Leeds end 2024 top of Championship, Burnley miss chance to go second

Brenden Aaronson scored a late winner to ensure Leeds United finished top of the Championship in 2024 after they narrowly beat Derby County 1-0 at Pride Park on Sunday.

The last time Leeds topped the second tier at the end of a calendar year was in 2019 – a season that ended with their promotion to the Premier League as title winners.

Daniel Farke's side dominated play in the first half but without reward as Mateo Joseph Jacob Widell forced Zetterstrom into a smart save with the only shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

Leeds continued to push for the goal their performance deserved after the break, with Zetterstrom thwarting the efforts of Aaronson, Largie Ramazani and Dan James.

However, Derby were given the opportunity to take an unlikely lead when Curtis Nelson's header from a corner was brilliantly saved late on by Illan Meslier.

But the Rams' resolve was finally broken in the 79th minute when substitute Joel Piroe slid in Aaronson, who put the ball past Zetterstrom to seal the victory.

Leeds' victory saw them win three consecutive Championship away games against Derby for the first time since between 1954 and 1960.

In the other late match in the second tier, Burnley missed the chance to progress to the Championship's automatic promotion places after a goalless draw against Middlesbrough.

A win for the Clarets would have moved them up to second in the table after Sheffield United drew with West Brom, but they were unable to capitalize on the Blades' mistake.

After a goalless first half, the encounter came alive after the break, with Finn Azaz forcing James Trafford into a smart stop before the hour mark.

Burnley's Josh Brownhill squandered two glorious chances to gift his side all three points as he saw Dael Fry's effort cleared off the line before flying over from close range.

It is now one win in six for Michael Carrick's side, a run that has included two draws against Scott Parker's Clarets in just over three weeks.

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