An incredible season finale saw European success, relegation avoided, and a shot at Premier League promotion secured on a dramatic weekend for West Ham United's loanees...
Midfielder Flynn Downes and Southampton are set for the EFL Championship Play-Off final after a stunning win over West Bromwich Albion on Friday evening.
Following a 0-0 draw in the semi-final first leg at the Hawthorns, the Saints returned to home soil and produced a superb 3-1 victory to book an afternoon in the Wembley sun.
Will Smallbone gave Southampton the lead at St Mary’s Stadium, before an Adam Armstrong brace rendered a late effort from Cédric Kipré meaningless.
Downes, who has made 36 appearances across all competitions in 2023/24, played 90 minutes at the heart of midfield and is set to conclude a successful loan spell in the second tier at the home of English football.
Southampton will face Leeds United for a place in the Premier League on Sunday 25 May, with kick-off set for 3pm.
No Monday blues here 😁 pic.twitter.com/4zQrECpEwW
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) May 20, 2024
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Nathan Trott and Vejle FC continued a superb run of form in the Danish Superliga with a 2-0 win over Hvidovre on Monday evening.
A stunning first six minutes saw the only two goals of the game arrive from the boot of Russian native German Onugkha, who has now netted on 15 occasions in the league this season.
Trott kept a crucial clean sheet to help Vejle secure their place in next season’s Superliga, with one game remaining.
As it stands, Vejle are third in the relegation Play-Offs table, but four points clear of the bottom two with one game to play.
Elsewhere, forward Saïd Benrahma helped Olympique Lyonnais secure UEFA Europa League qualification on a dramatic final day in Ligue 1.
A brace from former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette – his second from the penalty spot in the 95th minute – saw Lyon beat Strasbourg 2-1 on Sunday and, most importantly, better RC Lens' result.
Benrahma, who played just shy of 70 minutes, picked up an assist for Lyon’s first of the afternoon when he drove into the penalty area and saw his cross put the finish on a plate for his side’s No10.
Lyon finished the season in sixth place, having won 16 of their 34 games.
