LONDON: Leeds United were crowned champions of the second-tier Championship after third-placed Brentford lost 1-0 at Stoke City in their penultimate game of the season yesterday.
Leeds secured promotion to the Premier League on Friday after second-placed West Bromwich Albion’s loss at Huddersfield Town guaranteed a top-two finish and Marcelo Bielsa’s side now have an unassailable five-point lead with a game in hand.
Stoke took the lead in the first half when Sam Clucas’s shot from range was parried by goalkeeper David Raya into the path of striker Lee Gregory who scored with a simple tap-in.
Brentford remain a point behind West Brom and the fight for the second automatic promotion spot will go down to the final day of the season where Brentford take on bottom side Barnsley while West Brom host Queens Park Rangers.
Fourth-placed Fulham also joined the hunt for automatic promotion after a 5-3 win over Sheffield Wednesday moved the London side to within two points of West Brom.
Cardiff City’s 3-1 win at Middlesbrough means they only need a draw on the final day to keep seventh-placed Swansea City at bay in the race for the final playoff spot.
Millwall are out of the running for a playoff place after a 4-3 loss at QPR left them in ninth, five points behind Cardiff.
&uuid=(email))