Danny Mills gives Leeds United play-off verdict ahead of play-off final clash
Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills has brandished his old side as favourites to beat Southampton in the Championship play-off final on 26 May.
Leeds face Southampton at Wembley with a place in the Premier League on the line, and speaking to Sky Sports, Mills questioned if the Whites’ players will be able to handle the big occasion.
A 4-0 victory over Norwich City in their semi-final second leg puts the Whites in good stead going into the Wembley decider, making them slight favourites with Mills.
In quotes reported by LeedsLive, Mills said that Daniel Farke’s side will be: “hoping they don’t freeze, hoping that they can perform on the big occasion.
“Leeds are probably just about favourites, although Southampton have played very well this season. It will be a massive game, there’ll be a raucous atmosphere.
“Leeds need to be back in the Premier League, simple as that. It’s not just about the match itself, it’s about how you deal with the occasion.”
Leeds must make good on Norwich City performance
Leeds United arguably pulled off their best performance of the season at Elland Road on 16 May, thumping Norwich City 4-0 to send the Whites into the play-off final.
The result came as a shock to several Leeds fans, particularly given Farke’s side had won just once in their last seven matches, including to play-off final opponents Southampton, as their bid for automatic promotion came off the rails.
With that line in the sand now drawn with a complete performance that was a far cry from Leeds’ previous failures in the play-offs, particularly the capitulation against Derby County at Elland Road in 2019.
However, the Whites must now take their impressive showing south to Wembley, against a Southampton side who have beaten them twice already this season.
As Mills says, Leeds cannot afford to freeze on the biggest of stages this Sunday if they’re to have any hope of beating the Saints to a Premier League place, and if they can repeat their Norwich performance, the club’s long-time play-off hoodoo could finally be set to come to an end.
In other Leeds news, Neil Warnock has also given a play-off final prediction ahead of the match against Southampton.
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