Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has shared who he wants to win the Championship play-off final – Leeds United or Southampton.
Having come down from the Premier League together last season, the two sides will now bring English football’s domestic season to an end at Wembley on Sunday.
Leeds overcame Norwich City by an aggregate score of 4-0 thanks to an incredible second leg performance in the semi-finals, while Southampton comfortably defeated West Bromwich Albion 3-1.
OPTA’s supercomputer had both sides as the favourites to come through those respective matches, and and with third and fourth placed finishes respectively, this is the right final.
There are Premier League calibre players across the two teams with some intense battles everywhere you look, none more so than Crysencio Summerville against Kyle Walker-Peters.
Agbonlahor shares who he wants to win play-off final – Leeds or Southampton
Given this is dubbed the richest game in football, Agbonlahor is not the first pundit to have given his verdict on the final this week.
It would be fair to say they are all finding it difficult to separate them, with Graeme Souness and Troy Deeney among those backing Leeds to win.
On the other hand, Dion Dublin and EFL pundit Adrian Clarke are tipping the Saints due to their preference of Russell Martin’s style of play.
Agbonlahor has not been afraid to show his dislike towards Leeds over the last few years, none more so than recently when he spoke of his preference to see Ipswich Town promoted instead of the Whites.
And now speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor has claimed he would like to see Southampton win, even if others would rather the history, fanbase and stadium of Leeds in the Premier League.
He said: “You want them (Leeds United) in the Premier League because their fanbase, everyone says going to Leeds away is a top ground to go, the atmosphere, they are a historic club, aren’t they?
“You look back at Leeds, and, like just before I started playing in the Premier League, them being in the Premier League, the players they had back then, it took so long for them to get into the Premier League and they have gone down.
“I am sure everyone involved with Leeds wants them to come straight back up, otherwise, it will go back to two, three, four, five years down. But I want Southampton to win (and laughs).”
Illan Meslier making special preparations for Leeds vs Southampton
Given how evenly matched these two sides are, it would not be a surprise to many if this went all the way to penalties, just like 12 months ago when Luton Town beat Coventry City.
David Prutton and Ally McCoist believe that could be what it takes to separate them, and if that is the case, Illan Meslier will be key.
Meslier has revealed he is doing some special preparation ahead of Sunday in the event he is called upon in a shootout.
He said: “To be honest, I do both [remembering and written down]. It’s important to have both so you’re not distracted by just your sheet or your bottle. You can miss information when the player is coming to take the penalty.
“We haven’t started it yet. Norwich, I was prepared for them. But tomorrow and during the week, I’ll have my work here and at home, to analyse everything.”