9.25am), he said: “I hate to say it, because Leeds have been up there, up there, up there, but I think the winners of West Brom v Villa come to the Premier League.”
OPINION
The play-offs are all about momentum, or at least that’s what people will have you believe. Going into the final weekend of the campaign, the last thing United have is momentum. A disastrous few weeks, capped off with that bizarre draw against Villa last weekend, has all but decimated any lingering confidence they may have had. Bielsa now faces the mammoth task of reinvigorating his squad ahead the most important part of their season, and you can’t help worrying that Brazil might be right. Compared to the likes of West Brom or Villa, who are enjoying an unbeaten run of 11 matches, Leeds look like a spent force. They still have a great opportunity of going up of course, and in truth, they should still be favourites, but if the Argentine can’t restore some kind of belief quickly, you must worry for their chances of margin it back up to the Premier League after a long, tumultuous campaign.