Armstrong gives Southampton lift-off
Southampton make it an immediate return to the Premier League and justify appointment of Russell Martin. Leeds' Wembley/Play-Off hoodoo continues.
Matt Watts
It’s more Play-Off heartache for Leeds as Adam Armstrong’s strike sent the Saints marching straight back up to the Premier League.
Southampton won the first game of the 2023/24 EFL season, and they won the last game of the 2023/24 EFL season, but not all wins are made equal. The victory over Sheffield Wednesday in August was good, but this victory over Leeds in May is the one that all Saints fans will remember for as long as they shall live.
Russell Martin’s side came to Wembley earlier in the week; spending a night in the same hotel that they would stay in on Saturday night, where as Daniel Farke was eager for Leeds to try and treat it like a ‘normal’ match.
This is anything but a ‘normal’ match.
Both teams were unchanged with Archie Gray becoming the youngest Leeds player to play at Wembley; beating his Dad’s record by 55 days.
Leeds dominated both the possession and the territory early on; however it was Southampton who created the first clear opening. An excellent run from Adam Armstrong saw him burst into the inside left channel, but his attempted pull-back to Will Smallbone was expertly intercepted by Joe Rodon.
In the 24th minute, Smallbone and Armstrong would combine - with devastating effect. A wonky Leeds’ defensive line was breached as Smallbone’s delicious though ball was coolly finished off by Armstrong, who fired his low shot across Illan Meslier and into the bottom corner. Should Ethan Ampadu have jumped out of his bunker? Were Joe Rodon and Archie Gray too deep? Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Ten minutes after taking the lead, Southampton were forced into a change. An emotional David Brooks, who has fought so hard to play in games such as this one, suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by Samuel Edozie.
Just before the break, a well-worked free-kick saw Smallbone and Armstrong combine yet again; however, this time, Meslier’s right hand denied Armstrong and Joe Rodon completed the clearance.
Attacking the sea of white, Leeds started the second half well. A marauding run by Rodon was halted by Taylor Harwood-Bellis, before Crysencio Summerville bent his shot wide.
However, just as they did in the first half, Southampton grew into the game once more. Samuel Edozie raced onto Joe Aribo’s through ball, but the former Manchester City youngster blazed over.
Then came arguably the game’s most surprising moment. The Championship Player of the Season, Crysencio Summerville, was taken off in the 74th minute. Despite failing to significantly impact the game, it was still a surprise to see the 22-year-old Dutchman withdrawn. With Willy Gnonto already subbed off, it was over to the likes of Dan James and Jaidon Anthony.
As time began to tick away, James almost had his moment. The pacey Welshman rattled the underside of Alex McCarthy’s crossbar. Much to Southampton’s relief, the ball bounced out rather than in.
A clash of heads between James and Kyle Walker-Peters resulted in a significant amount of added time. James stung the palms of McCarthy, but Leeds simply hadn’t done enough. It was Southampton’s day.
All of a sudden, Russell Martin — a manager whose teams have always played with plenty of style — had his substance. He’s had his doubters, but this was his moment in the sunshine. Speaking of sunshine, they say that it shines on the righteous, but it wasn’t shining on anyone inside Wembley at the start of the match. Thankfully, the rain cleared and the Championship Play-Off Final was played in front of its customary back drop.
As for Leeds, it’s now six Play-Off campaigns without success. Is there a hoodoo? We’ll leave that one for another day but, with the vultures already circling, it’s clear that it’s going to be a long summer for everyone associated with the Yorkshire club.
Southampton can mark their dreadful 2022/23 campaign down as an aberration, and get back to being a Premier League club…
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