Leeds United’s Championship play-off final with Southampton has some key match-ups across the pitch.
The two sides are set to go head-to-head at Wembley for a place in next season’s Premier League, having both come down alongside one another 12 months ago.
With so many Premier League quality players still on both sides, this has the potential to be one of the best play-off finals in several years.
Just three points separated the two sides during the 46-game regular season and pundits are finding it difficult to pick a winner, with Ally McCoist and David Prutton among those expecting it to go to penalties.
With that in mind, it is likely to be a game of fine margins and so it could come down to the winner of one of the many individual battles. Here, we have taken a look at three of the most important.
Crysencio Summerville v Kyle Walker-Peters
Two Premier League players in waiting regardless of tomorrow’s outcome, there isn’t anywhere else to start but here when it comes to the key match-ups.
Summerville has already spoken of his excitement at coming up against one of the ‘best’ in Walker-Peters, who in fairness, got the better of him in both league meetings.
Though Summerville was crowned the Championship’s POTS, he failed to register a single goal or assist against the Saints, while Walker-Peters registered half of his four assists against Leeds.
If Leeds can get plenty of ball towards Summerville, it would help keep Walker-Peters pinned in his own half and therefore nullify his attacking threat. This one looks decisive.
Georginio Rutter vs Flynn Downes
Including the play-offs, Southampton have lost just one of the last 30 league matches in which Downes has started this season. He is the key to making them tick.
During his absence in February and April, Saints lost five of six matches, with his return to the starting XI actually coming on the final day at Elland Road.
Downes is the man tasked with shielding Southampton’s defence and so he will be coming directly up against Rutter.
With no successful dribbles or key passes, Downes was able to keep Rutter quiet in the last meeting, but the Frenchman was back to his best in the second leg against Norwich.
Not only will Rutter be important in stopping Southampton from playing out from the back through Downes, but if he can be as effective as he was in possession last time out, the Saints star could be in for a tough afternoon.
Glen Kamara vs Will Smallbone
With goals in both matches home and away this season, Smallbone has been Leeds’ nemesis from midield this season.
His two strikes against the Whites both came from latching onto cut-backs after making late runs into the box. Smallbone’s goal in the semi-finals against West Brom also came as a result of pushing on from midfield.
With that in mind, it is simply vital Leeds midfielder Kamara doesn’t ever switch off when Smallbone is making those runs, or another goal could be on the cards.
In possession, meanwhile, Kamara is Leeds’ best when it comes to keeping the ball. Against a side like Southampton – who averaged more possession than any other side in the Championship this season – he will need to be at his best.