Leeds United promoted to Premier League after West Brom lose at Huddersfield

Club have not played in the English top flight since 2004

Leeds are guaranteed to finish in the Championship's automatic promotion places (AFP via Getty Images)

Leeds United have secured promotion to the Premier League after West Brom failed to beat Huddersfield.

Second-placed West Brom lost 2-1 at Huddersfield on Friday evening, ensuring Championship leaders Leeds cannot finish the season outside of the automatic promotion places.

Leeds, who beat Barnsley 1-0 on Thursday night, sit atop the Championship with 87 points and two games remaining.

West Brom, meanwhile, have 82 points with one game left, and third-placed Brentford have 81 points with two games remaining.

The dynamic means that Brentford can still finish first, but Leeds will be guaranteed promotion even if they finish second.

Leeds have not played in the English top flight since 2004. In 2007, the club entered administration and were relegated to League One. They were promoted to the Championship in 2010.

Coach Marcelo Bielsa joined in 2018 and almost guided the club to the Premier League in his first season in charge, however, his side slipped late on to finish third. They were beaten by sixth-placed Derby County in the play-off semi-finals.

This year’s play-off places are currently occupied by Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City – as well as Brentford.

Huddersfield’s victory over West Brom came as a shock, with the hosts pulling themselves away from the relegation zone and into 17th place by winning. The result might just have secured Huddersfield’s place in the Championship next season.

Huddersfield – fierce rivals of Leeds – took the lead early on Friday through Chris Willock. Dara O’Shea levelled for Slaven Bilic’s team shortly before half-time, but Arsenal loanee Emile Smith-Rowe sealed the win for the hosts with just five minutes left in normal time.

Later in the evening, Leeds supporters gathered at Elland Road to celebrate despite being urged to stay at home by local police and club owner Andrea Radrizzani.