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Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images
Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

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Ian Holloway confident Leeds will gain promotion this season

Will Butcher
Will Butcher

Ian Holloway has told Alan Brazil’s Sports Breakfast show on TalkSPORT (6.45am, Wednesday) that he believes Leeds United will gain promotion to the Premier League this season.

Leeds have taken four points from their first possible six after beating Bristol City and drawing to Nottingham Forest, before a much-changed side beat Salford City 3-0 on Tuesday night at the Peninsula Stadium.

The Whites came within an inch of automatic promotion last season, before losing to Derby County in the play-off semi-finals. However, they seem to have picked up where they left off, impressing in their first three games.

Former Premier League and Championship manager Holloway claimed that he has been impressed by Leeds after watching them in their opening win over Bristol City, and reckons they will go one better come May 2020.

(Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
“I think they’ll definitely be up there, I do think they’ll go up,” Holloway said. “The way they played against Bristol City was terrific, they pressed so quickly and high up the pitch.
“The longer Bielsa is there, the better the understanding will be. They will go up.”

TBR’s view – What is different to last season at Leeds?

The players have admitted themselves that after more than a year under Bielsa, they are fitter and have a better understanding of what the Argentine gaffer expects of them.

Bielsa’s English is improving, while the club’s strength in depth is improving. Indeed, the Under-23 players of last season are starting to break through – including the likes of Alfie McCalmont, Matesuz Bogusz and Pascal Struijk.

But perhaps what is the biggest difference, is that Leeds now have the experience of going through a promotion campaign. They know what works, and what does not. Holloway may have predicted right.

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)