Ipswich Clinches Premier League Return with Dominant Victory Over QPR, Leaving Millwall and Middlesbrough to Battle in Playoff Drama

IPSWICH Town booked their ticket back to the Premier League following a 3-0 win at Portman Road.

After suffering relegation at the end of last season, the Tractor Boys will join in automatic promotion.

Ipswich’s George Hirst opened scoring in the third minute Credit: Alamy Jaden Philogene-Bidace doubled the lead at Portman Road Credit: PA

But the victory has sent and into a play-off lottery.

It only took Leif Davis three minutes to set George Hirst up for an Ipswich tap-in.

A dominant performance followed for the hosts at Portman Road who were clearly hungry for the automatic spot.

Before they knew it Jaden Philogene-Bidace was flying – played in by Hirst he fired the ball into the back of the net.

Kasey McAteer tucked a third goal home after QPR left themselves wide open having tried to commit men forward.

And then the party began for the home crowds who started singing about next season’s visits to Arsenal, while haunting QPR with songs about playing Spurs.

While the party continues for the time being, it might be difficult to keep the momentum up if they have a similar season to their last time in the Prem.

Ipswich spent most of the 2024/25 campaign in the bottom half of the league and relegation zone, registering only FOUR wins and 22 points.

Ipswich Town secured promotion to the Prem in 2024 after finishing second with 96 points Credit: PA

‘s men – who finished 19th – were doomed to the second flight for a season following a 3-0 defeat away to .

Comparatively, this season has brought 84 points for Ipswich and 28 wins – that is SEVEN times more games won than in their season in top-flight.

McKenna secured back-to-back promotion for his side two years ago, following a 22-year exile from the Prem.

The Northern Irishman led the Suffolk outfit to second place in the 2022/23 campaign.

They were the fifth team in history to win consecutive promotions from the third tier to the Prem.

Going into the final day of the season, Ipswich, Millwall, Middlesbrough, and Southampton were all confirmed for at least a play-off spot.

There was also the smaller battle of securing third and fourth place in a bid to play at home in the semi-final second leg.

At the other end of the Championship, confirmed their relegation alongside 2015/16 Prem winners and heavily penalised Sheffield Wednesday.