Leeds United and Burnley secure promotion to the Premier League

LAST UPDATE | 17 hrs ago

Championship Results

• Leeds United 6-0 Stoke City
• Burnley 2-1 Sheffield United

*****

JOEL PIROE STRUCK four goals as rampant Leeds clinched Premier League promotion by thrashing Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road.

Piroe completed Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Daniel Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.

Willy Gnonto headed Leeds’ sixth in the second half as they cruised to a fourth straight league win and their 17th at home this season.

They were joined in the promotion celebrations by Burnley who clinched their place after a 2-1 win in the later game over Sheffield United.

Burnley captain Josh Brownhill sent the Clarets back into the Premier League with both goals in their win that left the Blades relying on the play-offs.

Advertisement

Scott Parker made it three promotions with three different clubs in the space of six seasons as Burnley extended their unbeaten league run to a club-record 31 games, bouncing straight back to the Premier League just as they did after their last two relegations in 2015 and 2022.

Brownhill poked the Clarets in front after Josh Cullen’s 28th-minute shot was saved.

There would not be a Burnley clean sheet to equal Port Vale’s all-time record of 30 in a single season as Tom Cannon quickly replied for the Blades, but Brownhill had the hosts back in front from the penalty spot before half-time, the midfielder’s 16th goal of the season.

Victory keeps Burnley level with Leeds at the top of the table, both with a chance to finish on 100 points, but defeat for United, their fourth in five games, means another trip to the dreaded play-offs.

Leeds, beaten by Southampton in last season’s play-off final, were roared on from the opening whistle by an expectant Elland Road crowd and pounced on two Stoke errors to lead 2-0 inside eight minutes.

Gnonto collected a loose clearance and slipped in Manor Solomon, whose square pass back inside was turned home by Piroe.

Stoke had barely gathered their breath and two minutes later goalkeeper Viktor Johansson was picking the ball out of his net again.

Jayden Bogle robbed Bae Jun-ho on the left edge of the area and from the Leeds right-back’s ball inside, Piroe took a touch before burying a low finish.

Leeds, who demolished Cardiff 7-0 at Elland Road in February, were rampant and it got even better for them and Piroe in particular in the 20th minute when he lashed a rebound high into the net after Johansson had parried Gnonto’s shot.

Bogle brilliantly set up the fourth goal as Leeds killed the contest in the 26th minute, tricking his way past his marker at the by-line and crossing for Firpo to convert despite mis-hitting his finish.

Piroe notched his fourth – his 19th league goal of the season – four minutes before the break after Gnonto’s effort had rebounded off a post and hit the striker in the face.

There was no let-up from Leeds in the second half as Gnonto headed home Solomon’s cross to make it 6-0 in the 59th minute.

Piroe was given a standing ovation when replaced by Patrick Bamford and there was another big cheer with five minutes to go when 16-year-old striker Gray – Tottenham midfielder Archie Gray’s brother – made his league debut by replacing Brenden Aaronson.