Leeds United vs Charlton Athletic. Sky Bet Championship.
Elland Road.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash at Elland Road
Thursday 23 July 2020 00:00, UK
Leeds produced a display befitting of champions on the final day as a 4-0 win consigned Charlton to relegation.
The Sky Bet Championship title winners led 2-0 at half-time through Ben White's superb volley and Stuart Dallas before substitutes Tyler Roberts and Jamie Shackleton were on target in the second period.
Leeds, who had sealed promotion and then the title before Sunday's win at Derby, finished the season on 93 points after winning 12 of their last 14 matches.
They began their promotion party on Friday after West Brom's defeat at Huddersfield, but showed no hangover at Derby and refused to take their foot off the pedal against former midfielder Lee Bowyer's Charlton.
From the moment Jack Harrison's early effort curled wide following a trademark passing move, Charlton, promoted via the League One play-offs last season, were chasing shadows.
From the first whistle Leeds showed the same hunger as they did in August and there was an air of inevitability about their opening goal in the 13th minute.
Pablo Hernandez's corner was only half cleared and White crashed a right-footed volley into the top corner from the edge of the area having nonchalently cushioned the ball on his chest.
Ezgjan Alioski blasted over from inside the area as Leeds laid siege on Charlton's 18-yard box and visiting goalkeeper Dillon Phillips turned away Hernandez's angled drive.
Leeds' second was another beautifully-worked goal in the 28th minute when Dallas applied a neat finish after Hernandez had audaciously played him in through a defender's legs.
Luke Ayling's sweetly-struck drive forced another flying save from Phillips, who then denied Dallas.
The visitors battled gamely, but were left to rue a costly miss just before half-time when Alfie Doughty fired off target after being sent clear by Aiden McGeady.
Charlton threatened again just after the restart as substitute Chuks Aneke's effort was blocked by Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier's legs.
But there appeared no way back for the Londoners when Leeds struck again in the 51st minute, Roberts rising unmarked to head home Hernandez's corner.
Leeds added their fourth goal with 24 minutes left. Ian Poveda scampered clear and slipped the ball inside for fellow substitute Shackleton to convert into the bottom corner.
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa sent on young midfield pair Mateusz Bogusz, for his league debut, and Jordan Stevens in place of Hernandez and Harrison and the home side continued to dominate.
Meslier denied Charlton again when they threatened through Aneke's late header and several of their players sat crestfallen on the pitch after the final whistle in what was a rotten return to Elland Road for Bowyer.
"We'll have to see what happens in the summer," the Charlton boss said post-match. "There's a hell of a lot of things that I've not been happy with.
"More things recently have happened which have made me even more unhappy. But I love the club and, like I said, I've been loyal and I gave my all.
"I don't think it's the right time to talk about whether other clubs will be interested in myself.
"I've been loyal, I know that. I've definitely been loyal. I could have left on more than one occasion and I'm glad I stayed.
"I'm not happy. We're relegated and I've just said to the players it's not because of tonight's game.
"We should have been safe before we even came here tonight, but we weren't and I'm disappointed obviously.
"Getting relegated. It's never a nice thing to happen. I'm not in a good place at the moment."
