For Rishi Sunak, a rare scent of victory - but for Leeds United, perennial black sheep of the play-offs, another shattering taste of eeh bah glum. In monsoon conditions ideal for calling a General Election without a brolly, Adam Armstrong’s sabre-like finish restored Southampton to the Premier League at the first time of asking. The Prime Minister - born in Southampton and a drop-in Saints fan, especially if there’s a photo opportunity in it - missed a measured display in the £200million promotion shoot-out, which was light relief from ominous opinion polls.
In front of Hollywood royalty Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man himself, a tense spectacle began in a downpour but ended with Saints back in the sunlit uplands. Only the most grudging observer, or Portsmouth fans, could deny they deserved it. Adam Armstrong breaks Leeds' hearts to fire Southampton to Premier League - 6 talking points Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth's investment backfires as football team loses £150m game For the 11th time since 2004, the world’s richest game of club football was been settled by a single goal, and for artistic merit, it was as much fun as constipation, but Saints won’t care a fig about that.
This game is big business, not a beauty pageant. Head coach Russell Martin’s game plan was spot-on and his players executed it to perfection. Southampton’s back five never yielded an inch, with the outstanding Kyle Walker-Peters keeping Crysencio Summerville so quiet that the Championship.