RETURN OF THE SAINTS

Armstrong puts Martin's men back among the elite

- MIKE WALTERS

FOR Rishi Sunak, a rare scent of victory - but for Leeds United, perennial black sheep of the playoffs, another shattering taste of eeh bah glum.

In monsoon conditions ideal for calling a General Election without a brolly, Adam Armstrong's deadly Wembley 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 - missed a measured display in the £200m promotion shoot-out.

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.

For the 11th time since 2004, the world's richest game of club football was settled by a single goal.

Southampton head coach Russell Martin's game plan was spot-on and his players executed it to perfection.

Their back five never yielded an inch, with the outstanding Kyle Walker-Peters keeping Crysencio Summerville so quiet that the Championship player of the year was hooked after 73 minutes.