talkSPORT host Alan Brazil has delivered his verdict on the Championship play-offs that kick-off tomorrow with Leeds facing Derby and West Brom hosting Aston Villa.
Talking on the Sports Breakfast Show, Brazil said that he thinks Leeds will beat Derby in their semi-final but will lose out in the final to the winner of the West Brom/Aston Villa tie.
“I think whoever wins between West Brom and Aston Villa will win it. Leeds fans… I just feel it’s not Leeds’ last few weeks. I don’t know what to make of the Portman Road defeat, that was Ipswich relaxed, relegated, nothing to play for except pride.
“Leeds worry me a wee bit. I think Leeds will beat Derby if I’m being honest and I think it will either be West Brom or Aston Villa in the final.”
Ally McCoist agreed saying, “I think the momentum switch has gone from Leeds.”
OPINION
Leeds fans won’t mind being written off by all the pundits ahead of the play-offs. There’s no advantage to going in as favourites and Leeds have always performed best with their backs against the wall. A Leeds v Aston Villa final would be the one that all the neutrals want to see and the brawl between the two sides a fortnight ago was the perfect set-up for a brilliant final. Pundits might say Villa are the form team, but Leeds more than matched them in the recent encounter and brought an end to their 10-in-a-row club record. They should have won the game, although the sending off made a big difference in the closing stages of the game. That’s not really been mentioned and Leeds certainly won’t be scared about facing Villa. Leeds have also beaten Derby twice this season and will be looking to make it a hat-trick in the later kick-off tomorrow at Pride Park. We’re predicting a Leeds v Villa final for the ages.