Joe Bryan and Luke Freeman message Leeds’s Luke Ayling on Instagram

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Leeds United got their first chance to celebrate their promotion on the pitch on Sunday as Marcelo Bielsa’s side beat Derby County 3-1 at Pride Park.

The Whites somehow secured the win that took them to within one point of going up on Thursday. However, that final point was ultimately not required.

West Bromwich Albion were beaten by Huddersfield on Friday to ensure that Leeds were promoted. Meanwhile, Brentford’s equally-surprising defeat the following day made it mathematically impossible for the Whites to be denied the title.

That allowed Marcelo Bielsa’s side to celebrate in some style after their impressive win over the Rams.

Unsurprisingly, a number of the players took to social media following the game to further mark the occasion with the supporters unable to attend the game.

Luke Ayling was one of the players who celebrated on Instagram. The right-back – who came on during the win over Derby – expressed how what has happened will not be forgotten anytime soon.

‘You deserve it’

And amongst those to respond were a couple of interesting names.

Firstly, Fulham left-back Joe Bryan told Ayling that he deserved this moment. The Cottagers, of course, now stand an outside chance of being automatically-promoted themselves on the final day due to the two results that sent Leeds up as champions.

Meanwhile, there was also a message from Sheffield United’s Luke Freeman. The Sun on Sunday (5/1; page 61) reported in January that Freeman was actually a target for Bielsa.

Both Bryan and Freeman played alongside Ayling at Bristol City. It is nevertheless, a touch of class from the pair to congratulate the defender.

Here is Ayling’s post, followed by the responses from Bryan and Freeman…