Championship - Birmingham seal promotion

Eurosport - Mon, 04 May 12:33:00 2009

Birmingham clinched automatic promotion to the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Reading on the final day of the Championship season, condemning their hosts to the play-offs.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Championship Birmingham Kevin Phillips - 0

Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann gifted the visitors the lead in the 19th minute when Keith Fahey's curled effort from outside the box squirmed through his grasp and over the line.

Kevin Phillips doubled their lead on the hour but seconds later Marek Matejovsky reduced the deficit.

The result ended Sheffield United's hopes of sneaking into the automatic promotion places as their goalless draw at Crystal Palace had little effect on the standings.

Burnley join them in the play-offs following a 4-0 win over Bristol City, thanks to two Graham Alexander penalties either side of Wade Elliott's thunderous volley and a late fourth from Joey Gudjonsson.

Preston beat QPR 2-1 to grab the last play-off spot by virtue of having scored one more goal than promotion-rivals Cardiff.

Sean St Ledger scored the crucial 74th-minute winner after Patrick Agyemang had levelled matters following Jon Parkin's first-half strike.

That ensured final day heartbreak for Cardiff, who lost 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday with Jermaine Johnson's stunning half-volley putting an end to their Premier League dreams.

Champions Wolves wrapped up their campaign with a 1-0 home win over Doncaster, with Richard Stearman's stoppage-time winner ensuring they take the title by seven points.

Norwich will be playing in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1960 after they were humiliated 4-2 at Charlton.

The hosts, already relegated, marked their last match in the Championship in style and they were three goals to the good by the half-hour mark thanks to Nick Bailey's opener and a brace from Deon Burton.

Norwich gave themselves a faint lifeline through Alan Lee in first-half stoppage time but things went from bad to worse minutes after the interval when Burton completed his hat-trick. Sammy Clingan's free-kick reduced the deficit once more but it was too little too late.

The result ensured Barnsley would stay up regardless of their score at Plymouth, but the Tykes triumphed 2-1 to make sure of their Championship status.

Adam Hammill levelled matters after Gary Sawyer's opener and Jamal Campbell-Ryce fired the visitors into the lead shortly after the interval.

Elsewhere, already-relegated Southampton's miserable season continued as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest with Luke Chambers, Joe Garner and Robert Earnshaw grabbing the goals for the hosts following Bradley Wright-Phillips' opener.

Ipswich boss Roy Keane enjoyed his first home game in charge with his second win in as many games.

Giovani dos Santos and Pablo Counago's first-half goals gave Ipswich a 2-1 win over Coventry, with Clinton Morrison pulling one back late on.

Meanwhile, Blackpool beat Swansea 1-0 thanks to Dudley Campbell's 13th-minute goal and Watford triumphed 3-1 over Derby with a brace from former Rams striker Grzegorz Rasiak and one from Jobi McAnuff in the first-half, before John Eustace's late consolation.

PA Sport / Eurosport

Comment 28 - 47 of 47

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  1. SAPPERCOMMANDO25 your a @#$%!

    From jam.nicholls, on Mon 4 May 3:53PM

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    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Mon 4 May 2:38PM

  3. way all u reading scum supporters
    your not singing any­ more
    your not singing any more
    your not singing
    your­ not singing
    your not singing any more
    YOUR NOT SINGING­ ANY MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!
    HAHAHAHA

    From bluenosebrummie15, on Mon 4 May 11:26AM

  4. THE BOOMERANG BRUMMIES

    From Jesus, on Mon 4 May 10:13AM

  5. Recently I found a hot club -- W ealthy find e r c o m­ -- just­ for sexy tall gals and guys to find their­ romance. Come­ on, tall singles. Don't miss your­ love.

    From sexyfishx, on Mon 4 May 8:27AM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    sappercommando25, why don't you support an Israeli­ team instead? Mind your country's business instead­ of coming here.

    From Half A Brain, on Mon 4 May 4:57AM

  7. well good news of the weekend is norwich lets all­ laugh at norwich, well done to ipswich 6 points for us­ next season
    leicester city f c all the way

    From Alistair, on Mon 4 May 4:18AM

  8. james-wolves are no yoyo club.they had no money last­ time they were promoted to buy new players,theres a­ reason why they didnt bounce straight up after the­ last relegation and that was because wolves took a­ different aproach. instead of spendin cash, they­ created good players from the youth team and spent as­ little cash as possible. we now have a new owner with a­ 30 million injection, top class players already­ (ebanks-blake, whos seen interest from everton)and­ enough money to buy decent players.that added with a­ new record sponsorship deal for the club means they­ are no way in the same position as last time.

    From lee, on Mon 4 May 4:16AM

  9. #33 Ha Ha ha! No you won't.

    From Neil, on Mon 4 May 2:51AM

  10. reading have probably been the best side overall in the­ league- am astounded how cardiff imploded- that 6-0­ drubbing at preston must haunt their dreams- well done­ to preston- the came from nowhere.Just relieved that­ the clarets have got something out of this season- a­ great achievement with a tiny squad- wolves and brum­ will be straight back- ironic that sheff utd, reading­ and even Burnley are better suited to premiership­ football.McCarty isgood at creating sides that escape­ the championship but are inept at premiership level

    From james, on Mon 4 May 2:13AM

  11. reading have probably been the best side overall in the­ league- am astounded how cardiff imploded- that 6-0­ drubbing at preston must haunt their dreams- well done­ to preston- the came from nowhere.Just relieved that­ the clarets have got something out of this season- a­ great achievement with a tiny squad- wolves and brum­ will be straight back- ironic that sheff utd, reading­ and even Burnley are better suited to premiership­ football.McCarty isgood at creating sides that escape­ the championship but are inept at premiership level

    From james, on Mon 4 May 2:12AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Birmingham, the yoyo club shall be going down next­ season anyway. Brummie @#$%

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 4 May 1:08AM

  13. Go on Birmingham.Need to spend big to stay up an­ McLeish need to be a bit more attack minded.He played­ as a defender and manages like a defender.Up here in­ Scotland he started off well with Motherwell,Hibs­ ,Rangers and Scotland and then faded a bit after,or his­ teams teams did anyway.Hope the same doesn`t happen­ with Blues ,Bri D hearts f.c. FTH

    From brian d, on Mon 4 May 12:35AM

  14. This is just the bigining of your worries. perier­ League is not for kids, you got to hire good and­ experience players not come easy go easy.

    From Gee, on Sun 3 May 11:29PM

  15. Well done Birmingham City on promotion from a Toon fan;­ keep it warm though 'cause we'll be back in­ 2010.

    From cameron w, on Sun 3 May 10:45PM

  16. aye well done.but you's will only get relegated­ straight away

    From robbieisfineshedyahoooo, on Sun 3 May 10:06PM

  17. to all brummies! we will see you next season.­ congratulations! p.s im not being sarcastic.

    From stevebullisgod, on Sun 3 May 9:42PM

  18. well done blues, good to see you do it, now 3 west­ midlands teams in prem,
    got to be good for the region.­ from wolves fan

    From dave_simkins, on Sun 3 May 9:16PM

  19. well the blues good luck 4 next seaon from atrue­ brummie xx

    From taniafirstnameroberts, on Sun 3 May 8:40PM

  20. If reading dont go up, some of the irish boys will­ leave, kevin doyle and stephan hunt and maybe noel­ hunt. They deserve to be playing in the premiership.

    From Howard, on Sun 3 May 8:26PM
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