What happened the last time Leeds United played at Wembley as play-off final beckons

Leeds United return to Wembley for the first time in 16 years as they take on Southampton for a place in the Premier League this Sunday afternoon.

The Whites confirmed their participation in the Championship play-off final last week with an emphatic second leg victory over Norwich City. Goals from Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville ensured of the triumph in front of a raucous Elland Road.

Daniel Farke's side will take on the Saints, who also overcame a goalless first leg encounter against West Bromwich Albion. Three goals in the second half was enough to set-up a 101st meeting between the two sides, with this one arguably the most important fixture yet.

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For Russell Martin's men, it is a more recent return to the Wembley arch than their opponents heading into the encounter. The South Coast club reached the Carabao Cup final in 2017 but were defeated by Jose Mourinho's Manchester United after an inspired display from forward, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

While that defeat will still be a bitter memory for Saints supporters, the same can be said for those from West Yorkshire. The Whites' last trip to the home of football saw them take on Doncaster Rovers in the League One play-off final in 2008.

Having been guided to a fifth-placed finish in the league by Gary McAllister, Leeds faced Carlisle United in the semi-finals of the play-offs. Despite losing the first leg 2-1 at Elland Road, two goals from Jonny Howson without reply booked their place at Wembley for the first time since the 1996 Football League Cup Final.

Doncaster had narrowly missed out on automatic promotion to Swansea City and Nottingham Forest. But Sean O'Driscoll's comfortably defeated Southend United 5-1 on aggregate over both legs.

With 75,132 spectators inside Wembley, it was the Rovers fans who were left celebrating at the full-time whistle. Having started well in the opening exchanges, the sides went in level at the interval.

And having previously threatened with an effort that crashed off the Leeds crossbar late in the first half, James Hayter would provide the defining moment in the contest. Three minutes after the restart, the striker's diving header from Brian Stock's corner was enough to earn Doncaster promotion to the Championship after four seasons in the third tier.

Leeds reached the play-offs again the following season, losing out to Millwall in at the semi-final stage. However, promotion was achieved in the 2009/10 season as they finished second behind Norwich.