Elland Road, Leeds United.
Edward Bazeley
Thu 6 March 2025 13:10, UK
Alan Smith has outlined how important Leeds United’s supporters will be for the Whites in the Premier League next season.
Former Leeds star Smith made 225 appearances for the Elland Road side before crossing the Pennines to join rivals Manchester United in 2004.
Smith represented both the Whites and the Red Devils in the Champions League, and later played for Newcastle.
The striker-turned-midfielder retired from football back in 2018 following a stint with League Two club Notts County.
Elland Road
Elland Road, home of Leeds United. (Credit: Imago)
Smith makes Leeds United fans claim in new Premier League prediction
Leeds last won promotion to the Premier League in 2020 under the stewardship of former boss and cult hero Marcelo Bielsa.
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The Whites remained in the top flight for three consecutive seasons, but suffered relegation back to the Championship in 2023.
Yet more heartache followed when Leeds lost the 2024 play-off final to Southampton courtesy of Adam Armstrong’s solitary goal.
Championship table Team Games played Points
1 Leeds 35 76
2 Sheffield Utd 35 73
3 Burnley 35 71
4 Sunderland 35 65
5 Coventry 35 53
6 West Brom 35 52
Leeds are top of the Championship
But Leeds are currently on course to win their second Championship title in five years, and Smith has outlined how the Elland Road supporters can help their side retain their Premier League status next term.
Smith told Football League World: “You just need to be the fourth-worst team in the league (to stay in the Premier League).
“It will make the fans even more important next year, and make Elland Road an intimidating place to come.
“Regardless of the result or performance, you’ll know that they’ve got your back whatever.”
Leeds supporters will have a vital part to play next season
Leeds still have 11 Championship games left to play, but the Whites have already navigated the toughest section of their fixture list as they defeated promotion rivals Sunderland and Sheffield United in successive games last month.
Daniel Farke’s men currently hold a three-point lead over second place Sheffield United but, more importantly, they are five points clear of third-place Burnley.
The Whites are firmly on course to land a spot in next season’s Premier League, while supporters will rightfully have one eye on top-flight football next term already.
The current Premier League season has demonstrated the difficulty of staying in the top tier, as all three sides who won promotion from the Championship last term currently sit in the relegation zone.
But Smith is right to point out that Elland Road’s exceptional atmosphere could well prove to be enough to keep Leeds in the top flight next term.
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