Leeds United vs Southampton: English Football League - Championship - BBC Sport

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Just a few weeks ago this match had looked like it could potentially be a decider for an automatic promotion spot for either side.

However, Saints slipped to three defeats and Leeds lost at home for the first time against Blackburn three weeks ago before being battered 4-0 at QPR last Friday to go into today's game in need of a miracle.

Despite their indifferent form and things not being in their hands the game started in a terrific atmosphere with the home side searching for an early goal to put some pressure on their promotion rivals down in Suffolk.

Southampton carried a threat on the break though and took the lead when Adams picked up the ball 20 yards out after a corner and crossed for Armstrong to convert from eight yards.

Leeds quickly levelled though when the away side made a mess of clearing a ball into the middle and Piroe slammed home to give some renewed optimism.

Ipswich soon went in front against Huddersfield at Portman Road and Saints re-took the lead shortly after when Walker-Peters scampered after a deep ball forward from the halfway line and just kept it in, with Leeds full-back Junior Firpo thinking it would go out, before laying it on a plate for Smallbone to score from close in.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis saw a header skim the top of the bar for the away side and Willy Gnonto dragged a low shot just wide for the home side as the open nature of the game continued up to the break.

After the interval the intensity dropped off, with both teams knowing they have bigger games to come in the coming weeks.

Leeds open their play-off campaign against Farke's former side Norwich at 12:00 BST on Sunday, with Saints travelling to The Hawthorns at 14:15 BST that day.

The Whites are looking to go up through the play-offs for the first time at the sixth time of asking, while Southampton have had one unsuccessful play-off campaign before.