Dominic Matteo has predicted the result as Leeds United take on Southampton at Wembley in the Championship play-off final on Sunday afternoon, and he doesn’t think it goes to extra-time.
Leeds and Southampton do battle for the third time this season with The Whites suffering defeat on both occasions during the regular season. But, Leeds finished in third place, three points ahead of The Saints.
The momentum is back at Elland Road after a quite incredible 4-0 win over Norwich that could have easily been double that, as Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter all scored goals.
Troy Deeney, Graeme Souness and Simon Jordan predicted today’s result on the Three Up Front podcast, with Deeney and Souness in favour of Leeds while Jermaine Beckford and Michael Bridges backed Leeds.
Matteo has given his prediction and is confident that the game will not go into extra-time at Wembley, as both sides look to secure an instant return to the Premier League after both were relegated last summer.
Dom Matteo predicts result as Leeds face Southampton
What a game we have in store at Wembley. Two sides that are incredibly evenly matched, and expected to do battle in what will be a tight and cagey affair at the home of English football come 3pm on Sunday.
Leeds legend Matteo told the LUTV play-off preview show that he thinks Leeds will go and win the game, securing a 2-1 win inside 90 minutes. Matteo does not think the game goes beyond 90 minutes.
“Very tough isn’t it, it’s going to be tight. I’m gonna go 2-1 to Leeds, in 90 minutes. I don’t think it will go to extra time,” Matteo predicted, ahead of Sunday’s clash between Daniel Farke and Russell Martin.
Key battles as Leeds take on Southampton this afternoon
It is going to come down to a few key battles. Southampton’s Flynn Downes has sparkled for The Saints after joining the club from West Ham and it will be down to him to stop Georginio Rutter’s creativity.
Rutter was back to his best last Thursday and the winner of that battle will have a big say. The league’s best left-winger comes up against the best right-back, Kyle Walker-Peters v Crysencio Summerville.
That is another enormous battle, while Joel Piroe needs to replicate his performance against Norwich with Patrick Bamford injured. There are key battles all over the pitch as two evenly-matches sides do battle.