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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Tony Mogan

Leeds United clinch Premier League promotion after West Brom lose at Huddersfield

Leeds back in the top flight after an agonising wait. (Picture: Getty Images)

Leeds United have been promoted back to the Premier League after a 16-year absence from the top flight.

Marcelo Bielsa's side clinched automatic promotion without kicking a ball on Friday night thanks to West Brom's failure to beat Huddersfield.

Slaven Bilic's side needed a win to keep to delay Leeds' wait for another two days. But a goal from Arsenal loanee Emile Smith Rowe sealed a late win for the Terriers and sparked the celebrations at Elland Road.

Leeds are now favourites to clinch top spot with Brentford putting pressure on the Baggies in the race for the second automatic promotion spot.

The Yorkshire club were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2003-04 season, just three years on from a Champions League semi-final appearance.

The club were relegated to League One in 2008 after entering administration, returning to the Championship in 2014.

Leeds found renewed optimism under Bielsa last season but there was more heartbreak to come when a late collapse saw Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United beat them to the Premier League, before semi-final defeat to Derby in the play-offs.

This time around however the club have secured their top flight status with two games to spare.

Leeds are at Derby on Sunday before ending their campaign at home to Charlton at Elland Road on Wednesday.

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