Former Leeds United midfielder Michael Brown has predicted the outcome of the Championship play-off final with Southampton.
In the last game of English football’s domestic season, Leeds will be looking to secure an immediate return to the Premier League in their first visit to Wembley since 2008.
Both sides missed out on automatic promotion during the latter weeks of the season, having also been relegated alongside one another 12 months ago.
OPTA’s supercomputer had Leeds and Southampton as the favourites to progress through their respective semi-finals, and given how comfortably they both did, it is hard to argue against this being the right final.
Southampton were the only side during the regular season to complete a league double over Leeds, but did finish three points behind them in the table.
Brown predicts winner of Leeds vs Southampton play-off final
Sunday’s match is the second of two huge finals at Wembley this weekend, with the two Manchester clubs having faced off in the FA Cup earlier today.
However, this is undoubtedly the one with the most significance given the finances on offer, meaning Brown is the latest of several pundits to give his prediction.
They are all clearly finding it difficult to separate the two sides, with Graeme Souness and Troy Deeney among those backing Leeds.
On the other hand, Dion Dublin is one of several tipping Southampton to get the job done, but speaking on BBC 5Live’s Friday Night Social, Brown has sided with his former club.
He said: “I know Southampton on the last day won at Leeds United, but I think obviously things are not set in stone. I don’t think I will take too much into that. Good reaction from Leeds, winning 4-0 against Norwich.
“I think they will slightly edge it, the experience, the players they have got, I just feel the attacking style. It will be an interesting game, both teams will want to take the ball.
“I think overall Southampton have done well. I think Leeds are just favourites, but it is the playoffs, a difficult situation, it is a nervy one, anything can happen.”
Leeds vs Southampton final could decide James McAtee’s future
Not only will Sunday’s winner be rewarded with the prize of Premier League football, but it will also be such a huge boost financially.
Whoever comes out on top will be handed significantly more leeway when it comes to spending money in the transfer market this summer.
Parachute payments are cut by 10 per cent in the second season after relegation, with the EFL’s PSR constraints considerably tighter than the Premier League.
And there have already been reports that both sides will set their sights on a £20 million move for Manchester City attacking midfielder James McAtee if they win.
McAtee is a talented young player who City are willing to sell, and given the interested clubs, it just adds that extra layer to an already enthralling looking final.