Leeds United sealed Premier League survival with a 2-1 win over Brentford on a dramatic and nail-biting final day. Leeds started the day inside the relegation zone but over the course of the day they managed to leapfrog Burnley and secure their position at English football’s top table for another year.
Goals from Raphinha and Jack Harrison were enough at the Brentford Community Stadium and the celebratory scenes will live long in the memory.
Here’s how the day unfolded.
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3pm – The teams are in
The team news was released and the fans were gutted not to see Patrick Bamford involved at all after being informed he was touch and go in midweek. Sam Greenwood represented the only change as he replaced Mateusz Klich in the side, while Tyler Roberts made a surprise appearance on the bench.
Seven minutes later, Marsch confirmed that Bamford had been fit to play but unfortunately he was unable to be involved after testing positive for Covid. That didn’t exactly help the supporters’ nerves, who were questioning where the goals were coming from at the Brentford Community Stadium.
4pm – Kick-off
The whistle blows as Leeds entered the final 90 minutes of their Premier League season. By 6pm they knew their fate would be sealed one way or the other.
4:19pm – Penalty to Newcastle
A cheer went up in the away section at Brentford as the news filtered through that Newcastle had won a penalty at Turf Moor after a handball from Nathan Collins. Callum Wilson duly put that one away to take Leeds out of the relegation zone for the first time.
4.20pm – Celebrations cut short
Leeds fans promptly turned their attentions to the action in front of them as they were given something else to cheer with Joe Gelhardt finding the back of the net. It was a fine move with Jack Harrison playing the young striker through and it would have been the lead they deserved after starting the game well, had it not been ruled out.
Replays showed Gelhardt was marginally offside and the goal was promptly chalked off.
4.48pm – Half-time
Leeds and Brentford went in at the break goalless, but as it stood Marsch's side were out of the relegation zone and looking at another season of Premier League football.
5.15pm – GOAL
Ecstasy in the away end as Raphinha sends David Raya the wrong way from the penalty spot to put Leeds 1-0 up. The Brazilian was the man who won the spot-kick, capitalising on an error from the keeper before being brought down in the area.
The 25-year-old stood up and took the opportunity to put Leeds ahead in a game for the first time since they beat Watford in April.
5.20pm – Newcastle double their lead
More joy in the away end as fans get another Callum Wilson goal alert. The striker poked home an Allan Saint-Maximin cross to double Newcastle’s lead in Lancashire and push Burnley closer to the trapdoor.
5.30pm – Burnley hit back
The nervous energy was cranked up a notch as the Clarets pull a goal back through Maxwel Cornet. It didn’t change much in the grand scheme of things but it meant there was more of a focus on what was going on up north.
5.38pm – Brentford equalise
Just a few minutes after entering the field, Sergi Canos, who scored against Leeds in the reverse fixture in December, headed home a Yoane Wissa cross. Stomachs sink and heads drop both on and off the field as the Bees celebrate their equaliser.
5.40pm - Canos sees red
Less than a minute after being booked for taking his shirt of while celebrating his goal, Canos was shown a red card for bringing down Raphinha. That meant that Brentford were reduced to nine men having seen Kristoffer Ajer pick up an injury after making all three subs.
Brentford kept going and produced a spirited display in the final 10 minutes of the game but Leeds had the numbers to create the necessary openings to try and kill the game off.
5.54pm – HARRISON!
In the fourth minute of added time, Jack Harrison struck to send the Leeds supporters in Brentford into delirium. Harrison had gone close to scoring moments earlier but saw his shot deflected over the bar.
The ball dropped to him from the resulting corner and his low shot deflected beyond David Raya and into the back of the net. Cue carnage as the team charged towards the corner of the field to celebrate with those who had made the journey.
5.56pm – Survival
While Leeds were celebrating, the full-time whistle went at Burnley, resigning the Clarets to the Championship and ensuring Leeds’ stay in the Premier League extended into a third season. Full-time at Brentford was greeted with wild scenes as the players celebrated with themselves and the fans.
Raphinha jumped into the crowd, Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta were punching the air on the field and celebrations were just getting started. Leeds fans may not have any nails remaining after spending weeks biting them with anxiety, but they have another season of Premier League football to look forward to at Elland Road.
