According to Harry Redknapp, Leeds United and Leicester City will automatically qualify for promotion, while Southampton and Ipswich Town will fall short.
Leeds United, Leicester City, Southampton, and Ipswich Town have all been in a fierce battle for the top two this season. All four teams have experienced on-and-off spells, and all four have provided Championship fans with some outstanding football.
The run-in is well and fully upon us, and the struggle for automatic promotion continues.
Leicester City have led the way for much of the season. A win over Sunderland following three consecutive defeats puts them three points clear at the top of the Championship standings.
Ipswich Town are in hot pursuit in second place, having recovered from a wobble to win six consecutive games. Leeds United are yet to lose a league game in 2024, sitting two points behind the Tractor Boys in third place, while Southampton are now eight points behind the automatics after a shaky run, but they have a game in hand after Wednesday night’s game against Preston North End was postponed.
With 10 games remaining for the top three and 11 for Southampton, predictions for the season’s finale are being made. Now, famous manager Harry Redknapp has made his decision.
Redknapp spoke in depth with BetVictor about the Saints, indicating that he believes their recent dropped points would be costly. He said:
“Russell Martin has done an excellent job for Southampton this season since his arrival last summer. He has them playing some good football, and they play exceptionally well.
“They have a tremendous squad there, a fantastic set of players, but I believe they will finish third in the Championship this season, regrettably.
“I felt Southampton would have beaten their competitors to second place in the Championship this season until their recent defeats. In all honesty, losing those two home games against Hull City and Millwall a few weeks back was a complete shock. No disrespect to Millwall, but until lately, they couldn’t win a game. They change managers, Neil Harris takes over, and they win their first game at Southampton, while Southampton loses at home to Hull a few days earlier.
“When you look at those games, really there’s six points there that Southampton have missed out on which could prove costly.”
Redknapp would later make his call for the top two, predicting that Leeds United and Leicester City would automatically qualify for the Premier League.
“Ipswich have had a miracle; they have performed admirably. They’re a fantastic club, and their manager, Kieran McKenna, has done an outstanding job, but I believe they’ll miss out alongside Southampton. I believe Leeds will automatically join Leicester.
“For Leeds, the atmosphere at Elland Road and the enthusiasm of their fans is phenomenal. You saw them recently when they defeated Leicester; that crowd is worth a goal advantage to any club. Leicester annihilated Leeds in that game, but the fans lifted them. Leicester thoroughly outplayed them and could have been three up, but Leeds kept coming because the crowd demanded it, and in the end, that enthusiasm motivates the players and they win the game. An excellent outcome. So I believe Leeds will be promoted this year alongside Leicester and ahead of Southampton.”
A heated battle awaits!
With Redknapp backing Leeds United and Leicester City to achieve automatic promotion to the Premier League, only time will tell how the struggle plays out. At the outset of the season, the Whites and Foxes would have been many supporters’ first picks, as would Southampton.
The Championship is frequently a source of delight for demoted teams, but all three have had challenges. It has once again demonstrated the competitiveness of England’s second division, with Ipswich Town emerging as a surprise contender, demonstrating that no one can be written off.
