Leeds United 1 Southampton 2 – HT 1-2
J. Piroe, (21′) A. Armstrong, (18′) W. Smallbone, (35′)
Assists –
C. Adams (18′), K. Walker-Peters (35′)
Not the way we would wanted to finish the season, especially at home and against team we could meet in the play-off final.
Leeds will play Norwich City in the Championship play-offs and Southampton will take on West Brom after the Saints claimed a deserved win at Elland Road.
The third-placed Whites went into the game knowing they had to win and Ipswich lose to all-but relegated Huddersfield to secure automatic promotion.
But the Tractor Boys’ victory over the Terriers means both these sides must go through the play-offs to return to the Premier League.
The visitors went in front when Adam Armstrong confidently converted Che Adams’ low cross first time but Leeds quickly levelled through Joel Piroe’s thumping finish from the edge of the area.
Will Smallbone put the away side back in front after superb play by Kyle Walker-Peters to keep the ball in down their right and then tee him up with a measured pass.
Southampton came into the game on the back of three straight losses but were good value for their first win here in West Yorkshire since March 2012.
This victory completed the double for Russell Martin’s men against Daniel Farke’s side, in what could potentially be a dress rehearsal for the Championship play-off final on Sunday, 26 May.
Just a few weeks ago this match had looked like it could potentially be a decider for an automatic promotion spot for either side.
However, Saints slipped to three defeats and Leeds lost at home for the first time against Blackburn three weeks ago before being battered 4-0 at QPR last Friday to go into today’s game in need of a miracle.
The Whites are looking to go up through the play-offs for the first time at the sixth time of asking, while Southampton have had one unsuccessful play-off campaign before.
So we finish 3rd which is such a disappointment, after the way we played this year, until the pressure must have got to us with 6 games to go, we looked like we would be promoted straight back and now have to break the play-off curse.
We finished with 90 points, the first second-tier side since Sunderland in 1998 to win 90 points or more and not go up automatically.
Marching On Together
League position 3rd after 46 games
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