West Brom promoted to the Premier League with Leeds as Swansea sneak into the play-offs

West Brom promoted to the Premier League with Leeds as Swansea sneak into the play-offs

West Brom led the celebrations after sealing promotion from the Championship to join Leeds in the Premier League on a dramatic final night that saw scenes of heartbreak and joy at both ends of the table.

Slaven Bilic’s side will join Leeds in the top-flight following a 2-2 draw with QPR because both Fulham and Brentford fail to win.

Having already secured the title, Leeds supporters began celebrating wildly outside Elland Road and eventually their team joined them from an open-top bus.

 

 

Amid the outpouring of emotion, the scenes were markedly different to any promotion parties seen before.

Games have been played behind closed doors since the season’s resumption amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, leaving both Leeds and West Brom to initially celebrate to empty stadiums.

 

 

However, thousands of supporters had gathered outside the grounds even before play started in anticipation of a promotion party.

Leeds supporters set off a fireworks display before their heroes boarded an open top bus in the Elland Road car park, hoping that a brief appearance could end proceedings amid coronavirus regulations.

Stewards struggled to contain the legions of Baggies supporters at the Hawthorns, where makeshift cordons had been hastily erected.

 

 

However, for all the celebrations at one end of the table, there was plenty of heartbreak to be found elsewhere.

Wigan, Charlton and bottom side Hull will play in League One last year after failing to avoid the drop.

Still, there was joy for Barnsley after a last-minute goal from Clarke Odour kept them in the Championship – pending Wigan’s appeal over a 12-point points deduction for entering administration.

Luton also pulled off a remarkable escape, having started the day in the relegation zone but ended it safe after a turbulent first year back in the division.

Swansea were another stunning story, completing a six-goal swing to knock Nottingham Forest – who lost 4-1 at home to Stoke – out of the Championship play-off places by virtue of their own 4-1 victory at Reading.

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