Leeds United and Burnley promoted to English Premier League
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Burnley players celebrate after being promoted to the Premier League.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Leeds United and Burnley won automatic promotion to the English Premier League on April 21, as faltering Sheffield United were forced to settle for a place in the Championship play-offs.
Leeds, who have spent two seasons in the second tier of English football, humbled Stoke City 6-0 at Elland Road, with Joel Piroe scoring four goals.
Daniel Farke’s men knew that if Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United failed to beat Burnley in the later kick-off, they would be back in the Premier League.
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill scored twice in a 2-1 win, securing promotion for his own side and Leeds.
The two teams each have 94 points and neither can now be caught by the third-placed Blades (86), who have won just one of their past five games.
Captain Ethan Ampadu vowed that Leeds would still fight for the Championship title.
“Very proud. A lot of positives,” he told Sky Sports. “The celebrations are amazing. We’ve worked all year for this.
“Not to put a dampener on it, we’ve still got another target we want to achieve, so we’re going to enjoy tonight and then we’re going to try and do the full thing.”
Farke, who has previously managed Norwich City in the Premier League, celebrated on the pitch after the match with his players, though the champagne was still on ice, at least for a few hours.
But when the whistle blew at Turf Moor, the Leeds players toasted their success with gusto.
The team have wobbled from the start of March, winning just one of five games.
But the league’s top scorers, with 89 goals in 44 matches, have now won their past four games.
Burnley’s Josh Brownhill and teammates celebrate after being promoted to the Premier League.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Scott Parker’s Burnley are nowhere near as prolific as their closest rivals but their superpower is their defence – they have conceded just 15 goals all season.
The Clarets have also extended their unbeaten league run to a club-record 31 games.
“We’ve been written off so many times, people calling us boring. But we’ve bored our way to the Premier League,” said Brownhill.
Burnley manager Scott Parker is thrown in the air by his players after Burnley are promoted to the Premier League.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Parker has now taken three clubs up to the Premier League – previously managing the feat with Fulham and Bournemouth.
“It means everything,” he said.
“Set on a mission at the start of this year to get promoted. Early on in the season, there were a lot of ups and downs and the journey we’ve been on is nothing short of incredible.”
Sheffield United were top of the table at the end of March before a collapse in form.
The Blades are guaranteed to finish third but face a battle to secure a spot in the Premier League through the play-offs. AFP
