Southampton will face Leeds in the Championship play-off final

Southampton will face Leeds for a place in the Premier League after reaching the Championship play-off final with a 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion on Friday.

Russell Martin’s side moved a step closer to promotion thanks to Will Smallbone’s second-half opener and Adam Armstrong’s two goals in the second leg of their semi-final at St Mary’s.

Cedric Kipre’s header in the dying seconds was no consolation for overmatched Albion.

Seeking to end their one-year exile from the Premier League after last season’s relegation, Southampton will head to Wembley on May 26 for what is billed as the richest game in world football given the wealth on offer in the top flight.

After a goalless draw at the Hawthorns on Sunday, Southampton were deserved winners, their confident performance showing why they finished fourth in the table, 12 points clear of fifth-placed Albion.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a noted Southampton fan, cheered from the stands as Martin’s men answered their coach’s pre-match plea to “attack the game until you can’t run anymore”.

Leeds crushed Norwich 4-0 at Elland Road in the second leg of the other semi-final on Thursday and Canaries boss David Wagner was sacked on Friday.

That ruthless dismissal underlined the desperation of Championship clubs to get rich in the Premier League.

The Saints are no different, but they rose to the occasion with a commanding display after surviving an early scare.

West Brom’s aerial size caused problems when Grady Diangana headed home Alex Mowatt’s cross.

Southampton quickly took control and David Brooks’ long-range effort hit the bar from Armstrong’s cross.

Playing with Jed Wallace as their only striker, Albion used a five-man defense in an attempt to subdue the Saints.

Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy had to rush back to push Tom Fellows’ cross over the bar just before it dipped into the net.

But Martin’s side were well on top and Brooks’ drive from 25 yards was denied by Alex Palmer.

Southampton’s dominance was finally rewarded in the 49th minute thanks to a moment of magic from Smallbone.

Picked out by Brooks’ pass after Diangana sloppily surrendered possession, Smallbone unleashed a ferocious shot from inside the area that slotted past Palmer inside the post.

Mowatt had a chance to put Albion up but his shot on goal was deflected by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

McCarthy preserved Southampton’s lead with an instinctive header from Darnell Furlong’s burst.

And Armstrong scored the second killer in the 78th minute when he forced a fine finish into the far corner from 12 yards.

Eight minutes later, Saints were poised to march to Wembley for the Championship play-off final after Armstrong made it 23 league goals this season with a clinical penalty after Fellows fouled Ryan Manning.

AFP