Armstrong the hero as Southampton secure immediate PL return with Leeds play-off win

Adam Armstrong’s first-half goal was enough to secure Premier League football at the expense of Leeds in the Championship Play-off Final at Wembley.

The teams were split by just three points after 46 games and there was little to separate the sides during the match, with the Saints holding on for a third victory over Leeds in this campaign.

Although enjoying more possession, Leeds just did not threaten enough in the final third until the late introduction of Daniel James, who saw an effort crash back off the crossbar.

Southampton always appeared more dangerous going forward and when Will Smallbone slipped through Armstrong after 24 minutes he made no mistake – and only a good stop from Illan Meslier stopped him adding a second from an almost carbon-copy chance later in the half.

The Saints were forced to defend for most of the second half but such was the quality of their defending they kept Leeds to precious few chances and deservedly take their place in the English top-flight.

Leeds did not help themselves, looking strangely insipid in the final third, but credit must be given to the Saints defence who appeared near impregnable. On paper Ryan Harwood-Bellis, Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens are easily Premier League quality and so it showed as repeated Leeds’ balls into the penalty area were sent away.

Yet they had the 14th best defence in the league this year conceding five goals to Sunderland and three each to Huddersfield and Birmingham. When it mattered they kept out West Brom until the 7th minute of injury time in the second leg and Leeds for the cumulative 100+ minutes of action this afternoon.

And the one time they were outdone, by Daniel James’ brilliance, that little bit of luck with the ball magnetically drawn to the crossbar.

It could have gone to any of the defenders who all put in displays to be proud of, not to mention the classy Will Smallbone and deadly Adam Armstrong who deserve their flowers too. But Bednarek was the giant at the back with the most clearances and the most headers won to edge the award.

Leeds: Meslier 6; Gray 6, Ampadu 6, Rodon 6, Junior Firpo 6; Gruev 6, Kamara 6; Gnonto 6, Rutter 6, Summerville 5; Piroe 5.

Subs: James 8, Roberts 6, Anthony 6, Joseph 6,

Southampton: McCarthy 7; Harwood-Bellis 8, Bednarek 8, Stephens 8; Walker-Peters 7, Aribo 7, Downes 7, Smallbone 8, Fraser 6; Brooks 6, Armstrong 8.

Subs: Edozie 6, Adams 6, Manning 6.

24′ GOAL! LEEDS 0-1 SOUTHAMPTON (ARMSTRONG)! Smallbone slips a ball through for Armstrong and from the inside right position he drills a ball just inside the far post.

44′ QUICK FREE KICK SETS UP ARMSTRONG! Smallbone once more slides him into the box and, from a tighter angle than his goal, he again drives towards the back post. Meslier does well to save but would have been relieved no Saints were there to follow up and Rodon clears.

49′ RODON DRIVES INTO BOX! Gnonto gets on his way initially but then the ball comes to him, but he cannot get a shot away. Summerville is then a yard or so wide of the target.

68′ EDOZIE WITH A GREAT CHANCE! He was free to run through on goal, but opted to run inside Ampadu and could not execute a curler into the far top corner.

84′ WHAT AN EFFORT FROM JAMES! Met by Smallbone and Walkers-Peters on the edge of the box, he flicks a ball to Rutter and gets it back on the half-volley before lashing an unstoppable effort which comes crashing back off the crossbar.

90+5′ JAMES WITH A FINE EFFORT FROM EDGE OF AREA! But McCarthy dives full length to his left to push away. It was just sneaking into the corner.