EFL Championship Playoff Final 2023/24: How Southampton marched past Leeds United to the 2024/25 Premier League – tactical analysis

Last season, Southampton finished rock bottom in the Premier League – Leeds United and Leicester City joined them in dropping down the Championship, and immediately, many people had those three clubs pegged as promotion favourites for the 23/24 campaign. And while they all lived up to that to a certain degree – they were all involved in the battle for promotion, only Leicester were able to secure automatic promotion. They were, of course, joined by Ipswich Town who achieved the unthinkable back-to-back promotion under Kieran McKenna.

However, in a strange feat of irony, last season’s bottom two Premier League clubs would meet at Wembley for a place back in the top flight for the 24/25 season. Russell Martin’s side saw off Leeds in the playoff final, which is often coined the “richest match in football” due to the financial rewards for reaching the EPL at Wembley. This tactical analysis will take a look at how the Saints secured an immediate return to the top flight, with the analysis discussing the key tactics used by Martin’s men and why Leeds United ultimately fell short.

Lineups

Leeds lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, which has been their preferred formation all season, using it 75% of the 23/24 campaign. Like their Wembley counterparts, Leeds fielded the same starting 11 that brought them victory in their playoff semi-final second leg. Right back, Sam Byram was the only player who played the first leg but missed out on the remaining two fixtures due to a hip problem. Up front, Patrick Bamford was hoping to be back among the squad following a recent injury, but that was not to be – Joël Piroe was tasked with leading the line.

For the most part of the 23/24 season, Southampton fielded a 4-3-3 formation. However, this has not been the case since the Saints beat Leads at Elland Road on the final day of the regular – they played with a 5-3-2 that day and did the same away at West Brom in the playoff semi-final first leg, 3-5-2 at home in the second leg. The 5-3-2 continuation occurred at Wembley. This lineup was, in fact, the very same that Martin fielded in the second leg 3-1 victory.