Leeds United 0 Southampton 1: Premier League moment costs the Damned United a return to the Promised Land

Southampton will reflect that their return ticket to the Premier League came courtesy of a moment of top flight ruthlessness but it was donated by a moment of Leeds United sloppiness in a 1-0 game decided in the 24th minute.

When this Damned United, at least on the play-offs front, needed a bit of good fortune, Lady Luck refused to help those who had not helped themselves. Dan James’ late shot crashed against the crossbar.

A 1-0 defeat ensured that for the first time since 2016, the world's most glamorous domestic football league will bypass Yorkshire. For all the points won in the regular season, this young Leeds side had shown themselves not quite ready yet.

When you are playing against a Premier League team – and Southampton were by and large able to keep one together in the summer – the slightest lapse can be ruthlessly punished.

So when Leeds' defensive line became a squiggle, they conceded a goal they could not haul back.

Ethan Ampadu was lured into midfield to try to win the ball and when he could not, Will Smallbone played Adam Armstrong into the gap – just as he found space in the inside-left channel in the 11th minute.

Archie Gray played him onside, and Armstrong scored his fourth goal this season against the Whites.

As Ampadu and in particular 18-year-old Gray – surpassing his dad, Andy, as Leeds’ youngest player at Wembley – can expect to play a lot of Premier League games, it is an important lesson for them.

Joe Rodon’s misplaced pass midway through the second half provided Samuel Edozie with another such chance but the Saints substitute is more a Championship-quality player, and Leeds wriggled off the hook.

Italy international Willy Gnonto and Championship player of the year Crysencio Summerville are supposed to be Premier League quality but when Daniel Farke went chasing an equaliser, he decided the chances were better without them. They too have much to learn.

Armstrong's goal was harsh on a Leeds side who started well, but when you are playing for stakes this high, you cannot expect charity.

After the practice run of their Elland Road semi-final, Leeds were undaunted by an atmosphere which saw white scarves held above heads take on blocks of red and white flags in rain leaving the pitch damper than a prime minister at a podium.

Leeds zipped the ball around confidently on it, Gray shooting wide in the fourth minute after Georginio Rutter won the ball, then Gnonto shooting weakly.

Gray was prominent, helped by a Saints formation with a winger high on either side but effectively the only wing-back, Kyle Walker-Peters, on the other. Twice, though, his crosses cleared strikers on their heels.

Illan Meslier made a decent save from Smallbone’s 12th-minute free-kick but it was not until Armstrong’s goal that Saints took a grip of the game and Leeds seemed to shrink.

Gray miscontrolled and Summerville overran the ball Rutter forced through before they cleared their heads.

Fortunately, they did not allow Armstrong to double the lead before the break, Meslier saving and Rodon blocking after a Flynn Downes surge from midfield.

The intent was back at the start of the second half but not the execution, Summerville curling wide when Gnonto burst through but had his shot blocked, Summerville’s volley charged down after good work by Rutter and his free-kick ballooned.

Straight after Farke’s final substitution left Leeds with a front five of James, Rutter, Mateo Joseph, Jaidon Anthony and Joel Piroe, James who missed the penalty when Wales were denied a place at the European Championships in a shoot-out, could only smack his strike against the woodwork.

Injury was added to the insult, James finishing the game bandaged up after a clash of heads. Alex McCarthy kept out his shot in the fifth added minute.

Leeds always said getting back to the Premier League was a two-year mission but at the same time as cushioning the blow, parachute payments ramp up expectation. These Whites do not have the time to gradually learn their way to top-flight quality.

Leeds have used up one of their get out of jail (well, the Championship) cards. They must not waste a second next season.

Leeds United: Meslier; Gray, Ampadu, Rodon, Firpo (Joseph 83); Gruev, Kamara (Roberts 73); Gnonto (James 66), Rutter, Summerville (Anthony 73); Piroe.Unused substitutes: Cooper, Shackleton, Byram, Darlow, Gelhardt.

Southampton: McCarthy; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Walker-Peters, Downes, Smallbone, Aribo; Brooks (Edozie 35 (Manning 83)), Armstrong, Fraser (Adams 70).Unused subs: Stewart, Lumley, Bree, Rothwell, Sulemana, Charles.

Referee: J Brooks (Melton Mowbray).