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- Football
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- Southampton PROMOTED to the Premier League
- Adam Armstrong gives Southampton lead in play-off final
- Jack Johnson
Southampton were promoted to the Premier League after beating Leeds 1-0 at Wembley in the Championship play-off final.
The Saints won the ‘richest game in football’ and booked their place back in the top flight thanks to a first-half goal from top scorer Adam Armstrong.
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Russell Martin’s side have joined Leicester and Ipswich in the big time at the first time of asking and managed to do it in convincing fashion.
Leeds failed to truly test their opponents and struggled with their final ball throughout the game, unable to create many chances when it mattered most.
They did find one huge opportunity though and it fell to Dan James who fired a half-volley off the bar in the final five minutes.
Southampton were able to hold on and defend through nine minutes of stoppage time, and it will be them playing in the Premier League next season.
You can recap the play-off final in our match blog below...
26th May 2024, 18:15By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
That's all for our live coverage of the Championship play-off final!
Southampton are back in the Premier League at the first time of asking after beating Leeds at Wembley.
Adam Armstrong's goal was enough to book a place in the top flight.
It's a great day for the Saints but a painful one for Leeds who will still be in the second tier next season.
You can read more reaction to the game below...
Russell Martin beats former boss to seal Southampton Premier League promotionCopied
26th May 2024, 18:05By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Farke then told his press conference: "We're suffering a lot in this moment and deeply disappointed.
"We have come so close after overall a terrific season. I can't say we were the worse team in this final. But they were able to be clinical.
"Southampton defended really well, they were a bit more effective and it's the reason we lost the game.
"Congratulations to them, but it hurts a lot."
He continued: "After you lose a final, it would be too early to be there with upbeat messages. No one wants to hear it.
"There were many tears on the pitch and in the dressing room. It's important to take the disappointment as extra motivation.
"It will be difficult to come back stronger because we were there with 90 points.
"But to be there with the perfect outcome, to call yourself a Premier League side, this is obviously something we want."
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26th May 2024, 18:02By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Daniel Farke has looked back on a 'difficult day'.
"Congratulations to Southampton," the Leeds boss told Sky Sports.
"They were able to be effective today. They defended really, really well during the whole game.
"That's football. We had more possession, more shots, more expected goals. We 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.
"It's a difficult day for us. A day of suffering but that's football. You have to get on with it."
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26th May 2024, 17:55By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Dressing room celebrations!
Southampton's partying will go long into the night tonight!
They're back in the big time!
WE ARE GOING UP 👑👑👑 pic.twitter.com/KZpDFNXGsB
— Southam(P)ton FC (@SouthamptonFC) May 26, 2024Copied
26th May 2024, 17:51By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Martin has reacted to the Wembley win on Sky Sports.
He said: "I feel really emotional and overwhelmed by the support I have had over the last nine or 10 months, especially in the tough times.
"For them to give me the job in the first place, I felt like I had to do this to justify and validate it.
"So I'm so pleased for them because it wasn't an exciting appointment for them. I finished 10th at Swansea and had a really clear way of doing things at MK [Dons], and now here.
"So to take me on was really brave. The team have been so great and I'm really grateful and proud of them.
"It's not about me now, it's about them, I really believe that.
"They were trying to drag me up there [to lift the trophy] but they deserve it."
See Also11 tips for Austrian soccer fansCopied
26th May 2024, 17:45By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Russell Martin said winning today would be the best moment of his football career...
And he's done it. What a day for him.
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26th May 2024, 17:40By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Not too sure what's going on in the first picture...
But Southampton's celebrations have continued on the pitch!
Adam Armstrong has just said he'll be having 'more than a few beers' tonight so it's going to be a good one!
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26th May 2024, 17:35By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Southampton have been promoted to the English top-flight for the fourth time (also in 1966, 1978, 2012).
This is the first time they have earned promotion from any Football League division via the play-offs.
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26th May 2024, 17:32By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Matchwinner for Southampton, Adam Armstrong, has given his thoughts on securing promotion at Wembley.
Armstrong told Sky Sports: "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.
"It means everything. The gaffer and his staff came in pre-season and put a marker down of what they wanted to see, and look at this.
"This is why we're footballers, we want to be involved in the biggest games, what a way to win."
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26th May 2024, 17:29By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Ipswich's Harry Clarke is already bringing back the banter...
The Tractor Boys are promoted and took aim at Leeds on their celebratory bus tour earlier this month.
Don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t say it https://t.co/2vj4JFxHO6
— Harry Clarke (@HarryyClarke6) May 26, 2024Copied
26th May 2024, 17:25By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Southampton captain Jack Stephens has reacted to the Saints securing promotion to the Premier League.
"I'm so proud to be captain of this club," he told Sky Sports. "I'm so proud of the boys today, I think they've been unbelievable.
"I think we probably didn't play our best game today but we showed a different side.
"A few people have doubted us over this season. Can we defend? Can we dig in? I think we really showed that today.
"The feeling I've got now is the best feeling I've ever had in football. Honestly, I'm just so emotional."
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26th May 2024, 17:21By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
It ends in tears for Leeds.
90 points in the Championship this season.
But they have missed out on promotion at Wembley.
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26th May 2024, 17:16By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Jack Stephens holds the trophy aloft!
Southampton are promoted back to the top flight!
A day to remember for the Saints!
The MOMENT 🏆 pic.twitter.com/fvwCiNuH1S
— Southam(P)ton FC (@SouthamptonFC) May 26, 2024Copied
26th May 2024, 17:15By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Job. Done.
SAINTS are BACK 🆙 pic.twitter.com/EY9IVAEfzP
— Southam(P)ton FC (@SouthamptonFC) May 26, 2024Copied
26th May 2024, 17:12By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
This is what it means!
Southampton are back in the Premier League!
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26th May 2024, 17:11By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
The contrast of emotions in a play-off final.
Leeds are devastated. They have missed out on promotion.
Out of the teams relegated from the Premier League last season, they are the only ones not to return straight away.
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26th May 2024, 17:09By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: REACTION
Incredible scenes at Wembley!
There are flares in the stands as Southampton celebrate!
Adam Armstrong is the match-winner and he whips his shirt off before sprinting over to the Saints fans!
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26th May 2024, 17:04By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: FULL TIME
SOUTHAMPTON ARE PROMOTED!
THEY ARE BACK IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE!
ADAM ARMSTRONG'S GOAL IS ENOUGH!
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26th May 2024, 17:01By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton
90+9' That's that for stoppage time!
We're now into time added on for James and Walker-Peters' injuries!
Tension is at a maximum inside Wembley!
Southampton have managed to get the ball deep inside the Leeds half, pushing their opponents back!
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26th May 2024, 16:59By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton
90+7' That was only the second shot on target for Leeds.
It sums up their afternoon at Wembley...
We're now into the final stages of stoppage time, can Southampton hold on?
The Saints are closing in on a Premier League place!
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26th May 2024, 16:58By Jack Johnson
CHANCE! Leeds 0-1 Southampton
90+5' McCarthy saves from James!
The winger fires from the edge of his box with his right foot but he can't beat the Southampton goalkeeper!
Manning then relieves some pressure by winning a free-kick.
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26th May 2024, 16:55By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton
90+3' Joseph does superbly for Leeds!
He gets in behind on the right and cuts one back...
However, there's no one there to finish!
Leeds need to find something here!
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26th May 2024, 16:54By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton
90' The treatment on both players is still ongoing.
It means NINE minutes of added time will follow.
Martin instructs his players on the sideline while James is bandaged up and receives a new shirt.
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26th May 2024, 16:51By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton
88' Walker-Peters and James are both down.
There was just a nasty head collision but they both seem okay while receiving some treatment.
Martin O'Neill live on talkSPORT: "Every break in play is helping Southampton at the moment."
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26th May 2024, 16:49By Jack Johnson
Leeds 0-1 Southampton
86' That was the chance for Leeds!
James fell to the ground and punched the floor in frustration.
Dean Ashton live on talkSPORT: "That's a sliding doors moment. Wow!"
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Topics
- Leeds United
- Daniel Farke
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