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Adam Armstrong the hero as Southampton turn Russell Martin’s promotion masterplan into reality
And the Saints go marching back to the Premier League. It may have only been an absence from the top flight of one season, it surely felt like more, but Southampton have returned at the first attempt.
Against the Saints were the sinners. For Leeds United it will be another campaign in the Championship and the scrutiny will swing onto their manager Daniel Farke and whether he can survive, given the demand for immediate promotion and the strength of the squad he was handed.
In truth, the Yorkshire club were desperately disappointing in this play-off final until substitute Daniel James came on. They have now suffered the heartbreak of failing to gain promotion from all six of their play-off campaigns and the tears flowed. But they can have no complaint.
In the single most lucrative match in world football – worth at least £140 million and subsequently more than £300 million if relegation is avoided in the first season – this was a deserved triumph for Southampton’s admirable young manager, Russell Martin.
His team has continually played attractive, free-flowing football but, here, they ground it out with a superb defensive performance. Having conceded 20 more goals than Leeds in their 46-game league programme, they fought tooth and nail for a clean sheet and earned it.
Failure to gain promotion would have been crushing for Southampton, also. Relegation last year was traumatic, with 19 players leaving – in all £160 million of talent was sold. There were also doubts whether Martin – poached from Swansea City despite them only finishing 10th in the Championship – had the nous to take Southampton back up. In the end the 38-year-old did not just do it, but he did it gloriously and, at times, cussedly his way.
“We finally won something,” Martin said with a smile before stating that he will not compromise in the Premier League even though he knows the talk will already have started as to whether he and his team can survive this way.
Martin may be relatively inexperienced but he is brimming with belief and he transmitted that from the off to a club that felt broken and divided and with a fanbase that had turned on the new ownership after 11 years in the Premier League had come to an abrupt end.
Southampton went through three managers last season, made a series of foolish decisions, lost their captain James Ward-Prowse after one game of this campaign, and their sporting director Jason Wilcox to Manchester United in April, but they have come back in absolute singular style.
Martin implemented his own demanding way of playing and he never lost faith or wavered in a season that included a 25-game unbeaten run but also two terrible wobbles at the start and towards the finale, most recently a 5-0 hammering from Leicester City. But the season has ended magnificently and he is a manager on the up. Just like Southampton.
The tension was palpable as rain fell on Wembley before kick-off, as was the relief for the Southampton fans at the end. It was all too much for Southampton’s match-winner, talisman and leading scorer Adam Armstrong, who prematurely tore of his shirt in celebration because he thought the final whistle had gone.
There were still a couple of minutes to play but goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, who came into the side only last month after injury to Gavin Bazunu and is out of contract, stood tall and his defence were absolutely determined to hold out. Which they did.
No team, not even Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, have had a greater share of possession this season than the 66.1 per cent Southampton achieved in one game, but they surprisingly had to feed off just 42.5 per cent at Wembley. Even though Leeds had more of the ball, Southampton posed the greater threat.
Southampton had already beaten Leeds twice in the Championship and now they have a perfect hat-trick. Armstrong has scored in all three of those games and it was his accomplished first-half strike that made the difference. It owed much to just how ragged and disorganised Leeds were defensively as captain Ethan Ampadu stepped out, as Joe Rodon and Archie Gray, at right-back, stepped back and as Armstrong was played onside, running onto Will Smallbone’s clever pass.
The finish, low across goalkeeper Illan Meslier and into the far corner of the net, was that of a player brimming with confidence; who now has 24 goals and 13 assists, and who is Southampton’s player of the season and the Championship’s most deadly striker. Now he is a Premier League player again.
'Southampton announce their Wembley arrival!' 🚨
Clinical from Adam Armstrong! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/OZNRw7Nzft— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 26, 2024
Armstrong was one of those who stayed after relegation, but it may have been difficult for Southampton to hold onto the 27-year-old should they not have gone up. There was an expectation that Kyle Walker-Peters would leave and a fear that the heart might be ripped out of the team. Instead it is beating stronger than ever.
It was not until James replaced Wilfried Gnonto, who was hugely disappointing, as was Crysencio Summerville, that Leeds carried any threat. The winger struck the underside of the crossbar with a half volley from just inside the penalty area and drew a sharp save from McCarthy with a low drive in added time but that was it from Leeds. And that might be it for Farke as they contemplate the crushing disappointment of not making an immediate return to the Premier League. So fine are the margins. So great is the reward.
Southampton return to Premier League: As it happened
06:03 PM BST
Daniel Farke’s post-match thoughts
Congratulations to Southampton. They were able to be effective today. Defended really, really well during the whole game.
That’s football. We had more possession, more shots, more expected goals. Dominated the game in many spells but their defending was a little bit more effective than us.
It’s always important to be good in both boxes. We started the game totally on the front foot and had many good situations but in the final third, we were not that committed to the attack.
On this level, when you play in a final, you have to be spot on.
It’s a bit written in the stars, sometimes it’s not meant to be.
05:59 PM BST
History made
4 - Southampton have been promoted to the English top-flight for the fourth time (also 1966, 1978, 2012), while this is the first time they have earned promotion from any Football League division via the play-offs. Premier. pic.twitter.com/rijihG3yv3
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 26, 2024
05:44 PM BST
Russell Martin speaking post-match
I feel really emotional from the love and support I’ve had over the last nine or 10 months, especially during the tougher times, and the support of the board.
For Jason and the board to give me the job in the first place, I feel we had to do this to justify their decision. Because I was not an exciting appointment! I finished 10th with Swansea with a certain way of working. So for them to take me on was really brave and the team have been so brave.
I’ve enjoyed watching the team grown and the players grow, because its not not easy what we’ve asked them to do.
05:38 PM BST
Harry Maguire enjoying some Leeds schadenfreude
Harry Maguire 😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/365LNdU4zM
— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) May 26, 2024
05:36 PM BST
Russell Martin lifting the trophy in front of the Southampton fans
05:29 PM BST
Southampton’s match-winner Adam Armstrong
I don’t know what to say. It’s what we’ve been working for all year, we know how good the Championship has been this year.
What a way to go up! I saw the space in behind [for the goal] and I knew if I put it across goal it was going to go in, so it was a nice one.
The gaffer in his staff came in and put the marked down on what they wanted... and look at this! This is why we’re footballers.
05:23 PM BST
There’s the Southampton trophy lift
05:22 PM BST
Southampton captain Jack Stephens speaking post-match
I’m just lost for words. I’m a little bit emotional at the moment. I’m so proud to be captain of this club and so proud of the boys.
We probably didn’t play our best game today but we showed a different side. There were a few people who doubted this season, could we really defend, could we really dig in? I think we really showed that today and were magnificent as a whole defensively.
05:16 PM BST
The celebrations start for Southampton fans
05:14 PM BST
Leeds youngster Archie Gray in tears, comforted by Farke
05:12 PM BST
The contrasting emotions of the play-offs
05:06 PM BST
FT: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Southampton are back in the Premier League on a bitterly disappointing afternoon for Leeds. Daniel Farke’s array of attacking talent never really showed up, and their defence was picked apart for Armstrong’s winner. Southampton spent much more of this game without the ball than usual, but were rock solid. Leeds just did not create enough, aside from Dan James hitting the bar.
05:04 PM BST
101 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
A highly amusing moment at the end. The referee blew his whistle to deal with some handbags between Aribo and Meslier, and Armstrong took his shirt off thinking it was the full-time whistle! He might not have long to wait.
05:02 PM BST
100 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
There is still a minute to play because of that head injury. Bednarek hammers a cross clear, and then Leeds send a switch of play our for a throw. Southampton have surely cracked this. No more than 30 seconds to go.
05:01 PM BST
99 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
A slight scare for Southampton as the ball bounces through to Antony in the penalty area, but the Leeds sub was judged to have controlled the ball with his arm. Southampton can clear their lines.
05:01 PM BST
98 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Leeds do now have a throw deep in Southampton territory. Roberts is going to hurl this into the box, but once again McCarthy does superbly to command his area and punch clear. Southampton have not been all about passing patterns and build-up play today. They have done the ugly side of the game expertly.
04:59 PM BST
97 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Che Adams doing exactly what he was brought on to do. Uses his body to win a free-kick from Rodon just outside the corner of the Leeds box. Southampton take it short and head for the corner, but Adams runs it out for a Leeds goal kick.
04:58 PM BST
96 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
A huge roar from the Southampton fans as Manning wins a free-kick around halfway. The fans can see the finish line, but a one-goal lead at this stage is never comfortable.
Leeds chip a long ball into the box, but McCarthy and Harwood-Bellis communicate well with the goalkeeper gobbling up the loose ball.
04:56 PM BST
94 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
What Southampton have, they hold. They have a defensive line of six across their box, this is an exercise in absorbing pressure and dealing with balls into the box.
James with another good strike! This time from around 25 yards, but McCarthy plunged to his left and pushed the ball wide. Sound goalkeeping.
04:55 PM BST
92 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Play resumes on 92 minutes, so this game should finish after 101 minutes. Joseph with quick feet to drive into the box for Leeds, but his pull-back was behind all the white shirts. Adams and Aribo then do well to move Southampton up the pitch.
04:53 PM BST
90 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
There are going to be NINE minutes of added time. Unbearable for Southampton fans. Was always going to be the case after that clash of heads involving James and Walker-Peters. Play has still not restarted as they continue to receive treatment. James’ head is bandaged, Terry Butcher style, and likewise Walker-Peters.
The clock has ticked beyond 91 minutes, so we could be in for 100 or 101 minutes.
04:49 PM BST
87 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Rutter takes on a shot from distance when he had James it support but he was always leaning back and it flew over the bar. Leeds look a bit livelier since Joseph has come on up front. Southampton defenders trying to reorganise themselves. A couple of head clashes halt the game. Dan James is down.
04:47 PM BST
84 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Dan James is so, so unlucky, he almost scored one of the great play-off final goals! The ball sat up for him to strike a dipping volley from the left-corner of the box, and it crashed back down off the underside of the cross and out with McCarthy well-beaten. Was that Leeds’ last chance?
SO CLOSE! 🤏
Dan James' effort CRASHES against the crossbar! 💥 pic.twitter.com/xTXmo4qu9B— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 26, 2024
04:45 PM BST
82 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Ethan Ampadu stays down after a knock, and Leeds are making another change: Joseph on for Firpo. A forward for a full-back, one last throw of the dice.
Another sub for Southampton: Edozie, the first-half sub, is off and Manning is on. The inverse change from Martin: a forward off, a defender on.
04:42 PM BST
80 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Leeds fans finally have something to cheer about. Che Adams dallies on the edge of his defensive third, and is closed down by Ampadu. The Leeds player robbed him of possession, and Adams had to drag him down at the expense of a booking. The free-kick is flicked behind for a Leeds corner. Gruev whips it in, but once again a Southampton head meets it. Walker-Peters then does really well to scrap and win a free-kick.
04:39 PM BST
77 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Dan James spins in behind and shows his turn of foot to keep the ball alive and win a corner. Rutter flicks the delivery on, but it is simple for McCarthy to claim. Leeds have not created much from open play and have not made the most of their set-pieces.
04:38 PM BST
A day to forget for Summerville
It is a measure of Summerville’s lack of influence that Leeds have taken him off with 20 minutes remaining. The best player in the Championship has not lived up to his billing today.
04:36 PM BST
Leeds need to pull a rabbit from the hat
It’s a ragged sort of game and, as it stands, that is suiting Southampton. Leeds are really struggling to build any momentum or create any sustained pressure.
04:35 PM BST
74 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Farke has seen enough: Kamara and player of the season Summerville are off, replaced by Roberts and Anthony. Southampton fans will be buoyed that Gnonto and Summerville have been seen off.
04:34 PM BST
72 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Aribo threatens in behind the Leeds defence, but he could not quite hook the bouncing ball across to Adams and it looped into Meslier’s arms. Leeds are looking short of ideas at the moment, Southampton as comfortable as you can be in the circumstances.
04:32 PM BST
70 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Rodon lets a pass run under his foot and Southampton have a throw in Leeds territory. Martin is making another change: Adams is on for Fraser. That means Edozie switches to the left and Armstrong moves right.
04:30 PM BST
68 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Edozie misses a decent chance to put this game beyond the reach of Leeds! He was in space in the left channel, and tried to cut inside and bend a shot into the far corner with his right foot but it was always rising. The Southampton winger was a little hesitant as he approach the chance.
04:28 PM BST
66 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Leeds are making a change: Gnonto is off, replaced by Dan James. The Italian never really recovered from that knock to his lower back in the first half. You’d think James’ pace was made for this big Wembley pitch. James delivers a cross but Walker-Peters is positioned well to head away.
04:26 PM BST
64 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Southampton stem the flow of Leeds attack by winning some set-pieces and putting their foot on the ball. They will hope this follows the same pattern as the first half, with Leeds fading after a fast start. Armstrong proving a thorn in their side yet again, winning a corner.
04:22 PM BST
60 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Rutter goes down very, very easily under pressure from Downes, and wins a free-kick near the left corner flag. The Southampton midfielder is furious. Excellent claim from McCarthy. Armstrong then is flagged offside after another bending run behind the Leeds defence.
04:19 PM BST
57 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
A long spell of possession from Leeds in the Southampton half, but they cannot carve out that clear-cut chance. Some groans from the Leeds fans as Gnonto knocks a pass back the way he is facing rather than turning forward. Better from the winger moments later, to win a free-kick in a crossing position over on the left. Summerville clearly thought it was a shooting position, slicing a shot horribly over the bar. A poor decision and worse execution.
04:17 PM BST
55 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
The game has become manic, neither team able to keep the ball for more than a couple of passes. That element of chaos suits Leeds more than Southampton. Martin’s team have defended their penalty area well today, though.
04:15 PM BST
52 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Worrying moment for Southampton as Harwood-Bellis is dragged wide to deal with Rutter’s run down the left channel, and he was always late. The Leeds man pushes the ball past him and wins the free-kick.. Harwood-Bellis heads behind for a corner. Then Leeds let Southampton off the hook with a foul throw by Archie Gray.
04:12 PM BST
49 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Better from Leeds, but Harwood-Bellis produces an excellent block to deny Rodon in the box. Then Summerville bends a shot wide of the far corner from just outside the area. Leeds’ fans find their voice.
04:10 PM BST
47 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Rutter does well to get his body between Walker-Peters and the ball and win a foul.
It is Southampton who produce the first dangerous attack of the half, with Edozie skipping his way into the penalty area and pulling the ball back for Stephens. His shot is blocked.
Gnonto carries the ball forward for Leeds on the break but Southampton funnelled bodies back behind the ball.
04:07 PM BST
We’re back under way at Wembley!
No changes from Farke or Martin. Leeds need to rediscover their football from the early minutes of the game.
03:59 PM BST
Sam Dean’s half-time verdict
It’s not a thriller, but these games rarely are. Southampton will be happy at the break, not just because of the goal but also because they have limited Leeds to very few opportunities. Summerville, Rutter, Gnonte and Piroe need to offer much, much more after the break.
03:52 PM BST
HT: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
It looked a matter of when not if Leeds would score in the first 10 minutes, but they have lost their way. Southampton have been finding it easier to contain their dangerous wingers and have kept the ball better. Southampton’s goalscorer Armstrong has been a pest for the Leeds defence, while Downes and Aribo have also done well. Gnonto subdued since an early knock in the back, and Leeds look to be missing Bamford.
03:50 PM BST
45 minutes+5: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Flynn Downes has been really impressive in midfield for Southampton, eating up the ground with ease. Once again, Armstrong stretches the Leeds defence and his shot is deflected behind for a corner which Meslier palms away.
03:49 PM BST
45 minutes+3: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Southampton finishing the stronger, Smallbone with another ball whipped across the Leeds penalty area from the right. Southampton and Armstrong are targeting that side of the Leeds defence, staying away from Gray and Rodon.
03:46 PM BST
45 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
How important could that save from Meslier be? Southampton caught Leeds out with a free-kick knocked down the side of the defence, and Armstrong fired a low shot through legs across goal. Meslier got down smartly to save, and Leeds were fortunate that no Southampton was there to score the rebound.
03:44 PM BST
43 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Summerville has been booked for a late challenge on Harwood-Bellis in the Southampton penalty area. Yellow card for the Leeds forward, and that was the correct decision. Not enough force to warrant further punishment.
03:43 PM BST
41 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
A bit of a scramble in the Southampton penalty area but Piroe is penalised for a handball. Downes and Gruev both fly into a 50:50, crunching the ball in between them, but both midfielders spring to their feet immediately.
03:40 PM BST
39 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Rutter with a lovely turn away from Bednarek, who brings him down at the expense of a booking. Terrific pass from Ampadu, zipped through the lines from the back, gets Leeds moving forward, but Southampton get behind the ball swiftly.
We’ve seen very little so far of Crysencio Summerville, the Championship player of the year. 21 goals and 10 assists this season, but nothing of note at Wembley... yet.
03:38 PM BST
37 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Those stoppages have disrupted some of the game’s early rhythm, which will suit Southampton who have the lead. Teams who score first tend to go on and win these play-off finals, but Leeds have enough goal threat in their team to turn this around. At the moment, they are probably seeing more of the ball which may not suit them.
03:35 PM BST
35 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Brooks looks distraught, but Martin and the medical staff took the decision out of his hands. Shortly before coming off, and slumped to the turf after battling for a loose ball. Edozie on.
03:33 PM BST
33 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Brooks is running around with his left arm tucked in towards his stomach, he will surely have to come off here. Credit to him for giving this a try, but he will effectively become a passenger. Sure enough, Edozie is getting ready to replace him.
03:32 PM BST
31 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Bit of an injury worry for Southampton: David Brooks is off the pitch and nursing a shoulder injury. Still receiving treatment, and Che Adams is warming up. Brooks is going to come back on and give it another go. Patient defending from Southampton to absorb Leeds possession before Aribo pounces on a loose touch and wins a foul.
03:29 PM BST
Leeds took the bait
Just a few minutes before that goal, the Leeds players had been applauding each other for blocking Southampton’s passing game. They have evidently been working on their pressing in the Southampton half, but it was a more basic defensive issue that cost them here: the back four was all over the place as Armstrong ran in behind.
03:28 PM BST
26 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 1
Southampton were certainly starting to see more of the ball, but this looked an unlikely scoreline during a nervy first 10 minutes. They are moving the ball with more confidence now though, and Walker-Peters has won a corner.
The corner was cleared and Leeds suddenly had four against two, but Downes put Gray under enough pressure to misdirect the pass.
03:25 PM BST
GOOOOAALL! Armstrong puts Southampton in front
Slightly against the run of play, but Leeds were cut apart at the back. Smallbone collected the ball in space behind the Leeds midfield, and he poked a ball through to Armstrong who exposed a jagged Leeds line. Ampadu stepped out to Small bone and his fellow defenders did not cover around. The result: a huge gap in the middle, and Armstrong finished smartly across Meslier.
"Southampton announce their Wembley arrival!" 🚨
Clinical from Adam Armstrong! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/OZNRw7Nzft— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 26, 2024
03:24 PM BST
22 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 0
Leeds moving the ball smoothly into the final third again, but Gray’s cross to the back post is neither one thing nor the other and drifts in behind. I think the uninitiated Leeds watcher will wonder how they didn’t go up in the top two given the quality on display from Rutter, Gnonto and Summerville.
03:21 PM BST
20 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 0
Summerville starting to look very dangerous, dribbling from out-to-in off the left. He finds a way through Southampton bodies into a central position, but tried a cute pass rather than a curling shot from just outside the area. Archie Gray then wins a couple of 50:50s and the referee says play on.
03:17 PM BST
16 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 0
Play has stopped after Gnonto goes down holding his back. Did not look to be much in the challenge from Stephens, maybe just a nudge in the small of the back. This has been bright and breezy start to the game, and the sun has now reappeared at Wembley.
03:14 PM BST
13 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 0
Better from Southampton in the last few minutes, with Smallbone testing Meslier from a free-kick which the Leeds goalkeeper pushes around the post. Meslier is then unconvincing from the resulting corner, coming to punch but missing everything. Leeds survive.
03:13 PM BST
Leeds fast starters
Impressive and energetic start by Leeds, who have been first to every ball so far and are causing problems on the right side, where Archie Gray and Wilfried Gnonto have started well. The Leeds players can feel they are on top here. Ethan Ampadu was just whipping his arms up towards the crowd, asking for more noise and energy from the Leeds end.
03:12 PM BST
11 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 0
Summerville had the chance to thread a through ball in behind for Gnonto who was untracked, but he got the pass wrong. Then Flynn Downes puts his foot on the ball and helps Southampton establish their first serious period of possession. Martin applauds.
And after being on the back foot for the first ten minutes, Southampton create a good chance! Armstrong arced his run well behind the Leeds defence but Rodon positioned himself well to block Smallbone’s shot from the pull-back. It was neat hold-up play from Aribo earlier in the move.
03:09 PM BST
9 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 0
Southampton are all over the place here. Jack Stephens is the latest player to give the ball away in his own half, and Rutter went barrelling into the penalty area. Southampton get a chance to draw breath after Firpo catches David Brooks late. In fairness to the Leeds defender, he slipped on the greasy turf.
03:08 PM BST
7 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 0
Summerville swings the free-kick to the back post where Rodon wins a header, but Southampton volley clear.
Then Leeds produce some lovely one-touch interplay to release Gnonto straight at the heart of the Southampton defence but his shot was tame. Worrying start for Southampton so far.
03:06 PM BST
5 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 0
Leeds are the team who have settled first. There look to be spaces down the sides of the Southampton defenders for Leeds attackers to exploit. Southampton, as usual, are trying to get the ball down in their own half but are boxed in. Summerville wins a free-kick in a promising crossing position inside left.
03:03 PM BST
2 minutes: Leeds 0 Southampton 0
Not much time on the ball for either side in the opening exchanges. Fantastic first touch from Archie Gray to kill a Southampton diagonal dropped over his shoulder stone dead. Leeds trying to use Meslier between their centre-backs to outnumber Southampton’s front two.
03:01 PM BST
KICK OFF!
Fantastic atmosphere, and it is is Leeds who start on the front foot.
03:01 PM BST
Dustin Hoffman is in the stands
Given this is the 49th game of the Championship season, you could say both sets of players have been marathon men. Let’s see if either can graduate to the Premier League. I’m struggling to crow-bar Midnight Cowboy or All The President’s Men in.
02:55 PM BST
The two teams are coming out of the tunnel
The red and white split straight down the middle at Wembley is very pleasing visually. It is now raining quite heavily at Wembley which should mean a slick surface. The kind of conditions that bring defensive mistakes?
I should probably retract my earlier comment about the hot weather. The heavens have opened above Wembley.
02:54 PM BST
As ever at Wembley...
The music being played through the stadium PA system is ear-splitting. They cannot bear the thought of fans being left to create their own atmopshere.
02:50 PM BST
Some messages from famous Leeds and Southampton fans
They include Mick Channon and Craig David in the red corner and David Seaman and Pablo Hernandez in the white corner on Sky.
02:44 PM BST
Leeds might be playing on the break
How much of the ball do Leeds need if they are to win this game today? They are not going to have much of it. Southampton have averaged 66 per cent of possession this season, which is more than any team in England’s top tiers. It’s a hot day, too. Not a nice afternoon to be chasing the ball.
02:42 PM BST
The warm-ups are under way
02:38 PM BST
Farke on the balance Leeds must strike
Big game, big stage and this is the one we all want to be involved in. It’s important also to calm down and be yourself on the pitch. You want to play with fire and heart but cool in your head. It was a bit more of an emotional message before the game.
02:28 PM BST
Marching on together
02:24 PM BST
The matchday squads in full
Leeds XI: Meslier, Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo, Gruev, Kamara, Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville, Piroe
Subs: Cooper, Anthony, Shackleton, James, Byram, Darlow, Gelhardt, Roberts, Fernandez
Southampton XI: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens, Smallbone, Downes, Aribo, Brooks, Adam Armstrong,
Fraser
Subs: Manning, Adams, Stewart, Lumley, Bree, Rothwell, Sulemana, Edozie, Charles
02:07 PM BST
No huge surprises in the two XIs
Leeds were outstanding against Norwich in their semi-final second leg, so Farke sticks with a winning formula. They look the stronger unit on paper, with Gnonto, Rutter and Summervile likely to cause a leaky Southampton defence problems. Russell Martin does have Che Adams back on the bench. The striker has missed the last few games with injury.
02:03 PM BST
Leeds United’s starting XI
📋 Your #LUFC Starting XI... pic.twitter.com/hrFiAC8oju
— Leeds United (@LUFC) May 26, 2024
02:02 PM BST
Southampton’s starting XI
UTS 💛 pic.twitter.com/mmLG2wOW2H
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) May 26, 2024
01:59 PM BST
There will be no Rishi Sunak at Wembley
Despite his Southampton allegiances, the prime minister will not be in attendance this afternoon.
01:57 PM BST
Southampton fans’ chant for Joe Aribo
Always believe innnnnn 🎶 pic.twitter.com/CklxmZjQnC
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) May 26, 2024
01:54 PM BST
Leeds are falling apart
Rob Bagchi writes that the Joy Division-inspired chant will ring around Wembley today, whether Leeds fans are being mocked or signing it themselves in ironic defiance. You can read all about the trials and tribulations of Leeds’ season in Rob’s piece here.
01:44 PM BST
Daniel Farke on wanting to create a Leeds legacy
I want to work at Premier League level because for me, it’s the best league in the world.
This is my big motivation - to work there again and to work with an exciting club, who are very special in different ways and do things their own way.
If it would be easy, it’s not my job. I always like challenges and something where you can create something special.
I was never too attracted by being the 47th coach who wins the 347th title for a club, I want to create something special and also, if possible, to create a bit of legacy.
01:38 PM BST
Wembley Way filling up nicely
01:37 PM BST
Russell Martin and his staff have gone for the casual look
01:35 PM BST
Euro 2024 predictor
This is the final game of the domestic season, after which attention will turn to this summer’s European Championship in Germany. Jude Bellingham will of course be involved in next weekend’s Champions League final at Wembley. Do you fancy England to go all the way? Plot their route to the final with our predictor tool.
01:31 PM BST
Best betting sites
It’s the final chance for an immediate Premier League return for both teams. Back your predictions for the game on these best betting sites.
01:30 PM BST
King’s Cross closed
King’s Cross London Underground station was forced to close after fans reportedly set off flares inside.
Kings Cross is turning blue, white and yellow! #LeedsUnited #PlayOffFinal pic.twitter.com/sFi4Yfra23
— Greatest Hits Radio West Yorkshire News (@GHR_WestYorks) May 26, 2024
01:19 PM BST
Leeds and Southampton have no history of play-off success
This afternoon’s Championship play-off final is bound to be nerve-shredding for Southampton and Leeds United supporters, but ought to be richly entertaining for everybody else.
The fixture that has been dubbed the £300 million game (the figure seems to inflate every season) gives both of these clubs the chance of an immediate Premier League return.
Leeds will feel they should have sealed automatic promotion given the quality of their post-Christmas football, but some late stumbles proved costly.
Daniel Farke’s team are favourites at Wembley, and from a bird’s-eye view they look the more balanced outfit. Leeds and Southampton had very similar seasons when it came to attacking output - practically the same expected goals produced, delivering 81 Leeds goals and 87 for Southampton. Leeds conceded 20 fewer goals than Southampton though, and their underlying defensive numbers were significantly better. Southampton did have the better of the head-to-heads as the only Championship team to do the double over Leeds.
Southampton will not waver from Russell Martin’s possession-based approach, with Southampton seeing more of the ball than any team in England’s top four divisions. Only Manchester City completed more passes and more 10+ pass sequences than Martin’s team. That ought to give this afternoon’s game an open feel, with Leeds’ wide players Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto major threats.
“Externally the work we have done will be defined by the outcome, it always is in football, but for us I don’t think it will be,” Martin said.
“There is so much stuff to then be positive about and really for us to look forward to, to learn from and the same for the players, so it is such a fine margin between failure and success. Hopefully, we are successful on Sunday. Hopefully, we will achieve what we want to achieve.”
Strangely enough for two clubs of their stature, neither has much history when it comes to play-off finals. Southampton have never played in a play-off final. Leeds have played at Wembley just twice since the 1992 Community Shield, losing on both occasions. One of those was the 2008 League One play-off final, when they lost 1-0 to Doncaster Rovers. Leeds also lost to Watford in the 2006 Championship play-off final in Cardiff.
Full team news on the way shortly.
