Southampton fought as if their careers depended on it to edge Leeds and return to the Premier League, writes LEWIS STEELE… as Russell Martin earns redemption against his old boss

Just 33 days ago, Russell Martin slumped in a chair in the press conference room at Leicester’s King Power Stadium sporting an expression of disbelief. His team had just waved the white flag in the race for automatic promotion by being thumped 5-0.

‘I did not like what I saw from my team one bit,’ he said, looking like he had run out of puff after an arduous season of ups and downs. ‘Body language, arms up in the air. It’s inexcusable. Players need to show love for each other, I’m fed up of doing it.

‘They need to feel some pain and the same pain that I'm feeling right now, and the hurt that I'm feeling. It’s pathetic. This result and performance is not on. How much do we really want to win promotion? How much do we care?’

Whether intended as a rallying cry to his players or not, it worked. In the game billed as the richest match in football, Southampton’s players fought as if their careers depended on it to edge bookies’ favourites Leeds and return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Adam Armstrong scored his 24th goal of the season in the first half with a clinical finish and Saints were the better team in what was a tactical masterclass by young boss Martin, whose team dazzled on the ball with some slick team moves but defended like warriors.

For Martin, this was redemption. The man to his left in the dugout here, Daniel Farke, set in motion the end of his playing career. When the German took over at Norwich, he jettisoned club captain and fan favourite Martin and he barely played again.

Publicly, Brighton-born Martin insists there is no bad blood between the pair – but victory must have tasted somewhat sweeter noting his history with Farke. They had a cordial handshake at full-time and then Martin darted over to the red half of Wembley with his arms aloft.

He deserves to celebrate. At times this season, he has been criticised for his playing style being too methodical, too robotic and too structured. But Martin, a vegan and Buddhist, stuck by his principles and they paid off.

As for Leeds, who saw this coming? Well, pretty much every one of their travelling number. This was their sixth play-off campaign that ultimately ended in heartache – even serial promotion winner Farke unable to stop the so-called hoodoo.

‘Leeds are falling apart again,’ chanted Southampton fans. They were not wrong, Farke had all the tools at his disposal for this side to romp to promotion. But when it mattered, Leeds did not show up.

They were sloppy in possession, second best in the midfield battle and toothless when they managed to work the ball into dangerous positions. Dan James hit the bar but, aside from that, Saints keeper Alex McCarthy did not make a meaningful save until second-half stoppage time.

London was swarming with Leeds fans from the crack of dawn, with plenty of ticketless supporters heading down to the capital to soak up the atmosphere. Kings Cross underground station was briefly closed due to flares being set off.

They poked fun at prime minister Rishi Sunak, who claims to be a Southampton fan – we will leave the lyrics out for their derogatory nature – and some were even filmed passing a bottle of Jagermeister from car to car while moving down the M1.

But any festivities were put on hold not long into the first half when Armstrong handed Saints the lead after 24 minutes with a prolific goal. Leeds had started in the ascendancy but lost grip of any dominance by being picked apart at ease by a slick passing move.

Armstrong had been caught in two minds in the 11th minute when he found space on the left-hand side and instead elected to look for a team-mate but, this time, he only had one thing on his mind.

As was the case with so many attacks, the move was started by Manchester City loanee Taylor Harwood-Bellis. The defender has captained England’s youth sides and had experience in winning promotion last term with Burnley.

He continually carved open the Leeds midfield with through-the-lines passes and fed midfield magician Will Smallbone, another who looks destined for a future at the top level. Smallbone poked a through ball to Armstrong, who took a touch and then fired across goal to score.

That was his 37th goal involvement of a stellar season – 24 goals and 13 assists – and the former Newcastle reject might have doubled his tally for the day minutes later when picked out by Smallbone again. This time, Illan Meslier got down well to save, albeit not convincingly.

Leeds had their moments but veteran goalkeeper Alex McCarthy barely had a save to make, with just one shot on his goal in the first 70 minutes. For all the attacking talent Farke’s side possesses, this was an abhorrent attacking display.

In the 75th minute, Junior Firpo took a throw-in and substitute Jaidon Anthony’s first touch just bounced straight out of play when under little pressure. It just about summed up Leeds’ afternoon – whatever they tried, it did not come off.

Much of that will be put down to big-match nerves but a mountain of credit must go to Southampton and Martin, whose game plan was working to perfection. The midfield triumvirate of Smallbone, West Ham loanee Flynn Downes and Joe Aribo were imperious.

But Saints were saved by the width of the woodwork in the 84th minute when substitute James manufactured a bit of space and rattled the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area. Farke’s arms flew up to celebrate but it was not to be.

Leeds started to push men forward and Georginio Rutter, a £35.5million man no less who had failed to turn up on his team’s big day, was next to have a pop but his effort was shanked well over the crossbar.

It was not until the fifth minute of stoppage time that McCarthy was forced into a full-stretch save after James looked to fire one into the bottom right-hand corner from 20 yards. It was a powerful effort and the 34-year-old, covering for injured No 1 Gavin Bazunu, got down well.

Referee John Brooks allowed 12 minutes of added time to be played and Leeds continued to lump the ball forward but Southampton had answers for every question posed to them, with some admirable defending and courageous goalkeeping from McCarthy.

Match-winner and player of the season Armstrong prematurely took his shirt off and started sprinting towards the Saints fans when Brooks gave a free-kick in the 100th minute. After 49 league games of fighting, he could wait another few minutes.