Burnley defeated Sheffield United 2-1 to seal automatic promotion to the English Premier League on Easter Monday with the result also sending Leeds United up alongside them.
Leeds had earlier thrashed Stoke City 6-0 to go top of the Championship on 94 points with two matches remaining and needed Burnley to then not lose to third-placed Sheffield United to make sure they would finish in the top two.
Burnley duly obliged to join them on 94 points and leave Sheffield United on 86 points and now facing the prospect of trying to join them via the playoffs.
The Clarets extended their unbeaten run to 31 games with Josh Brownhill scoring twice, a victory that clinched a top-two place along with the Whites, who beat Stoke City earlier in the day.
For the Blades, a fourth defeat in five games means they will finish third and have to fight their way through the post-season if they are to claim the third promotion spot.
Scott Parker Burnley side have built their campaign on a remarkable defensive effort and the win means they have secured promotion by breaking a 104-year-old record for their longest unbeaten run.
Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United go into the play-offs searching for the form that saw them go four points clear at the top at the end of March, although they had the consolation of seeing Tom Cannon score his first goal for the club following his January move from Leicester City.
Needing the win to return to the top flight at the first time of asking, Burnley made no mistake in front of a raucous crowd to spark celebrations at Turf Moor and also in the Bremner Suite at Elland Road, where the Leeds players gathered in front of a television following their 6-0 rout of the Potters.
The Blades needed three points to stand any real chance of taking the fight to the final two weekends of the season and with manager Chris Wilder picking Kieffer Moore and Tom Cannon in a two-pronged attack, they pushed forward at the start.
The Clarets moved ahead thanks to Brownhill, who has been in sensational goal scoring form this season from midfield. He was, typically, in the right place to slam the ball into the roof of the net after Stephen Cooper had done well to parry a fierce Josh Cullen drive into his path.
The Blades found Trafford and the excellent Maxime Esteve in stubborn mood as they sought a way back into the game, but it was Gustavo Hamer who finally opened up the home defence, who conceded only their 16th goal in 44 league games.
