Southampton have reached the Championship playoff final and will battle Leeds United for a place in the Premier League after beating West Bromwich Albion in the semi-finals.
After Sunday’s first leg at West Brom ended goalless, Saints won 3-1 on home turf in Friday’s second leg, with Will Smallbone breaking the deadlock in the second half and Adam Armstrong then netting twice, before Cedric Kipre scored a late consolation goal.
Southampton will head to Wembley Stadium on Sunday 26 May for the final, facing a Leeds side whom they have already beaten twice this campaign, with Smallbone and Armstrong scoring their goals in each meeting during the regular season.
Southampton and Leeds are both targeting a Premier League return at the first attempt, having been relegated together last season alongside Leicester City, who have already earned promotion.
See: Leeds beat Norwich to reach playoff final
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— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) May 17, 2024
Southampton dominated the second leg from the start and had the best chance of the first half as Armstrong cut the ball back from the byline to David Brooks - on loan from AFC Bournemouth - who hit the near post.
West Brom were unable to improve after half-time and were punished in the 49th minute when Grady Diangana played a loose pass to Smallbone in midfield. Smallbone drove forward from just inside his own half into the right channel, exchanged passes with Brooks and fired home powerfully inside the near post.
Armstrong doubled the lead in the 78th minute, receiving a pass from Flynn Downes - on loan from West Ham United - in the left side of the box and arrowing a clinical low finish into the bottom-right corner.
Eight minutes later, substitute Ryan Manning raced into the penalty area to win a spot-kick, and Armstrong converted with aplomb, delighting the home fans, including Prime Minister and Saints fan Rishi Sunak, who was in attendance.
Kipre headed in to make it 3-1 in the seventh minute of stoppage time. But it is Southampton who will now aim to follow in the footsteps of Leicester and Ipswich Town, who will play in the 2024/25 Premier League after finishing in the Championship's top two positions.
Championship promotion playoff matches
Semi-finals first legs
12 May Norwich 0-0 Leeds
12 May West Brom 0-0 Southampton
Semi-finals second legs
16 May Leeds 4-0 Norwich (Leeds win 4-0 on agg.)
17 May Southampton 3-1 West Brom (Southampton win 3-1 on agg.)
Final
26 May Leeds v Southampton
*all times BST
