Ipswich got the job done on the final day of the Championship season, keeping Millwall and Middlesbrough in the play-offs and making their first ever return to the Premier League.
Ipswich secured automatic promotion on the final day (Image: Paul Harding/Getty Images)
Ipswich have been promoted to the Premier League after a dramatic final day of the Championship season. After being relegated from the top flight a year ago, Kieran McKenna’s side secured an immediate return with a comfortable 3-0 win over Queens Park Rangers to take second place.
Ipswich got the party started early at Portman Road by scoring twice within the first nine minutes. George Hurst took the lead and Jayden Philozine doubled the lead moments later.
Casey McAteer then scored Ipswich’s third goal in the 85th minute, leaving the result no doubt. McKenna has now led the Tractor Boys to three promotions in four and a half years.
Millwall were Ipswich’s closest rivals heading into the final day, but a 2-0 win at home to Oxford United wasn’t enough. Middlesbrough were also looking to secure the last automatic promotion spot, but their away game against play-off chasers Wrexham ended in a 2-2 draw.
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Ipswich join Coventry, who emerge as champions after an incredible 95-point season. Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull City will compete in the play-offs. Millwall face Hull and Southampton face Boro.
It was heartbreaking for Wrexham and Derby County that Hull scored as they beat Norwich 2-1, and the result on matchday 46 will be a sore point. With the relegation battle already decided last weekend, there was no drama at the bottom of the table on Saturday.
However, there was some joy for bottom-of-the-table Sheffield Wednesday, who will play in League One next season along with Oxford and Leicester. Wednesday was only their second game of the season and their first home win, and they ended the season with 0 points after being deducted 12 points since the start of the regime in October.
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Oli McBurnie’s double seals Hull’s place in the play-offs (Image: Freddie Yeo/MB Media/Getty Images)
The Owls celebrated the acquisition announced minutes before kick-off with a 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Hillsborough. West Brom had nothing to play for as they avoided relegation with a game remaining.
Leicester also achieved a rare victory after suffering back-to-back relegations. Elsewhere, Roy Hodgson ended his tenure as Bristol City manager with a 2-0 win over Stoke City, as the Robins secured a top-half finish.
final championship table
Coventry City (C) Ipswich Town (P) Millwall Southampton Middles Brahal City Wrexham Derby County Norwich City Birmingham City Swansea City Bristol City Sheffield United Preston North End Queens Park Rangers Watford Stoke City Portsmouth Charlton Athletic Blackburn Rovers West Bromwich Albion Oxford United (R) Leicester City (R) Sheffield Wednesday (R)
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