The China Mail - Leeds on brink of Premier League promotion after smashing Stoke

Daniel Farke's men will return to the top division if Sheffield United fail to win at second-placed Burnley in the 1630 GMT kick-off.

Burnley will be promoted along with Leeds if they beat Chris Wilder's Sheffield United, who have won just one of their past four games.

Leeds, who last played in the Premier League in the 2022/23 season, suffered the agony of defeat to Southampton in last season's Championship play-off final at Wembley.

The Yorkshire club -- three-time English champions -- are now near certainties to gain promotion after humbling Stoke at Elland Road.

Dutch forward Piroe, who had not scored since late February, returned to form with a vengeance, celebrating a hat-trick in the 20th minute.

Junior Firpo made it four and Piroe, the club's leading scorer this season, netted his fourth goal shortly before half-time.

The game was already long over as a contest but Wilfried Gnonto nodded a sixth goal in the 59th minute.

Farke and his players celebrated in front of their passionate fans at the final whistle but the champagne is still on ice.

The German, who has previously managed in the Premier League with Norwich, praised the way his team had coped with the pressure.

"To deliver such an emphatic performance is really amazing and all the credit goes to the boys for the way they have handled the situation and the spirit they have shown in recent weeks," he told the BBC.

"It's the fate of a striker that sometimes you have a dry period or a dip in form. Joel had this but he has worked so hard and got himself out of it.

"In the last few weeks his performances were better but the ball didn't want to go in the net. It's a bit like shaking a bottle of ketchup -- all of a sudden everything comes out and that was a bit the case today."

Leeds wobbled from the start of March, winning just one in six games, raising fears that they would again have to settle for a place in the play-offs.

But they have now won their past four league games.

At the other end of the table, Mustapha Bundu scored twice to keep alive bottom side Plymouth's survival hopes in a 3-1 win against sixth-placed Coventry.

There were also 3-1 victories for relegation-threatened Derby and Luton while Portsmouth sealed their safety with a 1-0 win against 10-man Watford.

Middlesbrough's play-off hopes were dented by a damaging 2-1 loss at Sheffield Wednesday.

C.Smith--ThChM