Leeds United Return to English Premier League

Leeds United will be back in the Premier League next season after Championship title rivals West Brom slipped up at Huddersfield in the race for promotion back to the promised land. The Whites were agonisingly close to securing their return last season, missing out on automatic promotion to Sheffield United by just six points.

Marcelo Bielsa's side were then beaten in the play-offs by Frank Lampard's Derby County but they have kicked on again this season to earn their place in the English top-flight once again.

There were doubts as to whether it would happen following the COVID-19 crisis but the Yorkshire giants were given the go-ahead to return to action in June following a three-month suspension.

To their credit, Leeds remained resolute and put together a string of four consecutive wins to all-but secure their fate prior to the help of the Terriers.

Brentford have also put themselves in the mix for automatic promotion, winning eight games in the row to crank up the pressure on West Brom in the automatic spots.

Now the Baggies have work to do while Leeds set their sites on the Championship title. A win on Sunday at Derby would secure that if Brentford win at Stoke on Saturday.

Even then, if Leeds were to lose both of their remaining matches, there would have to be an eight-goal swing in the final two matches for the Bees to earn top spot.

Bielsa's troops have already set a new club-record points tally with 87 with two games still to play.

There have been many memorable moments along the way incluidng the opening day win at Bristol City, the rollercoaster last-gasp 5-4 triumph at Birmingham and Pablo Hernandez’s late winner at Swansea earlier this month.

July 17, 2020