Leeds United: What to expect from Leeds vs. Southampton
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00:00As you say there, Southampton is the final game of Leeds United's championship season.
00:06If Leeds were to go into the playoffs, there's every chance that they could end up playing
00:09them again just a couple of weeks later in what would be a playoff final, given the fact
00:14that the teams are likely to finish third and fourth.
00:19If we look at this game against Southampton to come in the league first, obviously Leeds
00:25have to go and win that game to give themselves any chance in terms of going up automatically.
00:30Showdips, which slip up against Coventry to come, and then slip up against, I forget who
00:35they play on the last day.
00:36Huddersfield at home on the last day, which is probably not going to help Leeds' cause.
00:40Probably not.
00:41But as you say, if they were to, Leeds would have to win this game against Southampton.
00:46It's a game we probably thought a little while ago could have been a promotion decider.
00:51Not so much likely to be this time, now that we've got round to it because of the way things
00:56have panned out, but all the matter, Leeds still want to win that game and if they are
01:02to be in the playoffs, show that they can beat Southampton and give themselves something
01:06of a psychological edge if they were to come up against them at Wembley.
01:09Yeah, definitely.
01:10Yeah.
01:11I mean, I don't think it would surprise anybody if this ended up being the playoff final.
01:14I mean, obviously, let's hope that's not the case and that there's a late twist and Leeds
01:17still go up automatically, but it wouldn't surprise anybody, I don't think, if this did
01:20end up being the playoff final.
01:21And that's despite a wretched little run for Southampton of late.
01:24I mean, they're absolutely incredible on the club record.
01:26I think it was a 25-game unbeaten run, wasn't it, which obviously propelled them at the
01:29table and when they're on that sort of run, everybody looked for all the world like they
01:32were going to go up top too, but obviously had a bit of a dip, then they sort of bounced
01:35back and they've had another dip again of late, obviously hammered at Leicester and
01:38that's three defeats in a row now after the weekend defeat at home to Stoke City.
01:42Russell Martin's not held back in his criticism of the players, calling it sort of rubbish
01:47and pathetic at times and stuff.
01:48He says it as it is.
01:49And I think he does quote from him saying that he's constantly getting texts from his
01:53mum asking him if he's all right because he's looking tired and whatever.
01:55So it's definitely taken its toll, but it does look like a good time to be playing them
02:00when they're in that sort of form.
02:02And obviously they've got injuries as well because Gavin Bizzuno, the first-choice keeper
02:05is out and Stuart Armstrong's got a hat full of goals and assists, he's out as well.
02:10I think Ross Stewart's going to be back.
02:11He's a big player for them this weekend, but he's been out for ages and he'll probably
02:15only be on the bench.
02:16Obviously Leeds have got injuries too and we'll wait and see.
02:18But obviously, you know, in terms of their run, you would think it's probably a good
02:21time to play them.
02:22But yeah, again, you know, they've got very, very good players, Southampton.
02:26And if they can hit the reset button, as has been said in their camp sort of in this week
02:30and start clicking, then they're going to definitely be a threat in the playoffs.
02:33There's no doubt about that whatsoever.
02:35So it's a very hard game to finish with.
02:38You can just imagine the sort of like the atmosphere and the pressure at Ellen Road.
02:41So very, very hard one to predict really.
02:43You're right.
02:44A lot of people looked at that, you know, maybe being a promotion decider towards, you
02:48know, earlier on in the season.
02:49I've got to say when Leeds were absolutely flying and on their run, a lot of us looked
02:53at that game and said, you know what, it might be over by then, as in Leeds might be up by
02:56then.
02:57And obviously that's certainly not going to be the case.
02:59So the only thing you do know, again, we're saying this before the midweek game with Ipswich
03:03at Coventry, is that because of that draw against Hull, they will definitely have some
03:06sort of chance going into the final day.
03:08I mean, it was looking like obviously it could be done, you know, in terms of Ipswich up
03:11by then.
03:12So there's a chance of them getting an automatic promotion on the final day, but I think to
03:16all extents and purposes, the only way that's going to happen, I don't know the maths because
03:20we haven't had the midweek game yet, is they're going to have to beat Southampton and they're
03:23going to have to hope, I think, that Ipswich slip up against Huddersfield and, you know,
03:28you can get funny results in the championship, but I mean, Huddersfield are basically down
03:32because of their goal difference and Ipswich are like one to three on to win that one.
03:36And it's a stretch to imagine Ipswich not winning that one really.
03:40I mean, you never know.
03:41It might be a draw and even a draw would be all right if that's a draw and Leeds can get
03:44the win against Southampton.
03:45So, but very hard to call in terms of will Leeds even get the job done, really.
03:49I think my gut instinct would be I'd suspect Ipswich will beat Huddersfield and then that
03:53would probably be it.
03:54But I mean, you know, you never know.
03:55You can get surprises and you've got to hope there's a surprise in this one.
03:58Adam Armstrong is going to be key to them.
04:0020 goals and 13 assists, staggering tally.
04:03Che Adams, a player that Leeds have looked at before as well.
04:05I'm sure he'll be dangerous.
04:07So, yeah, I mean, but all you can do is just cross your fingers that, you know, Leeds get
04:10the job done and that, you know, the gods are kind to them and there's a sort of favour
04:14from elsewhere.
04:15I mean, of all teams, it's Huddersfield.
04:16Obviously, the Yorkshire sort of neighbours, if you like, that might end up doing them
04:19a favour.
04:20But I think you look at the last game of the season, that's not where you want to see Ipswich
04:22playing them at home.
04:23I mean, obviously, they've shown a bit of fight, but with that goal difference, it looks
04:26like they're going to go down.
04:27And yeah, it's come to this, really.
04:29But as you say, you know, if it is the playoffs, then you definitely want to be going into them
04:33in good form.
04:34And Leeds, you know, obviously aren't on the back of that 4-0 defeat at QPR.
04:38So whatever happens, like, just try and finish off the season in style and, you know, whatever
04:43it is, you know, go into the playoffs in good form and with a spring in your step.
04:47But you never know.
04:48You never know.
04:49There's been some big surprises so far in this season.
04:51So you never know.
04:52There might be one on the final day.
04:53Let's keep our fingers crossed.
04:54Stranger things have happened, Lee, in football, as we all know, obviously, if Ipswich were
04:59to lose against Coventry on Tuesday night, that would certainly open the door.
05:05That's definitely true.
05:06I mean, that's the one thing.
05:07I mean, obviously, we're saying this beforehand.
05:08And, you know, I mean, obviously, by the time people see this, that game will have been
05:12and gone.
05:13But I mean, there's every chance that Coventry could win that game, you know, but the way
05:17it is, is that if they go there and even get a point, you know, which is, you know, I think
05:20with the bookies, I think it's 1-4 that they get either a draw or a victory there.
05:25And even one point just literally puts it in their hands, because the bottom line is,
05:30even if Leeds beat Southampton, if people check in the scores and Ipswich are 2-0 up
05:33against Huddersfield, then it's game over.
05:35And I suspect that's probably the way it will happen.
05:37But you never know.
05:38We've had surprises.
05:39So we'll definitely welcome another one if there is one.