Before the beginning of the Premier League season, Ally McCoist was very vocal about Leeds United and their chances of avoiding an instant return to the Championship.
The trend has been clear in the Premier League over the last two seasons. In both 2023-24 and 2024-25, all three promoted sides were relegated. Last season, Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton were woeful.
None of the three sides really put up any kind of fight against the drop. McCoist said that he felt that would change this time around, but only one of Leeds, Sunderland and Burnley would avoid relegation.
In August, McCoist told TalkSPORT: “One of the promoted sides will stay up. I really hope so. It is probably my heart ruling my head, but I’ve plumped for Sunderland to stay up just before Leeds,” he said.
Perhaps heartfelt, McCoist predicted old side Sunderland to stay up but for Leeds and Burnley, it would be Championship football again come 2026-27. But now, McCoist is already changing his opinion.
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Leeds went to Wolves and came from behind to win 3-1, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and Noah Okafor scoring. Calvert-Lewin felt ‘rumours’ of a lack of threat at Leeds had now been put to bed.
Sunderland managed a point against Aston Villa with 10 men, while Burnley stopped Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest and drew 1-1. Speaking on TalkSPORT (22/09), McCoist changed his early prediction.
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He thinks two of the three could stay up and West Ham, Wolves and Brentford will be concerned: “Leeds as well, Burnley picking up another point. You know, we might be talking about two of them staying up.”
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Jeff Stelling replied: “If you’re a fan of Wolves or West Ham, Brentford, then you are worried that all three of them may stay up.” McCoist added: “You’ve got to be concerned, particularly with the first two teams.”
Win against Wolves relieves Leeds pressure ahead of home games
Anything other than a win and the pressure would have remained on Farke, ahead of two difficult games against Bournemouth and Tottenham. But now, the outlook is much more positive ahead of the two.
Leeds now play their next two games at Elland Road, and having beaten Everton and drawn with Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, there will be a belief that Leeds can get a result against anyone in front of the fans.
A third consecutive 3pm kick-off against Bournemouth on Saturday, followed by a Saturday lunchtime kick-off when Spurs come to visit ahead of the October international break. A big, big win for Leeds.