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.
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