Burnley sealed their immediate return to the Premier League with a vital win, while Leeds United also earned promotion following their dominant display earlier in the day. The result not only confirmed both teams’ top-two finish but also meant that Sheffield United must now navigate the play-offs.
Josh Brownhill found the net twice for Burnley, who extended their remarkable unbeaten streak to 31 matches. His brace secured the points at Turf Moor and sent celebrations erupting both at the stadium and among the Leeds squad, who watched events unfold after thrashing Stoke City 6-0.
Scott Parker’s side built their campaign on rock-solid defensive performances and, with this win, have broken a 104-year-old club record for their longest unbeaten run. Leeds benefited from Burnley’s success, climbing automatically back to the top flight alongside the Clarets.
Sheffield united fall into play-offs
A poor run of form has cost Sheffield United automatic promotion, as their latest loss – their fourth in five games – confirmed a third-place finish. Manager Chris Wilder’s men needed a win to keep their hopes alive but were undone despite a strong start.
The Blades began with attacking intent, featuring Kieffer Moore and Tom Cannon in a front two. Harrison Burrows sent an effort over, and Moore tested Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, who added to his 29 clean sheets with another solid display.
Brownhill’s opener came after Michael Cooper could only parry Josh Cullen’s shot into the midfielder’s path. Despite a brief resurgence – highlighted by Cannon’s first goal for the club after a pass from Gustavo Hamer – United’s hopes were dashed minutes later when Anel Ahmedhodzic fouled Hannibal Mejbri in the box. Brownhill calmly slotted in the resulting penalty, his 16th goal of the season, putting him just behind Norwich’s Borja Sainz and Leeds’ Joel Piroe in the scoring charts.
United tried to respond, with Ben Brereton Diaz missing a late opportunity and being denied again by a crucial block from Jaidon Anthony. It was a frustrating night for a side that topped the league at the end of March but has stumbled in the final stretch.
Unbeaten Burnley closing in on defensive record
Burnley, now assured of Premier League football, can afford to take a breather in their last two matches. Yet, they still have history within reach – if they concede fewer than three goals over those games, they will set a new all-time record for the fewest goals conceded per game in a season in English football.
They have let in just 15 goals in 44 fixtures, averaging 0.34 per match. That figure surpasses the benchmark set by the Liverpool team of 1978-79 and the Chelsea side of 2004-05, both of whom averaged 0.39 goals conceded across a full campaign.
Head coach Scott Parker praised the dedication and sacrifice of his players, expressing his pride in the collective effort that brought them to this point. For him, promotion vindicates all the hard work that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Meanwhile, Chris Wilder reflected on the strength of the competition, noting the exceptional points tallies achieved by Burnley and Leeds. He emphasized the importance of regrouping quickly, with the play-offs looming and a high-stakes match at Bramall Lane on the horizon.
