Leeds United will start their play-off campaign on Sunday when they go to sixth-placed Norwich City at Carrow Road and Ray Parlour has predicted whether The Whites will win at Wembley on May 26.
Kieran McKenna’s incredible job at Ipswich Town saw The Tractor Boys win a place in the Premier League after they took advantage of a dismal run of Leeds form under Daniel Farke, just when it mattered most.
Four defeats in the last six League games have seen Leeds slip to third and allowed Ipswich to finish in second. So for Leeds and Farke, they will be forced to fight it out in the play-offs for an instant return.
Norwich’s defeat to relegated Birmingham City on the final day has seen The Canaries slip into sixth after West Brom beat Preston. It sees Leeds take on Norwich while Southampton face Carlos Corberan’s men.
Norwich man Jack Stacey has already commented on how hard it will be for the Canaries, while manager David Wagner has attempted mind games by saying there will be “trouble” at Leeds if they don’t go up.
Now, Ray Parlour has given his verdict on who will win the play-offs and earn promotion to the Premier League on TalkSPORT this morning (Friday, 8.30AM):
Ray Parlour predicts who wins play-offs, Leeds or Southampton
Josh Windass claimed this week that it is likely to be between Leeds and Southampton before backing Farke’s men, claiming that West Brom and Norwich are simply happy to be in the mix for promotion.
The points difference is a large one and Ian Holloway alluded to that in his verdict. Leeds sit 17 points ahead of Norwich, while there is a 12-point gap between Southampton and West Brom in fourth and fifth.
Parlour predicted it to be between The Saints and Leeds, before suggesting Southampton: “I think it will be between Southampton and Leeds to be honest. The result Southampton had will give them belief.”
What Jesse Marsch and Sam Allardyce have said this week
The play-offs in the Championship are certainly a source for pundits and players to comment, as well as managers. Indeed, two bosses that managed The Whites last season have given their verdicts.
Jesse Marsch said whoever does win the play-offs will have done incredibly well given how tight it is: “Some good clubs there. That is going to be tight. Whoever emerges will have earned it, no question.”
Sam Allardyce managed Leeds for the last four games of the Premier League campaign, a few months after Marsch had been sacked and he is desperate to see Leeds gain promotion at the first attempt.
He said: “Obviously I want Leeds because I was there last season and I found it, in only a short time, a great club. Hopefully they get back there and get some stability in terms of trying to stay there this time.”