Leeds United v Southampton playoff final verdict dropped by EFL manager
Cheltenham Town manager Darrell Clarke says he thinks Leeds United will “edge” the Championship playoff final against Southampton.
The Whites face off with the Saints at Wembley on 26 May for the prize of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
And Clarke feels it will be a close game, but has tipped Leeds to emerge victorious.
Speaking on the EFL All Access podcast (20 May), he said: “I think it’s two very evenly matched teams and I think it’s going to be some individual brilliance that wins the game if I’m honest with you.
“I don’t know why, I just fancy Leeds to edge it. The Leeds manager’s experience from going up from that division.
“And it’s two teams we expected to be right up there this season. I just fancy Leeds might just have that little bit more excellence in forward areas to win the game.”
Can Leeds United win the Championship playoff final?
Leeds will have to do better than they did in their two Championship clashes with Southampton if they are to triumph at Wembley on 26 May.
The Saints did the double over the Whites in league competition this season, winning 3-1 at home before a 2-1 victory at Elland Road on the final day.
However, Leeds can be encouarged that their recent record against Southampton prior to those games is stronger. Excluding this season’s pair of meetings, the two clubs have clashed six times in all competitions since early 2021 and Leeds have lost just one of those fixtures, winning three and drawing two.
And while the Whites’ form tailed off towards the end of the campaign, they were largely excellent in 2023/24 and ended the season with the second-fewest goals conceded in the Championship – only Leicester City shipped fewer than Leeds’ 43 goals.
Daniel Farke’s men were also one of just four teams to score more than 80 times in the division.
They will hope to show all their best qualities at Wembley, replicating the performance they produced in the second leg of their playoff semi-final against Norwich City, rather than the first.
In other Leeds United news, a “disaster” has been outlined as four players have already been lined up for a summer transfer exit.
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