David Prutton fires Southampton warning to Leeds United ahead of play-off final | OneFootball

David Prutton has warned Leeds United that Southampton will be a much more difficult test than Norwich City in the upcoming play-off final.

The Whites learned their opponent at Wembley Stadium last Friday when Russell Martin’s side earned a 3-1 victory at home against West Brom.

Goals from Will Smallbone and Adam Armstrong sealed a 3-1 aggregate win for the Saints, with the sides now set to compete for the final promotion place to the Premier League.

Leeds advanced with a 4-0 home win over Norwich last Thursday, with Daniel Farke’s team bulldozing the Canaries in their best performance in some time.

Both clubs are aiming to earn promotion straight back to the top flight at the first attempt when they meet in London this weekend.

David Prutton issues Southampton warning ahead of Leeds clash

Prutton believes that the two wins Southampton earned over Leeds in the regular season could give them a psychological edge in their play-off final.

The pundit has warned the Whites not to expect the Saints to be such an easy opponent as Norwich made themselves in their semi-final second leg.

“I think you've got to take into account those performances and the victories for Southampton so there is psychologically a little bit of an advantage,” wrote Prutton, via the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“But I think this is as much of a level playing field for these two to come into as you could possibly wish for in a Championship play-off final because they are both former Premier League teams and both have flirted with the top two this season.

“Both had to deal with the disappointment of missing out on the top two and I would say it's a lot more even than having a 'favourite'.

“It's got to be business-like again, like it was in that second leg on Friday but now applied to Sunday because we know Leeds can do it.

“We also know that Leeds can potentially disappoint on the odd occasion and Sunday is absolutely not the time for that.

“If there's a school of thought to think that if Leeds play like they did on Thursday against Norwich then they will go up then I can see that.

“But they were helped by some woeful Norwich defending and Norwich looked like they had run out of ideas after the first leg.

“For a team collectively to play that poorly takes some doing but Norwich absolutely did that which played right into Leeds; hands.

“Yes, you have got to beat the team in front of you but that team in front of them wasn't very good at all.

“There is that potential for Leeds to do something similar against Southampton but, but let's be honest, Southampton are a miles better team than Norwich.”

Crucial play-off final for both managers

Norwich responded to the 4-0 hammering away to Leeds by dismissing David Wagner from his position as manager.

It remains to be seen who will be leading the Norfolk outfit into the new season, but they will surely be looking to compete for promotion again next year.

Meanwhile, Farke and Martin will now be preparing their squads to compete at Wembley for a place in the Premier League.

So much is riding on this one game, it could make or break either managers’ reign at their respective club.

Southampton will be tough test for Leeds

This won’t be an easy fixture for either side this weekend, and whoever wins will have to work hard to earn that promotion.

A key aspect of the game could also come down to fitness, with both teams having to manage issues in their squad in the buildup.

It’s going to be very difficult to call who will win, although Southampton’s two wins in the regular season over Leeds may make them the slight favourites.

The two clubs met just a few weeks ago at Elland Road and the Saints won 2-1, which will be playing on everybody’s mind prior to kick-off.