Sheffield United effectively handed Leeds United Premier League promotion on a platter in the last two weeks. And now the Whites are set to play English top flight football heading into next season.
The Blades slipped up in a shock defeat to Plymouth, which opened a five-point gap between themselves and Leeds. On Monday, Chris Wilder’s side needed a win to stand any chance of making automatic promotion. The Blades needed to beat Burnley at Turf Moor.
Wilder spent the weeks before insisting his team were still in the race. But Sheffield United lost to Burnley, handing them promotion alongside Leeds United.
QUIZ: Can you name the season these 10 Leeds United shirts are from?
Chris Wilder sends Leeds United message
Credit: Imago Images
Leeds United smashed Stoke City 6-0 at Elland Road, hours before the Burnley game kicked off. The Whites were already at an advantage before their game ended. Joel Piroe scored four goals, with Junior Firpo and Willy Gnonto adding the other two goals.
After the Blades’ loss, Wilder finally handed Leeds some praise and congratulated the team and Daniel Farke:
“First and foremost, congratulations to Daniel and Leeds – they have been incredibly outstanding all season. I’ve just congratulated Scott. We can still get into the nineties and that is an achievement.
“The season got away from us, but the three best teams have been in and around it all season, until that really bad week and lost three games. Fairplay, they stepped on the gas and took it away from us.”
Championship three-horse race was one of the season’s highlights
Even though Leeds and Burnley ended up winning automatic promotion, the race for the two spots over the last month was so exciting to follow. The nerves from fanbases anytime one of the teams dropped points, and anticipating your rivals to lose their games.
It was some adrenaline for the fans, and now Leeds will go head-to-head with Burnley to decide who wins the league title.
