Leeds United and Burnley promoted to the EPL, but will they last?

Pragmatic Leeds United and Burnley fans will be forgiven for not celebrating yet another promotion back to the English Premier League for their respective clubs, considering the real prospect that their stay in the top flight can be short-lived.

The one-year Premier League cycle is real. The real question is: 'Will Leeds and Burnley escape it this time?'

Leeds and Burnley won automatic promotion to the Premier League on Monday as faltering Sheffield United were forced to settle for a place in the Championship play-offs.

Leeds, who have spent two seasons in the second tier of English football, humbled Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road, with Joel Piroe scoring four goals.

Daniel Farke's men knew that if Chris Wilder's Sheffield side failed to beat Burnley in the later kick-off, they would be back in the Premier League.

And so it happened, as Burnley captain Josh Brownhill scored twice in a 2-1 win, securing promotion for his own side and Leeds.

The two teams each have 94 points and neither can now be caught by third-placed Sheffield United (86), who have won just one of their past five games.

Leeds, who suffered the agony of defeat to Southampton in last season's Championship play-off final at Wembley, made short work of Stoke to ensure that they would not be playing knockout football to determine their place amongst the elite.

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 halftime. Wilfried Gnonto nodded in a sixth in the 59th minute.

Captain Ethan Ampadu vowed that Leeds would still fight for the Championship title.

"Very proud. A lot of positives," he told Sky Sports.

"The celebrations are amazing. We've worked all year for this. We've still got another target we want to achieve, so we're going to enjoy tonight and then we're going to try and do the full thing."

Burnley captain Brownhill broke the deadlock at Turf Moor in the 28th minute when he pounced from close range, but the visitors were level just nine minutes later through Tom Cannon.

But the skipper put Burnley back in front from the penalty spot before halftime, and they held on to extend their unbeaten run to a club-record 31 games, making an immediate return to the Premier League.

"We've been written off so many times, people calling us boring. We've bored our way to the Premier League," said Brownhill.

Scott Parker has now taken three clubs up to the Premier League, previously managing the feat with Fulham and Bournemouth.

"It means everything," he said.

"Set on a mission at the start of this year to get promoted. Early on in the season, there were a lot of ups and downs, and the journey we’ve been on is nothing short of incredible."

The mission for both clubs now is to try to win the Championship trophy by coming outright top.

However, for both coaches and staff, thoughts will already shift to next season, with focus fully on how to ensure that their stay is longer that just one year long.

With just five matches left to play this season, it is apparent that all three clubs that were promoted to the Premier League last year will be relegated.

Leicester City are already down, Southampton too, with Ipswich Town on the brink of relegation as well.