Southampton secures Premier League return under Russell Martin's guidance
- Southampton secured promotion to the Premier League after defeating Leeds in the play-off final.
- Manager Russell Martin led Southampton back to the top flight with a victory in the Championship playoff final.
- Martin's approach and guidance proved successful as Southampton earned immediate promotion after relegation last season.
Russell Martin was happy and thankful for the opportunity to lead Southampton to the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Leeds at Wembley. He mentioned that he wasn't a popular choice for the job, but Southampton took a chance on him, and he was grateful for it. Martin praised the club owners and former director of football Jason Wilcox for their support. The journey to Wembley was not easy for Southampton. They had a rough start, losing four games in September. However, under Martin's guidance, they went on an impressive 25-match unbeaten run. Despite a shaky end to the season, they managed to regroup and secure a victory over West Brom in the play-off semi-finals. In the final against Leeds, Southampton defended well and secured the win with Armstrong's goal. Leeds tried to equalize with Dan James' attempts, but Southampton's goalkeeper Alex McCarthy made crucial saves. Martin acknowledged the tension in the game but praised his team's defensive efforts. Martin understands the importance of the upcoming EFL Championship playoff final against Leeds. He knows that the outcome will impact his tenure as Southampton's manager. The club's owner, Sports Republic, has shown support for Martin's efforts to return Southampton to the Premier League. Despite facing challenges and pressure, Martin remains focused on achieving promotion to the Premier League. He values the opportunity given to him by Southampton and aims to deliver success for the club. Martin's experience as a player and captain in previous playoff finals has prepared him for the nerves and expectations of such crucial matches.