‘It hurts a lot’ – Leeds’ latest playoff final woe
Pompey will play Leeds United in league games for the first time since 2011-12 next season.
Southampton secured an instant return to the Premier League after Adam Armstrong struck in the first half to haunt Leeds again in yesterday’s playoff final win at Wembley.
Saints had won the previous two Championship meetings between the clubs and Armstrong had been on target on both occasions.
History repeated itself at Wembley, with Armstrong able to find the bottom corner midway through the first half for his 24th goal of the campaign and it proved enough to send Russell Martin’s team back into the top flight.
It means Leeds, who went close late on when substitute Dan James hit the crossbar, suffered more play-off pain with this a sixth consecutive time they have failed to go up via that route.
They have failed to score in each of their last three finals, following previous losses to Watford (0-3, Championship, 2004-05) and Doncaster (0-1, League One, 2007-08).
Victory in the fixture – dubbed the richest match in football – is be worth an estimated £140million in revenue according to Deloitte.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke said: “We're suffering a lot in this moment and are deeply disappointed.
"Once you come so close, after 90 points, really good play-offs [semi-final] against Norwich and today I can't really say we were the worst side in this final, it hurts a lot.
"We probably had more possession, chances, expected goals, but the only thing that matters is goals. It hurts a lot if you're just one step away and have to travel back so disappointed.”