Southampton return to the Premier League after defeating Leeds United in a battle of wills in the Championship play-off final.
Russell Martin’s team, relegated with Leeds last season, reigned supreme in the match called “the most lucrative” in footballwinning promotion and an expected increase in revenue of at least £140 million ($178 million) over the next three seasons.
Adam Armstrong‘s goal in the first half made the difference. Southampton held Leeds at arm’s length at Wembley Stadium, and they can now look forward to premier league football again in 2024-25, while their opponents will once again have to come up with a second-tier escape plan.
Nancy Froston and Phil Hay explain how the play-off final was won.
How did Southampton destroy Leeds’ backline again?
It’s a move Leeds have seen before when they faced Southampton this season. A quick transition into midfield, Adam Armstrong behind and the ball nestled at the back of Illan MeslierIt’s clear.
Armstrong scores the match-winning goal (Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
You could have copied and pasted the move from Southampton’s two league wins against Leeds and then again at Wembley for the first game as Leeds’ backline was distorted. Will Smallbone then played Armstrong for his 24th goal of the season.
This wasn’t the first time in the match that Armstrong fell behind either. In an earlier move he cut the ball back for the onrushing Smallbone, but Leeds were able to clear – another decision that worked wonderfully in early league games for Southampton.
Smallbone has been difficult to follow in these offensive schemes and scored on a similar move earlier in the season. It was a massive blow for Leeds, who had momentum at the time after an impressive first half of the match. This proved decisive.
Nancy Froston
How will Leeds be impacted by promotion failure?
And here, in a nutshell, is why Leeds United hate play-offs.
Six attempts to win them… six defeats. There is paranoia about them at Elland Road and, as time goes on, it is increasingly difficult to argue that the club’s fear is unjustified.
The defeat in 2024 follows failures in 2019, 2009, 2008, 2006 and 1987, four of the six finals. Wembley today was largely distilled from their last two final appearances: a shadow of their former selves, struggling to lay a glove on the opposition, beaten in the last way anyone wants to lose – without lighting a fire .
Manager Daniel Farke has not been tipped to win promotion this season; Leeds ownership was realistic enough to accept that, after relegation 12 months ago, it could take more than a year to return to the Premier League.
But after coming so close and missing two big chances – one to be automatically promoted, another in the play-offs – today’s result will sting. And there will be consequences.
Joel Piroe laments Leeds’ misfortune at Wembley (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Leeds expect to be there again next season, to compete at the top of the Championship as they did this time, and they should also stick with Farke. However, profitability and sustainability (PSR) limits will force them to sell players and raise funds in the transfer window ahead.
This wasn’t designed as a season-long adventure for Farke but, in terms of his team, there’s no chance it will look like it does now when next season begins. Another very busy summer awaits us.
Phil Hay
Walker-Peters rises to the occasion
Kyle Walker-Peters looked a cut above – and has done so all season – for Southampton. Robust in his defensive duties and offering plenty of forward play, the full-back has been one of Southampton’s standout players this season.
If Russell Martin’s side had failed to secure promotion this year, the fear would be that they would have to sell him this summer to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. But as a Premier League club, Southampton have a much better chance of retaining him.
Walker-Peters was imperious against Leeds’ threatening forward line (John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
On the other hand, the star player of Leeds, Crysencio Summervillehad a quiet afternoon before being replaced in the second half.
Summerville, voted Championship player of the season, was never really able to measure up to his counterpart Walker-Peters, apart from a few wayward efforts on goal. When you need a bit of magic, the tricky Leeds winger can often provide a solution – but the play-off final can make even the brightest talents wilt under pressure.
Will Leeds be able to keep him next season? Losing great players has always been a concern for defeated finalists.
Nancy Froston
What did Daniel Farke say?
“In a few days you look at the whole picture,” said Leeds manager Farke, who previously managed City of Norwich to two automatic promotions of Championship.
“We will consider this as additional motivation to come back stronger. It will be difficult to come back stronger, because we were there with 90 points this season, which is overall a great achievement.
“But to be there with a perfect result, to qualify as a Premier League team, that’s something we want.”
What did Russell Martin say?
“I really feel very grateful. I also felt a lot of gratitude towards the staff and the supporters,” said the Southampton manager.
“I feel like it wasn’t a sexy appointment for Southampton, my arrival (to the Championship side Swansea City last summer), and I hope I gave them a day they will remember forever. It gave me one of the best days of my career.
“As a group of players and young men, what they did was incredible. I thought the hardest thing at the start of the season was seeing how fractured the group was by relegation.
“I hope we can keep as many members of this group together as possible. (It’s) so that they really enjoy it. I’ll probably end up alone in bed tonight, crying and feeling nothing but love for them.
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(Top photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
