Published on May 27, 2024 by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Last Updated on 10 months by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Adam Armstrong sealed Southampton’s immediate return back to the Premier League with the winning goal as Saints beat Leeds United 1-0 in Sunday’s Championship playoff final at Wembley.
Armstrong, who had scored in both regular Championship matches against Leeds this season – each Southampton wins – was on target again to put Saints 1-0 up with a clinical 24th-minute finish.
It was Armstrong’s 24th goal of the season, but also a special moment for Smallbone, who was in the Wembley stands as a Southampton fan in 2010 – aged 10 – when Saints beat Carlisle United 4-1 in the EFL Trophy.
Russell Martin’s side withstood a spirited Leeds fightback, but held firm to join Leicester City and Ipswich Town in the top flight in 2024/25.
This was Leeds’ fourth playoff final, and they have now failed in all of them, having lost their previous three in 1986/87, 2005/06 and 2007/08.
Southampton, along with fellow promoted teams Leicester and Ipswich, can now look forward to finding out who they will face when the 2024/25 Premier League fixtures are released released at 09:00 BST on Tuesday 18 June. The campaign starts on 17 August.
