CHAMPIONS
Leeds lift trophy after 16 years.. and sink old boy Bowyer
Leeds United 4 Charlton 0 LEEDS lifted the Championship title trophy with a swagger – and dumped old boy Lee Bowyer out of the Championship.
As a party kicked off inside and outside Elland Road, with players jubilantly hoisting the trophy and dancing on the pitch, there was also a Charlton relegation wake.
Bowyer was among the stars who experienced the last glory days at Leeds, including Champions League football, two decades ago.
Now a manager, on his first return to the Yorkshire club, he was ruthlessly dispatched back to League One.
For the first time since lockdown, it felt like a normal match day around the old stadium – with fireworks launched during the match over the South Stand.
Street vendors sold “champions” flags and scarves to hundreds of the faithful. A pandemic was not going to stop supporters who ignored advice from the club and city council to be near their title-winning heroes. Leeds clinched the trophy with an unstoppable run since February, losing just once and winning 12 out of 15 games – including their last six.
This one could be no cruise, the integrity of the relegation battle requiring a professional show against Bowyer – a man who remembers the boom days before the bust kept United out of the top flight for 16 years. It looked like going bust for Athletic when they fell behind after 13 minutes. Ben White has had a brilliant season anchoring the defence, but popped up 18 yards out to volley into the top corner – a goal any striker would be proud of.
He has played 49 games this season and it was a landmark first goal he will never forget.
Leeds finished the contest after 28 minutes when Pablo Hernandez nutmegged Josh Cullen to set up an easy finish for Stuart Dallas.
Sub Tyler Roberts had a free header to make it three before Ian Poveda set up Jamie Shackleton for a fourth.
Bigger challenges lie ahead next season... after a proper celebration. For Bowyer, a painful night. His side were within seconds of staying up, but their performance didn’t deserve it.