THE GOALS TO RELEGATION..

Promoted trio would be better cutting out the middle men and focusing on how to increase firepower if they're to dodge drop

- BY DEREK FOLEY

THE three teams promoted from the Championship to the Premiership went straight back down again these past two seasons.

Take it as prima facie evidence there is a widening gap between the two divisions while the anecdotal evidence - the bookies prices - agrees.

The three promoted clubs this season - Burnley (2/5), Sunderland (4/9), Leeds United (11/10) - are heading for the fall this time around.

As it stands Sunderland have spent €153m, Burnley have spent €125.65m, and Leeds United €85.4m after promotion; take out Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United, Man City and Arsenal and all three are in the next six of big spenders.

Yet the surprise is that the most expensive recruits at the promoted clubs have been midfielders: Habib Diarra to Sunderland for €31.5m, Lesley Ugochukwu to Burnley for €28.7m and Anton Stach to Leeds for €20m.

Because surely experience shows that goals do more to keep clubs in the Premier and all three clubs look to have major sticking-points in this area.

Leeds United will rely on 26-year-old Joel Piroe, playing in the top flight for the first time, to turn four seasons of decent Championship scoring campaigns (Swansea 22 & 19, Leeds 13 & 19) into top flight goals.