Armstrong: This will stay with us for life
Southampton goal hero Adam Armstrong says his Wembley winner is a moment he will cherish for the rest of his life after firing Saints back into the Premier League.
Armstrong struck the only goal of a tense Championship play-off final, as his 24th and most important goal of the season arrived in the 24th minute against Leeds at Wembley.
It means Saints bounce back into the big time at the first attempt after last season’s relegation, on a day that meant so much to the club and its thousands of supporters.
“It’s the biggest platform. To play at Wembley is every kid’s dream, and to get the winner with my family in the stands, with the fans, it means a lot,” Armstrong said.
“It’s something we’ve been working hard for all season. We’ve seen how good the top two were – to get near them was hard.
“We had to keep digging away, we trusted in the manager when he first came in to play this way. It’s exciting, it’s scary, but that’s how we want to play.
“To create moments like this is unbelievable. This will live with us for the rest of my life, and I’m sure it will for the lads.
“I’ve got no words – the fans were unbelievable, the atmosphere was incredible and this is why we’re footballers, to be in these sorts of games. I’m going to have a lot of beers tonight and enjoy it!”
Armstrong’s goal was his fourth in three games against Leeds this season, coming in trademark fashion with a cool low finish across goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
Saints defended manfully throughout, particularly late in the game, as Leeds substitute Daniel James rattled the crossbar before forcing Alex McCarthy into a diving save midway through nine agonising minutes of stoppage time.
“I’ve seen Will nick the ball back and I had a lot of space in behind,” Armstrong said of the goal. “I took a nice first touch and just hit it as hard as I could across the keeper, and thankfully it went in.
“We knew Leeds were going to come out in the second half because they needed a goal and it’s a one-off game, the play-off final, you’re going to have some scary moments, it’s how you deal with them.
“I’ve touched on it in interviews before that we haven’t had that a lot this season, where teams are pinning us back. It shows the great determination the lads have got to stick together through the tough times.”
