Leeds, Burnley secure return tickets to the Premier League

Leeds United and Burnley won automatic promotion to the Premier League on Monday, as faltering Sheffield United was forced to settle for a place in the Championship playoffs.

Leeds, which has spent two seasons in the second tier of English soccer, humbled Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road, with striker Joel Piroe scoring four goals.

Daniel Farke's men knew that if Chris Wilder's Sheffield side failed to beat Burnley in the later game, it 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 third-placed Sheffield United, currently on 86, which has won just one of its past five games.

Leeds, which suffered the agony of defeat to Southampton in last season's Championship playoff final at Wembley, made short work of Stoke.

Dutch forward Piroe, who had not scored since late February, returned to form with a vengeance, celebrating a hat-trick by the 20th minute.

Junior Firpo made it 4-0, and Piroe, the club's leading scorer this season, netted his fourth goal to take the team's tally to five shortly before halftime. Wilfried Gnonto nodded in a sixth in the 59th minute.

Farke, who has previously managed Norwich in the Premier League, celebrated on the pitch 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.

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."

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

But, the league's top scoring side, with 89 goals, has now won its past four games.

'Incredible' journey

Scott Parker's Burnley is nowhere near as prolific as its closest rival, but its superpower is its defense — it has conceded just 15 goals all season.

Brownhill broke the deadlock at Turf Moor in the 28th minute, when he pounced from close range, but the visitor was level just nine minutes later through Tom Cannon.

But, the skipper put Burnley back in front from the penalty spot before halftime and it held on to extend its unbeaten run to a club-record 31 games — ensuring an immediate return to the Premier League.

"We've been written off so many times, people calling us boring. We've bored our way to the Premier League," said Brownhill.

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 was top of the Championship table at the end of March, before a collapse in form.

The Blades are guaranteed to finish third, but now face a battle to secure a spot in the Premier League through the playoffs.

AFP