Robbie Savage has become the latest pundit to give his prediction for the Championship play-off final between Leeds United and Southampton.
The two sides will go head-to-head at Wembley on Sunday for the chance to take the last remaining place in next season’s Premier League.
OPTA’s supercomputer had Leeds and Southampton as the favourites to make it to the final and it would be fair to say both sides duly delivered with comfortable semi-final wins.
Leeds overcame Norwich City with a comfortable 4-0 victory in the second leg last Thursday, with Southampton then defeating West Bromwich Albion 24 hours later.
Though the Saints did finish three points behind Leeds in the regular season, they were also the only side to complete a league double over Daniel Farke‘s men.
Savage shares prediction for Leeds vs Southampton
Several pundits have already given their predictions for Sunday’s match this week, with Ally McCoist among those backing Leeds to win on penalties.
On the other hand, Dion Dublin has backed Southampton to get the job done as he is a big fan of the way Russell Martin has got them playing this season.
With both teams having been relegated together 12 months ago, it could be the highest quality play-off final in several years.
They will also be desperate to seal an immediate return to the Premier League to avoid the 10 per cent reduction in parachute payments that occur in the second season after relegation.
And speaking on the latest episode of the ‘On Another Planet Podcast‘, former Leicester City midfielder Savage has backed Leeds to come away with the win.
He said: “Southampton’s style could work well on the big Wembley pitch, but I just think Leeds’ attacking threat will be too much for them. I’d rather see Leeds in the Premier League than Southampton as a neutral.”
Who is the referee for Leeds vs Southampton?
John Brooks is the man with the whistle for Sunday’s final, and it would be fair to say Leeds don’t have a great record with him in the middle.
Incidentally, the last Leeds game in which Brooks actually officiated was against Southampton all the way back in September, where the Whites were comfortably beaten 3-1. It is also the only Championship game he has refereed all season.
Just like in the League One and Two finals over the weekend, VAR will be in operation on Sunday, and has been since May 2022 for such occasions.
Jarred Gillett – the referee who officiated Leeds’ semi-final win over Norwich – will be in charge of VAR at PGMOL’s Stockley Park headquarters.