Burnley, Leeds return to EPL as Sheffield United prepare for playoff battle

Burnley and Leeds United’s return to the Premier League was confirmed Monday with two matches left of the Championship marketing campaign.

The Clarets rubber-stamped their promotion with a 2-1 victory over third-placed Sheffield United. Scott Parker’s facet has the meanest protection in skilled English soccer – and by a long way – with simply 15 targets conceded in 44 outings.

Sheffield United’s defeat additionally put Leeds, who’ve the strongest assault in England’s prime 4 divisions with 89 targets scored, out of attain within the automated promotion locations. Joel Piroe scored 4 targets as Daniel Farke’s Leeds smashed Stoke Metropolis 6-0 at Elland Highway earlier Monday.

The race for the 2 promotion locations lengthy seemed to be a three-way battle between Leeds (who’re prime on aim distinction), Burnley, and Sheffield United. Nevertheless, the latter slipped away from competition with 4 defeats of their final 5 matches. Earlier than Monday’s loss at Burnley, the Blades fell to Oxford United, Millwall, and Plymouth Argyle.

These shock defeats have examined the beforehand sturdy relationship between Sheffield United supporters and Chris Wilder, who’s in control of his hometown membership. “It’s a joke, it is a shame,” Wilder complained concerning the followers’ remedy of his gamers following the 1-0 defeat at Oxford United, in line with BBC Sport’s Ian Woodcock.

Sheffield United followers appeared to satirically cheer not less than one substitution throughout the Burnley defeat, as some disagreed with Wilder’s crew choice at Turf Moor.

The moods at Burnley and Leeds, in the meantime, are wildly completely different.

Captain Josh Brownhill scored each Burnley targets to earn the win over Sheffield United earlier than jubilant locals invaded the pitch. “We have been written off so many occasions, individuals calling us boring,” Brownhill advised Sky Sports activities by way of BBC Sport. “We have bored our strategy to the Premier League.”

Leeds had been within the Championship for 2 seasons. Their promotion marks a a lot faster restoration than once they had been relegated in 2004 and subsequently spent 16 troublesome years in England’s second and third tiers.

“To not put a dampener on it, we have nonetheless received one other goal we need to obtain. So we’ll take pleasure in tonight after which we’ll attempt to do the complete factor,” Leeds’ Ethan Ampadu advised Sky Sports activities of the crew’s ambition to clinch the Championship title over the ultimate two video games, in line with BBC Sport.