Southampton begin their play off bout with a trip to West Brom in the semi final first leg on Sunday.
Southampton journey to The Hawthorns on Sunday for the first leg of their play-off semi final bout with West Brom.
The Saints finished the season in 4th place of the Championship table compared to West Brom in 5th, though 12 points separated the two teams in the end.
Russell Martin’s Southampton were just nine points behind Ipswich Town in 2nd place in the end, but go into this first leg vs West Brom with three defeats in their last four.
And so too do West Brom who’ve only won one of their last eight Championship fixtures.
Leeds United face Norwich City in the other semi final, with the first leg taking place at Carrow Road on Sunday.
Sky Sports pundits give play-off winner prediction including Southampton
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, pundits Clinton Morrison, Darren Bent, Gary Rowett, and Paul Merson all gave their predictions for the Championship play-offs.
Clinton Morrison: “I think, me personally, I do think it will be a Leeds Southampton final. I actually do think it will be a Leeds – Southampton final, but don’t shout at the TV, West Brom and Norwich fans.”
Morrison added: “It’s a difficult one. Leeds, Southampton… I am going to go for Leeds. Leeds will win it. Just win it. It will be a close final between them and Southampton.”
Darren Bent: “I am not saying Norwich, so Southampton.”
Gary Rowett: “I am going to go for Leeds.”
Paul Merson: “I have got a feeling for West Brom. I have a feeling for them. I think they are a decent team, and they have got no pressure on them. I think they will be the one.”
The one disadvantage Southampton have in the play-offs
Many are predicting a Southampton Leeds final this season, with Morrison, Bent, and Rowett all thinking one of Southampton or Leeds earn promotion.
Both teams finished far ahead of West Brom and Norwich City, with both being in the race for automatic promotion but falling short at the end.
Logic dictates that both teams get to the final but both have very difficult semi finals to get through first.
And should Southampton get to the final against Leeds then they would have one distinct disadvantage; their lack of promotion experience.
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke won promotion from the Championship twice with Norwich in the past, albeit not via the play-offs, with a lot of his players having been in promotion-winning teams too.
Martin has one promotion to his name with MK Dons, from League Two in 2019, though a lot of his current players haven’t played in the play-offs or in a side chasing promotion, so for a lot of these Saints players it’ll be a new experience.
That might give the edge to Leeds. But the Whites have been flaky throughout the season and they could be there for the taking if it’s a Leeds Southampton final.
Kick off vs West Brom in the first leg is at 2:15pm.