23/04/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 23, 2025

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Leeds target C’ship title Jubilant Whites secure promotion with 6-0 thrashing of Stoke L EEDS captain Ethan Ampadu said Premier League promo tion felt “amazing” and said the club will now target secur

New Cardiff boss Ramsey denied winning start

AARON RAMSEY was denied a winning start as Cardiff City’s caretaker manager, as his side were plunged deeper into Championship relegation strife by Oxford United captain Cameron Brannagan’s staggering long-range equaliser. Appointed on Saturday following the sacking of Omer Riza, Wales captain Ramsey was given a hero’s welcome as he instigated an instant improvement in performance. Yousef Salech gave Cardiff a precious second half lead as he held off two Oxford defenders and headed in superbly from Chris Willock’s cross to prompt fervent celebrations among the home crowd. But that jubilation turned to stunned silence when an Oxford free-kick was laid off to Brannagan and, from 35 yards out, the midfielder launched a missile of a

strike which whistled into the top corner. Equally damaging to Cardiff were results elsewhere, with all

“We controlled the game really well, played with real intensity and intent. Sometimes football can be cruel, it can sometimes take a

their other relegation rivals winning to leave them second from bottom of the table and three points from safety with only two games left. For Oxford, whose

worldie from 35 yards, their only shot on target. These things can happen. “We can be really proud of what we’ve done over the last 24 hours. To produce that sort of performance in that time, we can take a lot from. “We controlled the game

only shot on target was Brannagan’s goal, this draw takes them another step closer to safety, three points clear of the bottom three. “It was really enjoyable, I really enjoyed that. The level of performance from the boys was superb,” Ramsey said via BBC Sport . “They did everything we asked of them over the last two days. A lot of work has gone in, a bit of information for them.

Everyone knows what the next part is, but it’s fantastic.” Ampadu’s Wales teammate Joe Rodon said he was “buzzing” for everyone involved with the Elland Road club. Rodon said: “For me it hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t think it will until the end of the season, but I’m just delighted for everyone involved with the club, the fans and what it means to them. “It’s what everyone has worked for all season and I’m buzzing. “(Last season) didn’t sit right with me. The boys who have come in have been brilliant and we set out to do what we’ve done. I’m just delighted for everyone.” Leeds boss Farke, who won promotion to the Premier League twice with Norwich in 2019 and 2021, said he was “lost for words”. Farke, enjoying a celebratory beer, said: “It doesn’t happen that often. “You can see the atmosphere here, it’s incredible. It’s well deserved, 94 points at this stage is unbelievable. The lads should celebrate, all our supporters should celebrate. “It’s difficult on such an emotional day to reflect too much, but it was a long road. It’s not easy to

pretty well and nullified them to nothing really and we had a few chances ourselves. “But in general, the performance we looked for and the commitment was evident to see. “This club means a lot to me and I felt like I could get a reaction. I certainly got that today.” – Agencies

ing the Championship title. The Whites thrashed Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road to remain top of the table and the players then stayed to watch Burnley’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Turf Moor, which confirmed promotion for both Leeds and the Clarets. Leeds fans gathered outside the ground in their thousands to celebrate their top-flight return. Ampadu said: “It’s amazing. If you look at the scenes here, as it was after the final whistle, just pure excitement. “Within ourselves we’ve got another target, so we can enjoy this now, but we’ve got another target we want to achieve. But right now, it’s very good.” Joel Piroe grabbed four goals for Leeds against hapless Stoke, including the club’s fastest ever league hattrick with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes. He added his fourth before half time after Junior Firpo had put Daniel Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes. Willy Gnonto headed the hosts’ sixth in the second half to help seal Leeds’ Premier League return after a two-year absence. Leeds came up short during last season’s run-in, dropping out of the top two before losing to Southampton in the playoff final, and Ampadu said that heartache had helped fuel Farke’s side this time round. “Definitely. The lads that were here last year – we all felt that hurt,“ he said. “After the game at Wembley we wanted to put it right straightaway and we’ve had to wait another season. “The lads who came in have been excellent, joining in with what we wanted to achieve. “Thankfully one part is done. JAMIE VARDY has apologised for Leicester ending their season with “such a s*** show” after the club were relegated from the Premier League. On Sunday, the Foxes suffered their second top-flight relegation in three seasons after being beaten 1-0 by League leaders Liverpool. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s goal was the difference to confirm Leicester’s place in the Championship next season and hand them a 23rd league loss. Veteran Foxes striker Vardy – who has seven League goals for the club this season – took to social media yesterday to apologise for the team’s performances and described their campaign as “miserable”. In a post on Instagram , the 38

Burnley’s ‘boring’ label brings sweetest reward

INCREDIBLE. Boring. Record-breakers. Special. Those are all the words that have been used to describe Burnley on their way to winning promotion to the Premier League this season. Captain Josh Brownhill himself even joked that Burnley have “bored our way to the Premier League” after the 2-1 win over Sheffield United yesterday confirmed their

culminated in a swift return to the top flight, a pitch invasion and a triumph for Scott Parker. It wasn’t always easy or entertaining but Burnley are back. As Turf Moor erupted, as Parker’s players bounced around in jubilation, as Ashley Barnes marked his fourth promotion by hoisting chairman Alan Pace off his feet, the achievement was appreciated. Boredom can have a beauty. Top goalscorer Brownhill led by example at Turf Moor against the Blades – as he has done for much of this season – with two goals to help his side to the victory that sealed Burnley’s place in the Premier League for the 2025-26 campaign. “I’m speechless. All that hard work this season,” the 29-year-old Brownhill told Sky Sports . “We’ve been written off so many times, people calling us boring. We’ve bored our way to the Premier League. “It takes a whole team –- it’s not just a back four, a goalkeeper, it takes everybody. “I don’t think a lot of the lads will sleep. I’m so buzzing for the lads that haven’t played Premier League football.” Head coach Parker said the “ambition and target at the start of the season was to get back to the Premier League”. “We’ve managed to do that so I’m hugely proud of the squad,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire . “It’s come down to real, pure commitment from every one of the players, their dedication and the sacrifice that they’ve made, that leads us to this point. “I explained to the lads there is emotion from me because I see the commitment that everyone has brought. “We live in a world where you win or you lose and you get judged and at the end of the season you’re either promoted or not and that’s how quickly people will judge it. “I’m just delighted that all that work, all that effort, all that sacrifice has been worth it and people can see it. The facts are if you don’t get promoted people can see it.” – The Independent/Agencies

Burnley manager Scott Parker is thrown in the air by his players after Burnley is promoted to the Premier League. – REUTERSPIC

stabilise the ship after relegation and to deal with that. “We played fantastic last season, with 90 minutes, before the heart breaking game at Wembley, but to show resilience and keep going, we deserve today to celebrate.” – T h e Independent

return to the top flight. Brownhill was referencing the fact the Clarets are set to become the best defence in Championship history having conceded just 15 goals this season, smashing the record of 30 goals allowed by Watford in 2020-21 and Preston in 2005-06. They have also kept 29 clean sheets, beating Wigan Athletic’s English Football League record of 27 in League One in 2017-18. A season of 12 stalemates has

Vardy declares Foxes’ season ‘total embarrassment’

year-old said: “At this point, I don’t even know what to say. “No words I have can ever express my feelings of anger and sadness with the way this season has gone. There are no excuses. “Collectively, as players and as a club, we failed. There is simply no hiding, and I refuse to entertain any suggestion of doing so. “Having been at this club for so long, we’ve experienced so many highs and successes – and this season has been nothing but miserable and for me personally, a total embarrassment. It hurts, and I know you’re feeling it too. “To the fans: I’m sorry. Sorry we haven’t performed, and sorry we end the 2025 season with such a s*** show.” – The Independent