Sport nationFormer Leeds United player Ross McCormack has predicted that Leeds will win the Championship play-off final against Southampton on Sunday, but only if three key players turn up and perform well. McCormack believes that if Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto, and Georginio Rutter are on form, Leeds will secure promotion to the Premier League.
McCormack, who played for Leeds from 2012 to 2014, told Sky Sports that Leeds have a level of quality above their Championship rivals and are defensively solid enough to allow their attacking players to express themselves. He highlighted the importance of Summerville, Gnonto, and Rutter, saying that if they perform well, it will be a difficult afternoon for Southampton.
Summerville, in particular, will need to be at his best to get the better of Southampton’s right-back Kyle Walker-Peters, who is considered one of the best in the league. Rutter, who has been in good form recently, will also need to perform well against Southampton’s midfield heartbeat Flynn Downes.
McCormack’s prediction echoes those of other pundits, including Troy Deeney and Graeme Souness, who have also backed Leeds to win the game. However, Simon Jordan has disagreed, predicting a Southampton win.
The Championship play-off final is set to be a closely contested match, with both teams having already beaten each other in the regular season. Leeds finished three points ahead of Southampton in the league, but the Saints won both of their head-to-head matches, including a 4-1 win on the final day of the season.
The match will be played at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, with the winner earning promotion to the Premier League alongside Leicester City and Ipswich Town.
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