Manager Dennis Wise takes Leeds United to his old club Southampton on Saturday, believing the pressure is nothing compared with the anxiety he felt when his children were about to be born.

Wise knows the final three matches of the season hold the key to Leeds' destiny as they strive for Championship safety.

But the man who played 12 times for the Saints last season, including the first half of their 4-3 home defeat against Leeds, remains relaxed.

Wise said: "Southampton are under pressure to finish in the top six and we are under pressure to get out of the bottom three but I am quite relaxed about it.

"There is pressure in football but some people can handle it and some can't. If you can look yourself in the mirror and say you have given it everything you possibly could to get the most out of your players, then fair enough.

"There was real pressure when my wife was giving birth to our little boy and little girl because you wondered if they were going to be all right. That is what life is about really."

Wise, who checks the fitness of midfielder Alan Thompson (back and hamstring injuries) before selecting his side at St Mary's, believes his players can also cope with the pressure.

He said: "They have done very well under immense pressure over the last seven or eight weeks. A lot of things have been said about us all but the players have coped with it. We have three games to go and I am sure they will carry on coping with it over those games."

Wise admits he is keeping a keen eye on results involving United's rivals and has earmarked Leicester's game against Barnsley on April 28 as a massive one. However, he is happy with his side's record of three wins from the last four matches and adds: "Our form over the last seven or eight games has been among the best in the Championship. If it hadn't been, we would be in big, big trouble."