Burnley clinched its return to the Premier League — and guaranteed its automatic promotion of Leeds United — after a 2-1 victory over third-place Sheffield United at Turf Moor on Monday, MySportDab Reports.
Club captain Josh Brownhill was the hero, scoring his side’s only two goals to complete a campaign where the Clarets conceded just 15 goals in the Championship.
Earlier, Leeds had thrashed Stoke City, 6-0, to temporarily pull even with Burnley on points. But the focus was on Turf Moor, where Vincent Kompany’s men needed a victory to render the top two mathematically untouchable. Brownhill’s brace guaranteed it and celebrations triggered throughout Burnley and Leeds.
“I’m lost for words,” Brownhill said after the game. “There have been so many times we’ve been written off, people calling us boring. We’ve played our way to the Premier League.
Leeds head coach Daniel Farke, whose side were denied via the playoffs last year, heaped praise on his team’s turnaround after a wobble in March. “To put in such a strong performance today is incredible. The attitude the boys have shown over the last weeks has been brilliant,” he told the BBC.
Now all attention turns to the race for the playoffs, with Sheffield United’s hopes of automatic promotion dealt a fresh blow with three successive defeats.
While Sunderland, Bristol City and Coventry round off the top six, there are slim hopes for Middlesbrough, Millwall and Blackburn to break in.
Plymouth had mustered a crucial 3-1 win at Coventry to boost their survival hopes, Mustapha Bundu’s brace proving decisive across the table. Derby and Luton also secured crucial 3-1 wins, while Portsmouth beat 10-man Watford 1-0 to all but guarantee survival.
Middlesbrough’s 2-1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday dented their playoff dreams.
