Burnley And Leeds Secure Premier League Promotion As Clarets Defeat Sheffield United

‎Burnley secured their automatic promotion to the Premier League alongside Leeds after defeating third-placed Sheffield United 2-1 at Turf Moor on Monday.

‎Earlier, Leeds had clinched an emphatic 6-0 victory over Stoke.

‎This result left Leeds waiting to see if Burnley could create an unassailable gap at the top of the Championship.

‎Two goals from club captain and top scorer Josh Brownhill were enough to seal the win for Burnley, who have only conceded a mere 15 goals throughout the entire league campaign, with just two more games remaining.

‎Leeds and Burnley are currently tied at the top of the table with 94 points each, but Leeds holds a significantly better goal difference, despite Scott Parker’s team’s strong defensive performance.

‎Leeds last participated in the Premier League during the 2022/23 season and experienced the heartbreak of losing to Southampton in the Championship playoff final at Wembley last season.

‎Sheffield United themselves were right in the mix until a recent loss of form, including three consecutive losses, ultimately forcing Chris Wilder’s side to settle for a place in the playoffs after suffering defeat.

‎Together with Sheffield United, the current playoff spots are occupied by Sunderland, Bristol City, and Coventry.

‎However, Middlesbrough, Millwall, and Blackburn still have an outside chance of making a late push for a playoff position.

‎Leeds hit Stoke for six

‎Leeds’ German head coach, Daniel Farke, and his players celebrated in front of their enthusiastic fans at the final whistle, but the champagne remained on ice as they awaited the outcome of Burnley’s match.

‎Farke, who previously managed Norwich in the Premier League, commended his team for handling the pressure effectively.

‎”To deliver such an emphatic performance is really amazing and all the credit goes to the boys for the way they have handled the situation and the spirit they have shown in recent weeks,” he told the BBC.

‎”It’s the fate of a striker that sometimes you have a dry period or a dip in form. Joel had this, but he has worked so hard and got himself out of it.

‎”In the last few weeks, his performances were better, but the ball didn’t want to go in the net. It’s a bit like shaking a bottle of ketchup all of a sudden, everything comes out, and that was a bit the case today.”

‎Leeds wobbled from the start of March, winning just one in six games, raising fears that they would again have to settle for a place in the playoffs.

‎But they have now won their past four league games.

‎At the other end of the table, Mustapha Bundu scored twice to keep alive bottom side Plymouth’s survival hopes in a 3-1 win against sixth-placed Coventry.

‎Relegation-threatened Derby and Luton both secured 3-1 victories, while Portsmouth ensured their safety with a 1-0 win against 10-man Watford.

‎Meanwhile, Middlesbrough’s playoff hopes suffered a setback with a disappointing 2-1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday.