Russell Martin and Daniel Farke have history.
Southampton boss Martin played under Leeds manager Farke at Norwich seven years ago, but not for long.
Martin was Canaries captain with 300 games under his belt. Then Farke turned up and Martin hardly played again.
Martin said at the time he was excited by Farke’s arrival. ‘Got that wrong, didn’t I?’ he later remarked.
On Sunday, the two meet again in the Championship play-off final with a place in the Premier League at stake. Will Martin have the last laugh?
Russell Martin (pictured) briefly played under Daniel Farke at Norwich before leaving the club
Farke hardly played Martin when in charge, with Martin admitting he was ‘wrong’ to be excited by the appointment
Martin had played over 300 times for Norwich, but barely featured under his now-opposing manager
More possession than Pep’s City
Martin plays one way and that’s possession. Then more possession, then even more possession. Southampton will look to get the ball, keep it, pass it and not stop until Leeds are ground into submission. Even Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side did not keep the ball as long as Saints did this season!
Only Guardiola’s City (625.1) completed more passes per game in English league football than Saints (594.8). Martin’s men completed 142 more passes per game this season than Leeds.
A more fluid approach
Farke’s football is far more fluid. Leeds play fast and slow. In the Championship, only Saints and Leicester had more possession and took more shots or touches in the box that came at the end of a 10+ pass move, yet only Plymouth attempted more counter-attacks.
Leeds, though, will have to pick their moments to pounce. Their equaliser in the 2-1 defeat by Southampton on the final day came from Saints playing out from the back and Sam Byram winning the ball in a dangerous area. That will be key today.
No side in the top four of English football had a higher average possession than Southampton this season
While Martin likes possession-based football, Farke and Leeds’ approach will be more fluid
Who gets into the Premier League could come down to either Crysencio Summerville (right) or Armstrong
While Summerville was the Championship player of the year, no one in the top four tiers of English football has more goals and assists combined than Adam Armstrong (right)
No player in the top four tiers of English football registered more goals and assists combined than Adam Armstrong, while Summerville won player of the season in the league
Will it be a bright Summerville’s day?
Who gets to the Premier League could well come down to two of the most potent attackers in England — Southampton striker Adam Armstrong and Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville.
Armstrong is the Championship top scorer and no one in the top four tiers of English football combined for more goals and assists this season.
Championship player of the year Summerville will test Saints’ calm and resolve. Only one player took more shots and created more chances across the leagues.
Form book goes out the window
Saints have already beaten Leeds twice in the league this season. As we saw in the League One and Two play-off finals, though, where both winners had failed to beat their opponents during the regular campaign, recent history counts for nothing.
This will be the 101st meeting between Leeds and Southampton. Of the 19 teams Leeds have faced 100 times or more in their history, their win rate against Southampton is the highest.
Leeds’ win rate against Southampton is the highest against any team they have faced 100 or more times in their history
One team, meanwhile, will have to end their Wembley jinx to get promoted on Sunday
Which team ends their Wembley jinx?
We all know how bad Leeds are in play-offs. Five attempts, three finals, no promotions. No side have ever played in more play-off finals without winning one.
The last time they won at Wembley was when Eric Cantona scored a hat-trick against Liverpool in the 1992 Community Shield.
Southampton, though, have a dire record at Wembley too. They have lost eight of their 10 matches there and their last five. Something has to give this afternoon.
