Key occasions
“Just asking for curious Americans, of which I am one,” writes Joe Pearson. “Is Easter weekend normally a four day holiday in the UK? In my working life, we only got a half-day on Good Friday. Easter Monday? What’s that?” In brief, sure it’s – even if now not essentially for footballers or MBMers.
3 minutes: Sheffield United are enjoying a 4-4-2, with Cannon along Moore in a comedy double-act that by no means used to be. Brereton Diaz, who’s enjoying as a right-sided attacking midfielder, is muscled off the ball through Esteve. The former Blackburn guy isn’t too well liked by the house fanatics at Turf Moor.
2 minutes: Anthony will get in at the back of down the left for Burnley, and he has choices to pass – however tries to carry on for too lengthy. Burnley stay the ball, however ultimately the offside flag is going up.
1 min: Tom Cannon cuts again for Kieffer Moore, who takes a marginally, turns and shoots – instantly at James Trafford. Now it’s Burnley’s flip …
Kick-off
Peep! We’re off – and very quickly in any respect, Sheffield United create a tight probability …
“Smug Leeds fan here, I was nervous at 3pm, it all went away after 26 mins,” cheers Jeremy Boyce. “Big one tonight then, a must-win for Wilder’s Blades. This is going to rattle their teeth and nerves. Do they go all out for the win ? Or keep some back for the possible playoffs?”
We all know the staff who simply fail to see the highest two are doomed to fail within the playoffs – even if the statistics most likely don’t in fact again that up.
More in this afternoon’s motion within the Championship and League One…
Both managers are willing to emphasize this can be a Game of Football, by no means thoughts the larger image. “We’ve come here with one ambition, to win a Game of Football,” gives Chris Wilder, having a look like he’s simply stuck the assistant ref consuming a Creme Egg.
Scott Parker is reasonably extra expansive: “We’ve got a Game of Football ahead of us, 90 minutes, which we need to have full focus on. While the rewards are there, it’s irrelevant really. We’ve got to execute, be cool and calm, deliver the commitment, desire and quality we’ve shown all season in a 90-minute Game of Football.”
Full time: Leeds 6-0 Stoke
Job very a lot achieved for Daniel Farke’s males, who will seal promotion this night if Sheffield United fail to win. At the opposite finish, Plymouth’s praise for beating Coventry used to be observing 3 of the groups above them – Hull, Luton and Derby – additionally pull out spectacular wins. Cardiff and Oxford drew 1-1, a consequence that’s no excellent for both staff.
“My thoughts,” gives Phil Grey. “1. If Sheffield United are promoted, their two easiest fixtures next season will probably be home to Burnley and Leeds. This season they lost those two games, 2-0 and 3-1. It feels like life could be really tough for them in the Premier League. Maybe they’d be better off avoiding promotion.
“2. If Burnley are promoted this evening, but are relegated next season, could Scott Parker be Bayern Munich’s next manager?” Hard to disagree on both level.
Chris Wilder begins 3 conventional strikers – Tom Cannon, Ben Brereton Díaz and Kieffer Moore – in a bid to damage down this miserly Burnley defence. That trio are available for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Rhian Brewster and Tyrese Campbell, with Jack Robinson changing Rob Holding in central defence.
No rotation required for Scott Parker in spite of Burnley enjoying on Good Friday – he’s named the similar beginning XI that gained at Watford 3 days in the past.
Team information
Burnley (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Lucas Pires; Brownhill, Cullen; Edwards, Mejbri, Anthony; Flemming.
Subs: Hladky, Sonne, Worrall, Sarmiento, Redmond, Laurent, Koleosho, Banel, Barnes.
Sheffield United (4-2-3-1): Cooper; Choudhury, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Burrows; Peck, Vinicius Souza; Brereton Díaz, Hamer, Cannon; Moore.
Subs: Gilchrist, Adam Davies, McCallum, Holding, Brewster, O’Hare, Rak-Sakyi, Campbell, Seriki.
Leeds fanatics may have anticipated a fearful afternoon, with victory in opposition to not-quite-safe Stoke required at Elland Road. Instead, the hosts went 4-0 up after 26 mins, and now lead 6-0 – with Joel Piroe scoring 4 instances to finish his scoring drought in taste. All of because of this they’re going up as of late until Sheffield United win at Turf Moor this night.
Preamble
One yr and in the future in the past, Vincent Kompany’s Burnley gained 4-1 at Bramall Lane to push their hosts against the Premier League trapdoor, and transfer to inside 3 issues of Nottingham Forest within the race for survival. A yr is a long time in soccer.
Burnley ultimately joined Sheffield United in heading again to the Championship, triggering a chain of occasions that led Kompany to Bayern Munich and, afterward, Thomas Tuchel to the England activity. Scott Parker took over at Turf Moor and has remodeled Burnley right into a defensive powerhouse, conceding simply 14 targets in 43 video games this season.
As for United, they caught with Chris Wilder in spite of a disastrous begin to his moment stint with the membership. Both forums’ choices appeared questionable, however whilst fellow parachuters Luton tumbled down the second-tier desk, Burnley and Sheffield United were locked in a season-long promotion fight with Leeds (and, for a time, Sunderland).
That used to be till a up to date blip from the Blades, a three-game shedding streak that allowed their opponents respiring area. With Leeds 5-0 up at house to Stoke, victory for the hosts this night will see each Burnley and Leeds safe their Premier League puts for subsequent season. There’s nonetheless time, although, for Wilder to break the birthday celebration – or no less than prolong it.