A worrying statistic may strike fear into the hearts of Leeds United fans in their quest for Premier League promotion.
Of course, as entertaining as the Championship can be, the real aim is to leave the division by getting promoted to the Premier League which brings the riches of elite football which, in an ideal world, provides stability for years to come at football clubs. So many clubs do this right; Brighton, Brentford, and even Fulham have been able to maintain top-flight status for several seasons – something Leeds United will no doubt aim for if they do indeed get promoted at the second time of asking under Daniel Farke.
However, a damning statistic read on BBC’s Match of the Day proves how difficult that can be. All of last season’s promoted sides – Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and play-off winners Southampton – are yet to pick up a win in the first four games of the campaign with just four points to share – The Foxes and The Tractor Boys share two a piece with Russell Martin’s Southampton still on zero with their latest defeat – 0-3 – coming at the hands of Manchester United at St Mary’s yesterday.
Previously, during the 2023-24 campaign at the same stage the three promoted sides – Luton Town, Burnle y and Sheffield United on that occasion – shared just one point between them after four games.
There is no debating that even the top Championship sides are a far cry away from most Premier League opposition, the funds at the disposal of Premier League outfits are a stratosphere away from much of England’s second-tier clubs – arguably making the whole system unfair in the first place.
Of course, Leeds are a more historic and well-supported club than many of those mentioned but even if they do invest the funds raised from the summer transfers staying in the Premier League would prove tough, if they capture promotion this season, that is.
MOTD host Gary Lineker asked former professional footballer turned pundit Danny Murphy: “Is it a sign that perhaps the gap is getting bigger between the Premier League and Championship?” To which the former Liverpool midfielder replied: “It certainly looks that way. I think Leicester with more experienced players, and a manager who’s been in the Premier League have the best chance out of the three [promoted teams]…the other two are just lacking that bit of ‘know-how’, you can’t play catch up in this league.
Alan Shearer then added: “We saw that [lack of goals] with Southampton again today.”
