Sheffield United promoted to the Premier League after two seasons away

Paul Heckingbottom’s Sheffield United completed the task of winning promotion back to the Premier League with a solid win over West Brom. That result sealed their return to the top flight with three games to spare.

Heckingbottom was appointed on a permanent basis in November 2021 after a poor start to the season under Slavisa Jokanovic. 

Under Heckingbottom, the club reached the playoffs, only to be knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual winners Nottingham Forest.

Sheffield have done well to hold off Middlesbrough and Luton despite off-field turmoil, including ownership uncertainty and a recent transfer embargo.

Burnley are the only team with a better defensive record than the Blades, and they combined that solid defending with the third-best goalscoring tally in the division.

As a result of Burnley's victory over Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday, the Clarets were promoted as champions after losing only three games all season. 

The winner of the Championship play-off final on May 27 at Wembley will join Burnley and Sheffield United in the top flight next season.