Southampton’s squad ventured to the Isle of Wight for a get-together at the end of the regular season, where majority owner, Dragan Solak, who dragged his fingernails down his face during the final minutes here, promised they would have the party of their lives if they sealed promotion. The chances are those celebrations will take place somewhere more exuberant or exotic after Adam Armstrong’s goal secured Southampton a return to the Premier League at the first attempt via a typically fraught Championship playoff final which totalled more than 102 minutes. For Leeds, it was more playoff final agony, this their fourth to end in tears. For Russell Martin, this was a beautiful ending to a fine season but for Daniel Farke, under whom he played at Norwich, it was an altogether different feeling.
It was a goal that embodied everything about Southampton’s style, the ultimate vindication for Martin’s methodical approach. Not that the manager, a staunch believer in the formula, cares if those on the outside have their doubts. It was a sequence that took Glen Kamara and Georginio Rutter out of the game, a four-pass move that pulled Leeds apart, destroying any semblance of structure. Seconds before Taylor Harwood-Bellis assumed possession inside his own half, Martin pleaded with his players to remain patient: pick your moment.
