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Sheffield United promoted after Leeds allow Aston Villa to score equaliser

Sheffield United promoted after Leeds allow Aston Villa to score equaliser
© Reuters
Leeds needed a win to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive.

Sheffield United will play Premier League football for the first time since 2007 next season after promotion rivals Leeds drew with Aston Villa in extraordinary circumstances.

Leeds needed to win to have any chance of preventing the Blades from joining Norwich in the top flight, but were held to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road.

Mateusz Klich put the home side in front as Villa players signalled for the ball to be put out of play so that the injured Jonathan Kodjia could receive treatment, the goal sparking a melee which led to Anwar El Ghazi being sent off for a clash with Patrick Bamford.

When play eventually resumed, Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa told his players to allow Villa to score an equaliser and although Pontus Jansson tried to stop him, Albert Adomah was given the freedom to slot the ball into an empty net.

The Blades had effectively secured promotion on Saturday with victory over relegated Ipswich, Scott Hogan and Jack O’Connell scoring the goals in a 2-0 win at Bramall Lane.

Manager Chris Wilder has not given up hope of beating Norwich to the title and will be hoping to mastermind a lengthy stay in the Premier League after the club’s last spell in the top flight lasted just one season and ended in acrimony.

West Ham avoided relegation thanks to a final-day victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, with Carlos Tevez scoring the only goal of the game.

The Hammers were fined £5million by a Premier League inquiry for breaching rules governing third-party ownership, but no points were deducted and Tevez was permitted to play in the final three games of the season.

Wilder told Sky Sports at the team celebration: “First and foremost, Marcelo Bielsa full respect, Patrick Bamford not. He (Bielsa) did the right thing, Bamford didn’t.

“At the moment we’re the second best team in the division and we’re going to try and be the best next Sunday.”

Striker Billy Sharp added: “I’m so thankful to the gaffer and grateful to be part of this. The gaffer’s the best manager in the club’s history, the fans will definitely agree with me – two promotions in three seasons to get us back to the Premiership.

“The lads have been absolutely superb and it’s because the gaffer’s driven us on every single day.”

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds17105231121935
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1711422491535
3Burnley179622161533
4Sunderland1796226121433
5Watford179262624229
6Middlesbrough178362920927
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom176921811727
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn167452017325
9Millwall166641914524
10Norwich CityNorwich175753125622
11Swansea CitySwansea176471615122
12Bristol City175752021-122
13Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds176472026-622
14Stoke CityStoke175661920-121
15Derby CountyDerby175572122-120
16Luton TownLuton175391829-1118
17Coventry CityCoventry174582225-317
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd174581927-817
19Preston North EndPreston173861624-817
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth174581834-1617
21Cardiff CityCardiff174491526-1116
22Hull City173681623-715
23Queens Park RangersQPR172871526-1114
24Portsmouth152671628-1212


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