Former Leeds United manager Simon Grayson has given his prediction for the Championship play-off final with Southampton.
The Whites will be looking to book their place in next season’s Premier League against a Southampton side who also came down this time 12 months ago.
During the 46-game regular season, Leeds finished three points above Southampton in the table, but were actually beaten in both matches by Sunday’s opponents, who were the only side to complete a league double over Daniel Farke‘s side.
Though Leeds did defeat Norwich City comfortably without him, Farke will be hoping the absence of Patrick Bamford is not too hard felt at Wembley, which was the headline news from across both managers’ press conferences.
Leeds won 11 of the 15 league games Bamford started in during the season and so the statistics suggest they are a better team with him in it, but they will have to make do without him at Wembley.
Grayson predicts winner of Leeds vs Southampton play-off final
In what is dubbed the richest game in football, Grayson is one of several pundits to have given his prediction ahead of the clash at Wembley.
Grayson is actually one of the five managers across Leeds’ history to have tried and failed to have got the club promoted via this route, but Farke will be hoping its sixth time lucky.
Two of his former players David Prutton and Ben Parker are among those backing Leeds to get the job done, with the former even suggesting it could go to penalties.
However, due to how evenly matched the final looks, plenty of pundits including Simon Jordan have tipped Southampton to be promoted.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Radio Leeds, Grayson has opted to side with two of his former players by predicting Leeds to come out on top.
He said: “Both the same [head and heart], Leeds win. I do think we’ll do it but I know what we are like as a football club as well. The big players look like they are ready to crack on again and Daniel [Farke] knows what it’s about as well.
“But you can’t underestimate Southampton and Russell Martin because they’ve got good players. When we saw them on the last game of the season, Adams, Brooks, Armstrong, midfield players like Smallbone, there are some really good players on show.
“I don’t expect the game to be as open at Elland Road where it was like a man-to-man basketball game, I think it will be a little bit cagey. Leeds have to be aware of their threats, but Russell Martin will be thinking if Leeds play like they did against Norwich, it could be a difficult afternoon on a big, open pitch.”
Predicted Leeds XI for play-off final vs Southampton
Farke faces arguably his most important team selection as Leeds manager to date, in what is his final game in charge of his debut season.
With Bamford still out, you would imagine the side picks itself after the performance in the win over Norwich City in the second leg.
That would mean Archie Gray continuing at right-back, where he started for the first time since April 9 last time out, and Joel Piroe up front.
However, Farke did spring a tactical surprise by going with three in midfield at Carrow Road, and given Southampton’s strength in possession, there is a chance he could do so again.