Key events
It’s pouring down at Wembley, with a chance of thunderstorms during the game. Buy a few shares in shots from outside the box.
Just one more thing
“Watching Leeds in the playoffs reminds me of Colombo: we know it’ll end in defeat, but the joy is in finding out how we’ll throw it away this time,” says Alex Adams. “Leeds never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity at Wembley. But I live in hope that we’ll break that hex today.”
💛 “𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗨𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱”
From The Duke to The Chief, we’re feeling love from the #LUFC community today! pic.twitter.com/CIUn3BIFfK— Leeds United (@LUFC) May 26, 2024
Failure isn’t always the best way to learn
As Nietzsche was saying
Team news
Both teams are unchanged from the second leg of the semi-final, which makes this a very easy entry to write. Patrick Bamford hasn’t made the Leeds bench.
“Spoiler alert: Nasty Leeds fan here,” says Jeremy Boyce. “Everything crossed it goes our way, but hats off to Saints if it’s they who make it, they are a class act and have already beaten us twice this season. May the better team win, and the other one join them very soon.”
The less obvious link
This was a big result in Southampton’s ultimately successful fight against relegation. The second goal is one of the best you’ll ever see.
The other bleedin’ obvious link
(If you want to know more about this absurd story, Josh Widdicombe and Dara O’Briain did a very funny podcast on the subject.)
The bleedin’ obvious link
Louise Taylor’s preview
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of the Championship playoff final from Wembley. This is always a Brobdingnagian fixture, but this year it feels even bigger. That’s partly because of how good these teams have been this season, with a combined total of 177 points, and also because of how big they are. Leeds and Southampton belong in the top tier of English football, but only one of them will be there next season.
Kick off 3pm.
