Leeds have lost just one of their last six league games against Brentford
Leeds United secured a dramatic added-time victory against nine-man Brentford to secure their Premier League survival.
Jack Harrison's late strike from the edge of the penalty area sealed the win and in the end comfortably avoid the drop by three points as a result of Burnley's defeat by Newcastle.
It seemed Leeds were cruising to safety when Raphinha put them in front with a second-half penalty and Brentford were reduced to 10 men when Kristoffer Ajer had to go off when the hosts had already used their three substitutions.
But Sergi Canos looped in an equaliser two minutes before he was sent off for a second bookable offence.
With a two-man advantage, Leeds controlled the final stages, although it took Harrison's goal to completely relieve the pressure, with goalkeeper Illan Meslier running the entire length of the field to join in the celebrations and manager Jesse Marsch flat on his back in the technical area as he was swept away by the euphoria.
It means Leeds become the first side since Wigan in 2011 to survive after starting the final day in the bottom three.
Leeds escape on memorable day
Although the Leeds players and staff were booed by the Brentford fans for the length of their celebrations after the final whistle, which delayed the home side's planned lap of honour, it was understandable.
With just two points from their last five games, the sense of trepidation among the Leeds fans on their journey south was understandable.
If a reminder was needed of how uncertain this day could be, it came in a two-minute period midway through the opening half.
News of Newcastle's penalty at Turf Moor was filtering into the visiting section, which was starting to crackle with excited noise, when Joe Gelhardt buried a shot into the Brentford net.
The reaction of referee Paul Tierney suggested he felt the goal would not stand and VAR duly ruled it out for offside. At almost exactly the same time, Newcastle converted their spot-kick.
Even after Raphinha had kept his nerve to find the net after he had been chopped down by Brentford keeper David Raya, they still did not allow themselves to believe the escape act was on.
Canos brought them down to earth with his equaliser but was booked for celebration and then followed that up by fouling Raphinha which, in truth, wrecked Brentford's chances of turning the game round.
Leeds' safety was ensured when Harrison drilled home the winner and, to their credit, Leeds' fans remained in the stands as they sang their songs of survival.
More to follow.
Player of the match
RaphinhaRaphinha
with an average of 8.56
- BrentfordBrentfordBrentfordLeedsLeeds UnitedLeeds United
BrentfordAvgSquad number21Player nameEriksenAverage rating
6.34
Squad number1Player nameRayaAverage rating
5.71
Squad number20Player nameAjerAverage rating
5.49
Squad number17Player nameToneyAverage rating
5.44
Squad number18Player nameJanssonAverage rating
5.36
Squad number26Player nameBaptisteAverage rating
5.32
Squad number8Player nameJensenAverage rating
5.25
Squad number11Player nameWissaAverage rating
5.24
Squad number29Player nameBech SørensenAverage rating
5.18
Squad number3Player nameHenryAverage rating
5.14
Squad number19Player nameMbeumoAverage rating
5.10
Squad number27Player nameJaneltAverage rating
5.08
Squad number10Player nameDasilvaAverage rating
4.69
Squad number7Player nameCanósAverage rating
4.28
Leeds UnitedAvgSquad number10Player nameRaphinhaAverage rating
8.56
Squad number22Player nameHarrisonAverage rating
8.43
Squad number30Player nameGelhardtAverage rating
8.42
Squad number43Player nameKlichAverage rating
8.32
Squad number23Player namePhillipsAverage rating
8.29
Squad number21Player nameStruijkAverage rating
8.19
Squad number42Player nameGreenwoodAverage rating
8.05
Squad number1Player nameMeslierAverage rating
7.96
Squad number5Player nameKochAverage rating
7.93
Squad number14Player nameLlorenteAverage rating
7.73
Squad number6Player nameCooperAverage rating
7.73
Squad number19Player nameRodrigoAverage rating
7.64
Squad number3Player nameFirpoAverage rating
7.36
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBrentford
Formation 4-3-3
1Raya20Ajer18Jansson29Bech Sørensen3Henry8Jensen27Janelt21Eriksen19Mbeumo17Toney11Wissa
- 1RayaBooked at 55mins20AjerSubstituted forat 77'minutes18Jansson29Bech SørensenSubstituted forBaptisteat 71'minutes3HenrySubstituted forCanósat 63'minutesBooked at 80mins8JensenSubstituted forDasilvaat 58'minutes27Janelt21Eriksen19Mbeumo17ToneyBooked at 79mins11Wissa
Substitutes
- 7Canós10Dasilva15Onyeka23Jeanvier26Baptiste30Roerslev36Stevens40Fernández43Young-Coombes
Leeds
Formation 4-4-1-1
1Meslier5Koch14Llorente6Cooper3Firpo10Raphinha42Greenwood23Phillips22Harrison19Rodrigo30Gelhardt
- 1Meslier5Koch14Llorente6Cooper3Firpo10Raphinha42GreenwoodSubstituted forKlichat 85'minutes23PhillipsBooked at 82mins22Harrison19Rodrigo30GelhardtSubstituted forStruijkat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Roberts13Klaesson21Struijk26Bate33Hjelde35Cresswell43Klich46Shackleton63Gray
Referee:Paul TierneyMatch StatsHome TeamBrentfordAway TeamLeedsPossessionHome49%Away51%ShotsHome14Away14Shots on TargetHome5Away6CornersHome3Away2FoulsHome11Away13Live TextPost update
Match ends, Brentford 1, Leeds United 2.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Brentford 1, Leeds United 2.
90'+4'goalGoal!
Goal! Brentford 1, Leeds United 2. Jack Harrison (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner following a corner.
90'+3'Post update
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Yoane Wissa.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt blocked. Jack Harrison (Leeds United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pascal Struijk.
90'+2'Post update
Attempt saved. Raphinha (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kalvin Phillips.
90'Post update
Shandon Baptiste (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'Post update
Foul by Jack Harrison (Leeds United).
88'Post update
Attempt missed. Raphinha (Leeds United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
87'Post update
Attempt saved. Mateusz Klich (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rodrigo.
86'Post update
Attempt missed. Mateusz Klich (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
85'Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Mateusz Klich replaces Sam Greenwood.
84'Post update
Attempt missed. Ivan Toney (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Christian Eriksen following a set piece situation.
83'Post update
Ivan Toney (Brentford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
83'Post update
Foul by Pascal Struijk (Leeds United).
82'Booking
Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
82'Post update
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
82'Post update
Foul by Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United).
81'Post update
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Bryan Mbeumo.
80'Post update
Attempt blocked. Raphinha (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Source: bbc.com