Leeds United have been left 'absolutely devastated' after failing to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League on the final day of the Championship season. Daniel Farke's side needed to beat Southampton and hope Huddersfield Town could defeat Ipswich Town, but neither result went their way.
Ipswich's victory over Huddersfield secured their return to the top flight for the first time since 2002, while Leeds lost 2-1 at home to Southampton. The result leaves Leeds in third place on 90 points – the highest points tally ever recorded by a team that failed to achieve automatic promotion from the Championship.
Leeds, relegated from the Premier League last season, must now rely on the play-offs to return at the first attempt. They will face Norwich City in the semi-finals, with the other semi-final pairing Southampton against West Brom.
Former Leeds manager Simon Grayson described the mood at Elland Road as 'absolutely devastated', but urged the team to seize their second chance. 'You are finishing third, you've got the opportunity to get into the Premier League. Would you have taken that at the start of the season? Absolutely,' he told the BBC.
Fans took to social media to react, with some expressing doubts about the team's playoff prospects. 'Imaging thinking this team has a chance in the playoffs,' one supporter posted, while another urged the team to 'regroup' and 'make the play-offs count'.
