Leeds duo make 'very good' Saints claim but insist one statistic counts for nothing

LEEDS United duo Patrick Bamford and Ethan Ampadu insist Southampton's wins over them this season count for nothing at Wembley.

Russell Martin's side did the double over Daniel Farke's during the regular Championship season with 3-1 and 2-1 victories.

Leeds, however, finished ahead of Saints in third and the two historic clubs now meet in the Championship playoff final.

Only one can claim the final place in next season's Premier League and the Leeds players insist previous records are irrelevant.

Speaking on the My Mate’s a Footballer podcast, Bamford reasoned: “When it's a one-off final at Wembley, I feel like it doesn't matter what's happened before.

Patrick Bamford is in a race to be fit for the bench at Wembley on the weekend after an injury picked up earlier this month (Image: PA)

It just comes down to who can handle the occasion better and who makes the least mistakes really - it's true, that's the way it goes.

"Generally that's what decides it, and then I guess a third point is that it depends on who can bring like a moment of magic.

"We've got a lot of players who, as we saw on Thursday night, when they are in tune, they are really good."

Leeds brushed Norwich City aside with a 4-0 win at Elland Road in their semi-final last week, after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.

Southampton's first leg also finished goalless before a comfortable 3-1 victory at St Mary's over West Brom on Friday.

Wales international Ampadu, 23, has played every minute of Leeds United's Championship campaign.

Ethan Ampadu has missed only one cup game all season for Leeds, playing every minute of the rest in all competitions (Image: PA)

He said: "If you were to flip it and we'd beaten Southampton twice this season that wouldn't mean we'd win the game on Sunday.

"You can't look at what's happened in the season, all you can do is look at those games to see what we can improve.

"I don't think you can judge it off what's gone on in the past, Sunday's Sunday. We set our target at the start of the season and it's achievable on Sunday.

"We know it's going to be difficult, Southampton are a very good team, very brave in the way they play.

"They want the ball a lot, but we're working hard to put our gameplan together and give ourselves the best chance."