Ipswich got the job done on the last day of the Championship season and bounced back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, confining Millwall and Middlesbrough to the play-offs
Ipswich clinched automatic promotion on the final day(Image: Paul Harding/Getty Images)
Ipswich have been promoted to the Premier League following 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 by clinching second place with a comfortable 3-0 win against Queens Park Rangers.
Scoring twice inside the opening nine minutes, Ipswich got the party started early at Portman Road. George Hirst put them in front before Jaden Philogene doubled their lead shortly after.
Kasey McAteer then put the result beyond doubt by grabbing Ipswich’s third in the 85th minute. McKenna has now driven the Tractor Boys to three separate promotions in four-and-a-half years.
Millwall were Ipswich’s closest rivals heading into the final day, but their 2-0 win at home to Oxford United wasn’t enough. Middlesbrough were also in with a shout of claiming the final automatic promotion place, but they were held to a 2-2 draw away to play-off-chasing Wrexham.
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Ipswich have joined Coventry, who go up as champions after an incredible 95-point season. As for Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull City, they’ll battle it out in the play-offs. Millwall will play Hull while Southampton face Boro.
It was heartbreak for Wrexham and Derby County, who’ll be left to rue their results on matchday 46, as Hull beat Norwich 2-1 to capitalise. There was no drama at the bottom end on Saturday, as the relegation battle had already been decided last weekend.
But there was some joy for bottom side Sheffield Wednesday, who alongside Oxford and Leicester will play in League One next term. Wednesday won only their second game of the season and their first at home to finish the campaign on zero points, having been deducted 12 after entering administration in October.
Who’ll win the play-offs? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
The Owls edged out West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at a jubilant Hillsborough to mark their takeover which was announced minutes before kick-off. West Brom had nothing to play for, having avoided relegation with a game to spare.
Leicester also picked up a rare win after suffering back-to-back relegations. Elsewhere, Roy Hodgson rounded off his stint as Bristol City manager with a 2-0 victory over Stoke City, securing a top-half finish for the Robins.
Final Championship table
- Coventry City (C)
- Ipswich Town (P)
- Millwall
- Southampton
- Middlesbrough
- Hull 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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