SAINTS ended their three-game losing streak by beating Leeds United on Saturday, boosting their morale ahead of the playoffs.

The win saw the St Mary's side end the regular season with 87 points, only one less than they achieved when they won promotion to the Premier League a decade ago.

Here are five key talking points as attention switches to the playoffs...

West Brom in the semi-finals

Ahead of kickoff, it looked as though Southampton would be heading to Norwich on Sunday, May 12 as they started the day in fifth place.

But David Wagner's side fell to relegated Birmingham allowing their city rivals West Brom to grab fifth place on the final day and set up a double-header meeting with Southampton.

If previous results are anything to go by, Saints will be expected to progress to the final having won both games over the Baggies this season.

More than that, Russell Martin has never lost a game to West Brom since becoming a manager, winning all six of his encounters as Saints and Swansea boss.

Daily Echo: Southampton face West Brom in the playoff semi-finalSouthampton face West Brom in the playoff semi-final (Image: PA)

Wrap Flynn Downes in cotton wool

Saints are a totally different team with and without Flynn Downes. When the loanee is on the pitch they can be fluid, compact and brilliant. Without him, they are panicky, overran and, at times, straight-up terrible.

Downes returned to the starting lineup at Leeds and dropped a performance that suggested he had never been out injured. Unfortunately, the 25 year old has been out too often this season.

Of the 10 Championship games Southampton have played without him, they have failed to win eight. While it cannot be said with certainty, some of those poor results would have likely been victories had he been fit.

And with that being the case, they must do everything they can to ensure the West Ham man remains fit for the playoff semi-finals against West Brom.

Daily Echo: Flynn Downes has discussed his 'carnage' late winner against Watford

Adam Armstrong is the man for key goals

The biggest question surrounding Adam Armstrong as the Championship season approached was 'Will he finally perform in a Southampton shirt?'

In the two years after joining the club, the former Blackburn Rovers bagsman had only scored five goals, his hit rate priced at around £3million a strike.

He has certainly proven he can be a formidable striker in the second tier this season by winning both the players' player of the season and fans' player of the season award.

Armstrong opened the scoring against Leeds with his 21st goal of the season - the most of any Southampton player since Danny Ings during the 2019-20 Premier League campaign.

Three of those goals have come against Leeds, another three against Norwich City and one against West Brom - all sides who stand in Southampton's path back to the Premier League.

Daily Echo: Adam Armstrong secures late win for Saints over West Brom

Russell Martin is happy to tinker with the team

Although clearly set in his ways as a manager, Russell Martin is not afraid to make changes to his team's set-up in order to beat the opposition.

That was seen again on Saturday as Southampton switched to a back three, freeing Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Manning (and Ryan Fraser after the break) to attack freely without as much defensive risk.

He also rolled the tactico dice the last time they visited the Hawthorns, bringing Jack Stephens into the inverted full-back role, to great success. In fact, that win remains one of the only times they have won when Downes has been out injured.

Is this Ross Stewart's time to shine?

Scroll through social media and you will see plenty of supporters dreaming of Ross Stewart scoring the winner for Southampton in the playoff final.

It would be a remarkable way for the Scot to end his first season on the south coast, a campaign which has been soundtracked by heartbreak and injury setbacks.

The summer signing only managed three senior appearances during the regular season - including a late substitute cameo at Elland Road on the final day.

With Che Adams withdrawn at Leeds and Sekou Mara not travelling to Yorkshire due to injury, Stewart's playoff involvement may need to be ramped up quicker than expected. 

Although Martin expects both Adams and Mara to be fit come the first leg at the Hawthorns, Stewart, who is by all accounts "chomping at the bit" could be a dangerous prospect.

He has previous in the playoffs too. He has scored six goals in eight playoff games across England and Scotland - including a goal at Wembley for Sunderland.