Ipswich Town F.C. have secured promotion to the Premier League after defeating Queens Park Rangers F.C. to seal second place in the Championship and complete an immediate return to the top flight.
The Tractor Boys bounce back at the first attempt following last season’s relegation, joining champions Coventry City F.C. in earning automatic promotion.
Despite spending much of the campaign outside the automatic promotion places and trailing Middlesbrough F.C. for long stretches, Kieran McKenna’s side capitalised on Boro’s late dip in form to emerge from a tense four-way race for second spot.
Millwall F.C., Middlesbrough F.C., Southampton F.C. — who were also relegated from the Premier League last season — and Hull City A.F.C. will now battle it out in the play-offs.
Hull began the final day in eighth place but climbed into sixth after a 2-1 victory over Norwich City F.C., combined with Derby County F.C.’s defeat to Sheffield United F.C. and Wrexham A.F.C.’s draw with Middlesbrough.
The result brings an end to Wrexham’s remarkable run of three successive promotions under the ownership of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Hull will face Millwall in the play-off semi-finals, while Middlesbrough take on Southampton over two legs. The winners will meet at Wembley Stadium on May 23 for a place in next season’s Premier League.
Millwall and Southampton both had hopes of snatching automatic promotion, but Ipswich’s midweek draw against Southampton, followed by victory over QPR, proved enough to secure their return to the top tier.
