CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL DAY
■ GOALS from Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson fired Ipswich back into the Premier League for the first time in 22 years with the 2-0 win over Huddersfield also confirming the Terriers’ relegation.
That result negated anything third-placed Leeds, who began the day three points behind, could manage – which turned out to be a 2-1 home defeat to Southampton, the team immediately below them.
After four defeats in their last six matches, Daniel Farke’s team are the first second-tier side since Sunderland in 1998 to earn 90 points or more and not go up automatically.
West Brom’s 3-0 win over Preston secured fifth place, overtaking Norwich who claimed the final play-off place despite a 1-0 defeat to Birmingham, who were still consigned to the third tier for the first time since 1995 as fellow strugglers Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn all won.
Rovers ended champions Leicester’s chance to reach 100 points and equal a 104-year record of 32 wins in a second division season as two second-half goals from Sammie Szmodics spoiled the party at the King Power.
The scene was completely different at Portman Road where Ipswich, who slipped as low as 11th in League One in 2020 – the club’s lowest finish since 1953 – returned to the top flight.
Huddersfield, who were just one win away from a Premier League return of their own two years ago, were effectively down before kickoff due to their vastly inferior goal difference but when Burns slotted home in the 27th minute the pressure eased on the hosts and Hutchinson ensured there was no late drama.
Leeds’ costly late-season stumble continued.
Although Joel Piroe quickly cancelled out Adam Armstrong’s 18th-minute opener, Will Smallbone added Saints’ second 10 minutes before half-time.
And there was even greater disappointment at St Andrews where Birmingham did all they could with a 1-0 victory courtesy of Paik Seung-Ho, but other results conspired against them.
The club were sixth in the table when they sacked John Eustace and replaced him with Wayne Rooney in October, but that was start of the slide into League One as they won just eight matches after that point.
Even another change of manager could not arrest the slide, although Tony Mowbray’s ill health was an additional complication.
Plymouth’s 1-0 win over Hull, courtesy of Joe Edwards’ goal, and Wednesday’s win at Sunderland, where Liam Palmer and Josh Windass were on target, confirmed Blues fans’ worst fears.
Alex Mowatt, Kyle Bartley and Darnell Furlong all scored to rubber-stamp West Brom’s play-off place, which effectively closed the door on Hull.
Stoke recorded their biggest win of the season as Million Manhoef scored twice in a 4-0 victory over Bristol City for their third successive victory, Luke Cundle and Tyrese Campbell adding the others.
QPR made it five wins from their final eight games by beating Coventry 2-1 after first-half goals from Ilias Chair and Morgan Fox, with Jamie Allen responding for the hosts.
Middlesbrough were 3-1 victors at home to Watford as Emmanuel Latte Lath scored his 11th goal in 12 games.