Leeds United and Southampton wish made by David Prutton live on Sky Sports
David Prutton hopes to see a de facto play-off final between Leeds United and Southampton on the last day of the Championship season.
With Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Leeds all faltering, Southampton are back in the automatic promotion mix thanks to back-to-back wins.
The Saints are six points behind Leeds with two games in hand and are seven points adrift of second-place Leicester with one game in hand.
And with Southampton due to visit Elland Road on 4 May, Prutton is hoping for a dramatic showdown for second place.
“It does feel, and hopefully from a spectacle point of view, it could whittle down to Leeds versus Southampton on the final day,” Prutton said on Sky Sports News [16 April, 10:41am]. “That would be a play-off final before the play-off final.”
Asked how much of an impact Leeds’ loss to Blackburn Rovers will have on the side, Prutton added: “We’ll soon see. It was a strange mood at Elland Road on Saturday.
“We’ve been there when it’s been bouncing and also when it’s been a bit quieter, as it was when Sammie Szmodics’ goal went in. Leeds in 2024 have been very good.
“Daniel Farke said after the game about the next game and getting over the line, handling the expectation levels. The frustration is not taking advantage of others slipping up.
“This three-horse race we’re seeing – or four with Southampton – is phenomenal really. Leeds have the players and squad, as have Leicester, as have Ipswich and Southampton, Now, though, it is about a test of nerves.”
Leeds United still on course for Premier League promotion
Even by the Championship’s standards, last weekend’s action was truly remarkable. Leicester lost to lowly Plymouth Argyle, Leeds lost at home for the first time all season to Blackburn, and Ipswich then struggled to overcome Middlesbrough at home.
It means that, even though the result itself was disappointing, Ipswich gained a point on Leicester and Leeds in the race for a top-two finish.
Southampton’s games in hand complicate matters slightly, but if they were to win their remaining four games before heading to Elland Road, it really would make things interesting.
Knowing how this division works, you honestly would not bet against four teams still being in the mix for first and second place come the start of May.
As Prutton says, it is all about who can hold their nerve. Two sides will ultimately miss out on automatic promotion, and then the fun and games start all over again with the play-offs.
In other Leeds United news, a former Premier League referee has reacted to a contentious incident in the loss to Blackburn Rovers.
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