Frank Lampard's Derby County secured a playoff semifinal against Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United with a 2-1 win over West Brom, pipping Middlesbrough to sixth place.
Astonishing scenes in Elland Road as Leeds United score a goal instead of kicking the ball out due to injury. A scuffle ensues and Marcelo Bielsa orders his team to let Villa score on the ensuing kickoff.
Norwich lifted the Championship trophy following their victory at Aston Villa, a week after mathematically clinching promotion against Blackburn.
Craig Burley, Steve Nicol and Julien Laurens all agree Leeds United were right to play on when they scored while an Aston Villa player was down.
Players and staff of Sheffield United celebrated clinching automatic promotion to the Premier League after Leeds United's draw with Aston Villa sealed their spot.
Despite missing out on an automatic promotion spot, a place in the Premier League remains tantalisingly close for four Championship clubs via the playoffs.
But only two teams can advance to the final, dubbed "the richest game in football," at Wembley on May 27 (live on ESPN+). (Oh, and unlike the Champions League, away goals don't matter here.) Will it be playoff heartbreak yet again for fallen giants Leeds when they face Derby? Who will win the Midlands battle between former European championsreadfullarticle
