Only three points separated Daniel Farke’s Whites and Russell Martin’s Saints in the final Championship table, third and fourth-placed finishes respectively taking both teams to the play-offs as champions Leicester City and Ipswich Town went up in the top two.
Bengal Brasserie Arena Quarter – serving authentic Indian cuisine in the heart of the city. Proudly supporting Leeds United and the YEP.
Leeds and Southampton then both came through their semi-finals against the division’s sixth and fifth-placed finishers Norwich City and West Brom respectively to set up a mouth-watering Whites v Saints showdown for a place in next season’s Premier League.
Only one will go up, leaving some big stars behind. Ahead of tomorrow’s eagerly-awaited Wembley play-off final, we spoke to Sky Sports presenter and EFL expert David Prutton, also a YEP columnist, and pressed him for his idea of a strongest XI featuring the best players from both Leeds and Southampton based on this season’s displays. It proved quite the task, a Whites star moving to a new position in order to make the team. Here we run through the final choice, with a 6-5 victory for the team who are favourites for Sunday's final.
![Given the nod over Saints stopper Gavin Bazunu whose season was ended in April by a ruptured Achilles.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjhiMzY3YTFlLWUwMzUtNGNiNS1iZDc1LTdjNTAzNWJjYzUzOTplMTJmOWRmNi02NzI5LTQ1NTEtYmMyZi0xZGZkMjM5N2VlZWE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
1. GK: Illan Meslier (Leeds)
Given the nod over Saints stopper Gavin Bazunu whose season was ended in April by a ruptured Achilles.Photo: Nigel French
![Named right back in the EFL Championship team of the year and no keeping him out of this one. A big mention for San Byram - and Archie Gray of course - but don't worry. There will be room for him too.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjI0ZjZjMWUxLTFkMTYtNGU3Yy1iMmY4LWQwNjlmMWEwZjZkMDpjN2UxMDk1NC1kMWY1LTQ1NzItOGJlMS1kMGZkYTg2Njk4ZjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
2. RB: Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton)
Named right back in the EFL Championship team of the year and no keeping him out of this one. A big mention for San Byram - and Archie Gray of course - but don't worry. There will be room for him too.Photo: Ed Sykes
![A monster at centre-back since joining Leeds on a season-long loan from Tottenham. But who partners him?](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjk5Yzc3ZDZjLWI2MjEtNDlhZi05MmFmLTgxMDFiZGU4ZjlhMTowMWZlNzRjNi0xZTViLTQxM2UtODkwZi1lZDFjNzdjMjg2M2Y=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
3. CB: Joe Rodon (Leeds)
A monster at centre-back since joining Leeds on a season-long loan from Tottenham. But who partners him?Photo: Matt McNulty
![The Joe Rodon-Ethan Ampadu axis is broken to make way for Southampton's Manchester City loanee centre-back Harwood-Bellis who is still only 22 years old. But Ampadu doesn't miss out. A mention also for Southampton's Jan Bednarek - and Whites ace Pascal Struijk for his displays in the first half of the season. Struijk has not featured since Boxing Day due to a groin injury.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjk2N2Y2OWNkLWZmZjQtNGM3ZC1hOTA5LTQyOWVkMzJmMGEzMjo5NDNjMjIzOC0wMzU5LTQ4YmUtYmY5My1hOGM1Mzk2NWM1ZDc=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
4. CB: Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton)
The Joe Rodon-Ethan Ampadu axis is broken to make way for Southampton's Manchester City loanee centre-back Harwood-Bellis who is still only 22 years old. But Ampadu doesn't miss out. A mention also for Southampton's Jan Bednarek - and Whites ace Pascal Struijk for his displays in the first half of the season. Struijk has not featured since Boxing Day due to a groin injury.Photo: Michael Steele
![Here he is! A leftfield pick at left back from Prutton, but there was no way he was leaving 18-year-old Whites star Gray out. United's Junior Firpo or Southampton's Ryan Manning were the chief alternatives but Gray has proved extremely versatile this season both as a right back and centre-back. He's also popped up at left back at times and Prutton would trust him to do a job there just to get him in the best combined team.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjFlYTQzOWI1LWUzN2UtNDg0Yy1hNjdhLTk2NDc1ZjM3MjU4ZTo1MmM0ZWQxOC1lY2JlLTRhYzAtYWFmOS1kYmYxNTEyMmNlN2M=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. LB: Archie Gray (Leeds)
Here he is! A leftfield pick at left back from Prutton, but there was no way he was leaving 18-year-old Whites star Gray out. United's Junior Firpo or Southampton's Ryan Manning were the chief alternatives but Gray has proved extremely versatile this season both as a right back and centre-back. He's also popped up at left back at times and Prutton would trust him to do a job there just to get him in the best combined team.Photo: George Wood
![Another who made the Championship team of the season and the only debate here was whether Ampadu was selected as a centre-back or in midfield.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmZkOTQ1ZjQxLTU0ZGEtNDQ2NS05MDFiLWZjNmU0MjU2NmU5ODozMTA2OWExYi1hYzE4LTQ5ZjgtYWNjNi0zZWM4NmI1Mzc5YzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. CM: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds)
Another who made the Championship team of the season and the only debate here was whether Ampadu was selected as a centre-back or in midfield.Photo: Ed Sykes