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.
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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.
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
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
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
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
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
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