Championship line-up confirmed as ex-Rovers man scores at Wembley

The 2024/25 Championship line-up has been completed after Southampton overcame Leeds in the play-off final at Wembley.

Former Rovers man Adam Armstrong got the decisive goal midway through the first half as the Saints returned to the Premier League at the first time of asking under Russell Martin.

The 27-year-old kept his cool to slot past Illan Meslier after he was played through on goal by Will Smallbone.

Dan James was denied by the crossbar in the final stages as Southampton survived a nervy ending, with almost 12 minutes of stoppage time.

After the final whistle, Armstrong told Sky Sports: “I don’t know what to say. Look at this.

“This is what I’ve been working on all year. We knew how good the Championship has been this year. What a way to win, what a way to go up.”

Looking back at his winning goal, he added: “I saw the space in behind, Will winning the ball back. I knew if I kept it low and hard across goal it was going to go in, so it was a nice one.

“It means everything, The gaffer and his staff came in pre-season, put the mortar down of what they wanted and look at this.

“This is why we’re footballers, we want to be involved in the biggest games. What a way to win.”

Armstrong finished the season as the second-highest scorer in the Championship behind only Sam Szmodics, who enjoyed the best return of his career to date.

Leeds will be playing in the second tier next season along with Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton, who were all relegated from the top flight. Meanwhile, Portsmouth, Derby and Oxford were promoted from League One.

Here’s the 2024/25 Championship line-up in full

Rovers, Bristol City, Burnley, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Hull, Leeds, Luton, Middlesbrough, Millwall, Norwich, Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, QPR, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke, Sunderland, Swansea, Watford, West Brom