West Brom boss Tony Mowbray questioned the survival chances of any team winning Premier League promotion following his side’s battling 1-1 draw with Championship title challengers Leeds.
Darnell Furlong’s first-half header secured Mowbray’s play-off chasers a hard-earned point at Elland Road after Junior Firpo had headed the home side into an early lead.
Daniel Farke’s side sit eight points clear of third-placed Burnley and while Mowbray is convinced the Yorkshire club will win promotion this season, he is not so sure they would stay there.
READ MORE: Leon Bailey rejects Aston Villa suggestion after Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio transfers
READ MORE: Aston Villa loanee's blunt response after suffering unlikely FA Cup heartbreak
Mowbray, whose own side are sixth in the table, said: “(Leeds) are very, very good. I’m sure in my mind they are going up.
“I think for this football club it’s about what they do in the summer. I had a chat with Daniel, how much are they going to spend? How are they going to survive?
“Southampton and Leicester were amazing teams last year in this league and they can’t win a game. So is that going to be Leeds next year?”
Mowbray, who feels promotion has to be the target for clubs like Leeds and West Brom, said: “There’s always this thing at the back of your mind – ‘what are we going to do in the summer?’ Are Leeds going to spend £200 million just to give themselves half a chance?
“Or are they going to go with this team and probably get relegated by February? I don’t know the answers.”
Mowbray was delighted with his side’s display, which bodes well for their remaining 11 games as they bid to secure a top-six finish.
“The energy was there, the effort was there,” he said. “We’ll take the point, but there were opportunities for us and we could have won it and we could have lost it, of course. We were playing against a very good team.
“This will give the lads confidence knowing they can go anywhere in this league and compete.”
Albion went close to snatching an early lead when John Swift steered a golden chance narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area and the visitors were made to pay soon after.
Dan James curled in an excellent cross from the left and Firpo stole in behind Baggies’ skipper Kyle Bartley to head Leeds in front in the ninth minute.
The visitors were undeterred, however. They soaked up more pressure as Leeds probed for another goal and threatened again when Adam Armstrong’s close-range effort was well blocked by home keeper Illan Meslier.
But they silenced Elland Road with an equaliser six minutes before half-time. Swift launched a free-kick from a central position beyond Meslier’s far post and the unmarked Furlong looped his header back over the goalkeeper and inside the opposite post.
Leeds began the second period with renewed purpose, Manor Solomon’s shot being deflected for a corner, but West Brom were intent on not being outfought, nor conceding an inch.
James had one shot blocked and another comfortably saved by Joe Wildsmith and Ao Tanaka’s effort was also deflected for a corner. Joel Piroe fired weakly at Wildsmith before the Baggies served another warning as Furlong headed over from in front of goal. Mateo Joseph clipped the crossbar for Leeds with a rising drive just minutes after replacing Brenden Aaronson, while Callum Styles’ last-ditch challenge on James in the area typified the Baggies’ resilience.
Bartley threw himself at James’ cross to deny Joseph and James flashed a shot narrowly wide in the closing stages as the visitors held on for a hard-earned point.
Farke had no complaints with his side, who extended their unbeaten league run to 17 matches despite being frustrated by Albion’s stubborn resistance.
“Sometimes you have to settle and live with a draw and we can do this,’’ said the German. “We are used to winning games, especially home games, and we are disappointed it’s not a win.’’
