News
2023-24: 90 Points, Then Wembley Heartbreak
Leeds United's first season back in the Championship produced 90 points, 27 league wins and a Wembley final. Promotion was painfully close, but Southampton ended the campaign with Leeds still in the second tier.
Overview
Leeds United's 2023-24 Championship campaign produced 90 points, 27 league wins and 98 goals across all competitions. It was a season that came agonisingly close to promotion - only for Southampton to end it at Wembley. Although that didn’t exactly work out well for them after that …
From relegation to promotion contenders
After relegation from the Premier League in 2022-23, Daniel Farke's first season in charge was about rebuilding Leeds and immediately competing near the top of the Championship. The regular season ended with Leeds third, behind Leicester City and Ipswich Town, with 90 points from 46 matches.
It was a remarkable points total, but the automatic promotion places had already been taken before Leeds could secure a return to the top flight. A final-day 2-1 defeat to Southampton at Elland Road meant Leeds finished third and entered the play-offs.
The numbers behind the season
Leeds finished the regular Championship campaign with 27 wins, nine draws and ten defeats, scoring 81 league goals and conceding 43. Across all competitions, the side played 55 matches, won 31 and scored 98 times.
There was plenty of firepower. Crysencio Summerville finished as top scorer with 21 goals, while Georginio Rutter recorded 16 assists. Leeds also kept 22 clean sheets across the season.
The play-offs
Leeds faced Norwich City in the semi-finals. A goalless draw at Carrow Road was followed by a 4-0 victory at Elland Road, sending Leeds to Wembley with real momentum.
Southampton were waiting.
Wembley
The final on 26 May 2024 ended 1-0 to Southampton, Adam Armstrong scoring in the first half. Despite Leeds having chances and plenty of possession in the second half, the equaliser never came. Dan James hit the cross bar, and added a permanent scar to his forehead (Harry Potter style) in the dying embers of the game.
After 90 points and a season of promotion pursuit, Leeds were left to begin again in the Championship.
Why 2023-24 belongs in Leeds United history
The disappointment of Wembley can easily overshadow what came before it. Leeds had rebuilt after relegation, reached 90 points and won 27 league matches. The campaign ended without promotion, but the underlying numbers made it one of the strongest second-tier seasons in the club's modern history.
The following season would provide the response.