Noel Whelan says Leeds United aren’t ready to mix it with top-flight clubs.
Noel Whelan has told BBC Radio Leeds that Leeds United aren’t ready to draw a Premier League side in the FA Cup, after being ‘battered’ by West Bromwich Albion on Saturdy.
The Baggies thumped Leeds 4-1 at The Hawthorns to inflict the Whites’ heaviest defeat of an otherwise excellent season.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side have spent most of the campaign at the summit of the Championship, but now sit third and three points behind top-of-the-table Norwich City.
Leeds will enter the FA Cup at the third-round phase in early January, and the West Yorkshire side will discover their opponents after the second-round games during the last weekend of November.
Just last week it seemed like United had little to fear, such was their high-flying form under Bielsa, but former Leeds striker Whelan now worries for his old side if they draw a top-flight club, after what West Brom – relegated from the Premier League last season – did to them.
“I just feel like there was a great opportunity there for them to test themselves against this team [West Brom,]” Whelan said on BBC Radio Leeds.
“We keep going on about an FA Cup draw, do we want it, yes we want to test ourselves against a Premier League side.
“Well, that is kind of like a weakened Premier League side and we’ve just been battered 4-1.”
Whelan is right. West Brom are a weakened Premier League side, and Saturday’s demolition should put things in perspective.
Although Bielsa’s side have been arguably the most impressive Championship team this season all in all, it doesn’t mean they’re anywhere near ready to mix it with top-tier clubs next season.
If they do win promotion, there is still plenty of work to do in the transfer window next summer.
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