Scotland and Rangers legend Ally McCoist has admitted to writing off Leeds United’s promotion chances only a few months ago, as he gave his thoughts on the Championship title race.
McCoist was speaking to Football League World earlier this week about his predictions for the second tier’s season run-in, admitting he underestimated the potential of a turnaround from Daniel Farke’s ‘brilliant’ side.
Leeds have won 13 of their 14 matches since the turn of the year, making up a staggering 17 points on previous leaders Leicester to top the Championship table on goal difference ahead of the Easter schedule.
Though the Foxes still have a game in hand, momentum is certainly with Leeds who travel to Watford on Good Friday evening, while Leicester, who have dropped 19 points since New Year’s Day, travel to Bristol City in the lunchtime kick-off.
Ipswich and Southampton also remain firmly in the automatic promotion picture, with the Tractor Boys just one point adrift while the Saints are nine points behind but with two games in hand.
Ally McCoist backs Leeds United for promotion
Analysing what might happen in the final few weeks of the Championship season, McCoist has backed Leeds for promotion and admitted the prospect of the Whites being back in the Premier League ‘excites’ him.
“I’m going to tell you the gospel truth, two-and-a-half to three months ago I thought Leicester and Ipswich were away, I thought they were plain sailing, but that was me underestimating the league again. But it’s been brilliant, they’ve [Leeds] clawed it back,” McCoist told FLW.
He continued: “Leeds’ performances at home have been brilliant, Ipswich went through a really sticky spell, but I think they’ve done remarkably well to rally again and have kicked on, and what a job Kieran McKenna is doing, by the way, the last couple of years he’s done an unbelievable job.
“I think it’s very tough to call. I think the momentum is with Leeds, and I think that they’ll go up, and that would certainly excite me. They are a club that I love watching, and I love going to Elland Road.”
Leeds United’s promotion chances predicted
This is it now for Leeds, no turning back in their pursuit of an immediate return to the Premier League as we enter the final run-in.
While there is still a mouth-watering final day clash against Southampton at Elland Road on the fixture list, there is a hope among Leeds fans that promotion may be secured by then.
Tough games against Watford, Hull and Coventry still lie in wait for Farke and his team, but compared to their promotion rivals, the Whites do have a favourable run-in.
Form, momentum and the fixture list are all in Leeds’ favour, but this is the Championship and anything can happen – get ready for a nail-biting few weeks!
