Now can Leeds afford to keep faith in Farke?

THE play-off hoodoo continues for Leeds but this will not be the slidingdoors moment it was when they last lost the Championship final in 2006.

Then it took them 14 years to return to the Premier League. This time it will surely not take so long, not with owners who have ambition to match their cash.

The big question is will they stick with manager Daniel Farke (above)?

Will they rebuild for another promotion tilt under him or will they go for someone else? They are known to be big fans of Graham Potter.

Leeds will find it hard to hang on to the Championship Player of the Year Crysencio Summerville, while loan stars Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts will return to Tottenham and Burnley.

The thumping of Norwich in the semi-final second leg masks how poor Leeds played over the closing weeks of the season.

That victory was one of only two wins in their last nine games. After powering to the top in March, they ran out of petrol.

They were back to their bad old habits at Wembley and their defending for Adam Armstrong’s goal was woeful. Ethan Ampadu stepped up to give him far too much space to pick his spot.

Armstrong has four goals in three games against Leeds this season so you would think they would know by now the danger he poses.

Their finishing was found badly wanting as their front four of Summerville, Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter and Willy Gnonto failed to trouble Southampton goalkeeper

Alex Mccarthy.

Welsh international Dan James replaced the ineffectual Gnonto and his effervescence made you wonder why Farke had not started him.

James went closest to scoring for Leeds, first when he cracked the bar and then when he was denied by Mccarthy late on.

After a third defeat of the season at the hands of Russell Martin’s side several Leeds players fell to the ground when the final whistle blew and Mateo Joseph punched the Wembley turf in frustration.

It was another hard-luck story for Leeds United and they have had just too many of those.