x

Southampton Should Not Fear Anyone In The Play Offs.

The hope of getting back into the Premier League automatically has long gone, but the season is not yet over and we now have a good chance of getting to Wembley and going up through the play offs, here we look at who we could meet.

As it stands Saints are the only team absolutely guaranteed to be in the play offs as we head into the final week of the season.

Above them it could be either Leeds United or Ipswich Town blowing up in the final week and joining us in the play offs, but below us there are still 3 teams vying for the final 2 spots.

That is probably not entirely correct though, Norwich City who sit in 5th place on 73 points are 1 point above West Brom in 6th and 3 points above Hull in 7th, but they have a better goal difference of 7 over Hull, so it would take a big turnaround for Hull to get above the Canaries, Norwich travel to Birmingham City who will go down if they are defeated and unless Plymouth lose 5-0 even a draw wont save Birmingham.

Hull for their part are away at Plymouth, so high scoring games in these fixtures could decide the fate of clubs at the top as well as at the bottom.

I would imagine that Norwich will hold on to a play off spot whatever the scoreline, so the final place will be between West Brom & Hull.

West Brom are at home to Preston and although the Baggies are in the midst of a terrible run, it should still be enough to get a point and get in the play offs as Hull are currently 11 goals worse off than West Brom.

Hull are perhaps the only team who only have one option on Saturday, they have to attack and keep attacking and hope that one of Norwich & West Brom, get beaten.

So Saints could meet any of those 3 clubs in the play off semi final, the truth is though we should not fear any of them, despite our own recent form.

Of course we have suffered 3 straight defeats, but we have still got 9 points from our last 6 games, that compared favourably with West Brom who have gained just 5, Norwich who have the same number 9 and only Hull have bettered that, a late 6 match unbeaten run with 3 wins and 3 draws giving them 12 points.

They are most definitely the in form team, it is the same number of points that Leicester have got in the same period and more than any of Saints, Ipswich & Leeds, indeed Leeds have a worse record than Saints over the last 6 and Ipswich an identical 9 points.

So although we have had a disaster in the last 3 games, the clubs around us have not done much better, I would say it is a real outside bet that Hull get that last promotion place, even though they are in form, they travel to Plymouth who have to win to guarantee survival, it won't be an easy task.

That being the case then we should be confident about facing West Brom or Norwich teams that we haven't lost against this season.

So it is not all doom and gloom and saying that the club that has the late run into the play offs is the one that goes up, from the look of it all four clubs in the play offs could be there not on the back of recent form, but earlier in the season, it will not just be Saints who go into the play offs low on confidence.

What to read next:

Leeds Kick Off Transfer Window with Loan Moves for Gelhardt and Crew
The current transfer window has been open for two weeks already, but it’s not till today that we’ve heard first pieces of news affecting Leeds United. Joe Gelhardt and Charlie Crew are going on loan to Hull City and Doncaster Rovers respectively, for the rest of the season.
Leeds United Edge Past Harrogate Town with Ramazani goal
We laboured to break down some stubborn resistance from League Two Harrogate Town, but in the end a 59th minute goal from Largie Ramazani was enough to take Leeds through to the fourth round.
Late Drama at Hull: Leeds Held to a Draw After Meslier's Costly Error
Leeds seemed to be cruising to victory after turning the game around in the second half, but this match will be remembered for the error from Meslier that allowed Hull City back into the game, and ultimately cost us another two points on the road.
Hull Awaydaze
This season’s trip to Hull City is on Saturday, with a rare kick off at 3pm. You’ll find the stadium now known as the MKM a mile or so to the west of Hull city centre.
Fatigue or Fortune? Leeds Held to Draw by Resilient Blackburn
It was a disappointing end to the holiday season as Leeds took most of the game to break down a stubborn Blackburn Rovers side, and then allowed our opponents to grab a late equaliser. It won’t be a game that will live long in the memory.
Top of the Table: Leeds finish 2024 at the summit after Stunning Team Goal!
Once again we dominated the possession in an away game, but struggled to make it count. That was before a superb team goal in the 79th minute finally broke through the Derby County defence, and that proved to be enough to ensure that we finish 2024 on top of the Championship table.
Farke Seeks Improvement Despite Comfortable Win in the Fog
Even though we went back to the top of the table Daniel Farke thought we should have won more comfortably, but we were more than good enough to beat a woeful Stoke City. For the third time in 2024 a Leeds win cost an opposing manager his job, after Narcis Pelach was called in to collect his P45 yesterday morning.
Derby Awaydaze
Our first visit to Derby County four five years is at 5.45pm tomorrow, which has of course been dictated by Sky Sports. We’re not famous any more!
Stoke Awaydaze
Our visit to Stoke City is on Boxing Day evening, with kick-off at 8pm, having been put back by our very good friends at Sky Sports.
From Frustration to Relief: Leeds United Equalise in Dramatic Final Moments
We should have been playing against ten men for over half this game, but in the end Leeds had to be content with a point after forcing a very late equaliser against Preston North End.