Brentford 2-0 Leeds United: Neal Maupay & Sergi Canos dent Leeds promotion hopes

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Sergi CanosImage source, PA
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Man of the match Sergi Canos doubled Brentford's lead in the second half

Leeds United's automatic promotion hopes were badly dented as they lost at Brentford to slip three points behind rivals Sheffield United.

The result left leaders Norwich City all-but promoted, six points clear of third-placed Leeds with two games to go and a notably-superior goal difference.

Neal Maupay fired the Bees in front in the first half, after Leeds had earlier been inexplicably denied a penalty when Patrick Bamford was brought down by Julian Jeanvier.

An inspired Sergi Canos tucked in the hosts' second after the break and Leeds could not respond.

The Whites' top-two ambitions are now out of their hands and will be all-but over if the Blades beat bottom-of-the-table Ipswich on Saturday.

Since moving three points clear of Sheffield United on 13 April, Leeds have lost back-to-back games over a damaging Easter weekend that looks set to be the downfall of their campaign.

Needing to bounce back from Friday's surprise home defeat against 10-man Wigan Athletic, Marcelo Bielsa's side started brightly at Griffin Park, with Bamford firing wide from inside the area early on.

The visitors were furious when they were not given a penalty for what appeared to be a blatant foul by Jeanvier on Bamford in the box - and Maupay swept in the opener just before half-time.

Tyler Roberts then scuffed wide when he had a fine chance to pull Leeds immediately level, and Canos punished Leeds for that miss after the break.

Ultimately Brentford - who stay 15th - could have won by more, but an acrobatic Maupay effort fizzed over.

Norwich will now clinch promotion if they avoid defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, while Leeds - who face Aston Villa at home and then Ipswich away - are reliant on results elsewhere.

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