Burnley captain Josh Brownhill sent the Clarets back into the Premier League with both goals in a 2-1 win over Sheffield United that also saw Leeds promoted and left the Blades relying on the play-offs.
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.
WE ARE BACK! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/RayO23ctGE
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) April 21, 2025
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.
The Blades have been in the promotion play-offs on eight previous occasions, reaching four finals, but are yet to make it up via that route.
Chris Wilder’s men arrived in east Lancashire knowing the only way to stay in the automatic promotion fight was to become the first visiting team to win at Turf Moor all season, and they certainly had no lack of intent.
Just 14 seconds in, Cannon broke the offside trap and pulled the ball back for Kieffer Moore to test James Trafford, with Harrison Burrows sending another chance over.
But Burnley found their rhythm. Marcus Edwards left Vinicius Souza in a heap before seeing his angled shot saved by Michael Cooper, and two minutes later the transformative January signing, on loan from Sporting, was involved in Burnley’s opener.
After Gustavo Hamer upended Brownhill, Burnley shifted the free-kick wide. Edwards cut in and saw his effort headed away by Ben Brereton Diaz. But the former Blackburn man’s clearance struck CJ Egan-Riley and it fell for Cullen. Cooper saved but Brownhill could not miss on the rebound.
It''s party time at Turf Moor and Elland Road 🥳🕺#EFL | #SkyBetChampionshippic.twitter.com/HIe3CW3aBy
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) April 21, 2025
United still looked dangerous on the break and levelled in the 37th minute. Hamer slipped the ball down the left channel and Cannon broke free of Connor Roberts before firing into the roof of the net.
Burnley were screaming for a penalty in the 40th minute when Zian Flemming went over softly under a challenge from Anel Ahmedhodzic. There was nothing in it, but two minutes later there was no argument as the Bosnia defender felled Hannibal Mejbri, with Brownhill sending Cooper the wrong way.
United did enough to keep nerves jangling with a number of dangerous attacks in the second half as Burnley failed to exercise their usual control.
Wild misses from Brereton Diaz and Hamer were met with delight by the home fans but, as United kept pumping balls into the box, they had to endure six minutes of time added on – during which Sam McCallum headed wide for United – before their promotion party could start.
Chris Wood’s 19th goal of the season fired Nottingham Forest back up to third in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Tottenham.Forest had slipped to sixth after the weekend’s results, but Nuno Espirito Santo savoured a sweet three points against old club Spurs after early goals from Elliot Anderson and Wood in the capital.It brought Ange Postecoglou’s team back down to earth aft...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted his players for holding their nerve after a 6-0 home win against Stoke helped seal promotion back to the Premier League.Joel Piroe scored four goals, including 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 Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gn...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill joked the Clarets had “bored our way to the Premier League” after a 2-1 win at home to Sheffield United confirmed their return to the top flight at the first attempt.Scott Parker’s side have conceded just 15 goals in 44 matches and victory over their promotion rivals ensured they could not be caught with two matches remaining.“I’m speech...
West Brom have announced the departure of Tony Mowbray after the club’s play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 Championship defeat at home to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes...
Ian Holloway emphasised his pride in his resurgent Swindon side, despite Will Wright’s own goal against Bromley ending their slim play-off hopes.Danny Imray nutmegged Tom Nichols on the byline and fired a low ball into the box which bounced off the hapless defender’s shin in the 88th minute, condemning the Robins to a 1-0 loss.Kabongo Tshimanga had earlier missed a first-half penalty f...
Grant McCann admitted the task ahead for him is to keep his players calm after Doncaster put themselves within touching distance of promotion with a 3-0 win over Colchester.Goals from Harry Clifton, Jordan Gibson and Patrick Kelly saw Rovers power into top spot in League Two.It means a victory over promotion rivals Bradford this weekend will see them promoted to League One but McCann is determined...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted four-goal Joel Piroe after his side thrashed Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road to stand on the brink of Premier League promotion.Piroe fired 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 Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gnonto headed Leeds’ sixt...
Tony Mowbray felt West Brom “lacked a bit of courage on the ball” as their play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes until ...
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho said he would allow himself a celebratory beer after a 1-0 win at home to 10-man Watford secured their Championship status.Colby Bishop scored his 11th goal of the season to guarantee survival in the second tier with two games to spare.Mousinho said: “I will definitely have a beer tonight, 100 per cent. I think it’s a brilliant achievement.“I don&rsq...
Simon Weaver was “ecstatic” and felt that Harrogate “fully deserved” their 3-1 League Two comeback victory over Fleetwood which secured their Football League status for another season.The Sulphurites recovered from falling a goal down early in the second half to take all three points from Easter Monday’s fixture at Wetherby Road, with that result moving them nine poin...
- 1 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 2 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 3 Newcastle continue to impress in absence of Eddie Howe with Crystal Palace rout
- 4 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs
- 5 Liverpool interested in signing Mason Greenwood
- 6 Pop icon with £580M net worth makes appearance at Stamford Bridge
- 7 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 8 Ronaldo shows a side fans never see in tender video for their daughter birthday
- 9 Arteta makes exciting Arsenal transfer claim
- 10 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche