The Championship second automatic promotion and the playoffs schedule has been on the final day of the 2025/26 season.
Coming into the afternoon, we knew that Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough were battling it out for 2nd place.
The EFL state: “To guarantee automatic promotion, Ipswich would need to win their final match at home to QPR.
“If Ipswich fail to win that game, they would then be reliant on results elsewhere.
“Specifically, they would need Millwall to drop points at home to Oxford and Middlesbrough to fail to win away at Wrexham.
“Millwall need to win and hope Ipswich drop points (a draw for Millwall would require Ipswich to lose by 18 goals), while Boro need to win and hope Millwall drop points and Ipswich lose (an Ipswich draw could also be enough but Boro would need to win by six goals).”
So how did it play out?
With help from BBC Sport and Sky Sports
Before we begin with goal updates, big news for Sheffield Wednesday, already relegated, but have packed out Hillsborough to welcome their new owners. The EFL confirm that the club will not be facing a 15 point deduction when they play in League One next season. More on that HERE.
Right, time for goals an dit was a very fast start…
GOAL: Ipswich 1-0 QPR
George Hirst (3 mins)
The Tractor Boys edging ever closer to a Premier League return.
GOAL: Wrexham 0-1 Middlesbrough
Tommy Conway (4 mins)
Goal sees them climb to third after Ipswich’s early opener. With Ipswich winning, victory for Boro means they can’t catch them.
GOAL: Derby 1-0 Sheffield United
Sam Szmodics (5 mins)
The Rams finishing in the top six as things stand. Wrexham losing, Hull level.
GOAL: Ipswich 2-0 QPR
Jaden Philogene (9 mins)
More celebrations with Ipswich extending their lead, and two points ahead of 3rd place Boro as it stands…
GOAL: Preston 0-1 Southampton
Taylor Harwood-Bellis (12′)
GOAL: Wrexham 1-1 Middlesbrough
Josh Windass (28′)
Sublime free kick. Top corner. Now need one more to move back into a play-off place.
GOAL: Hull City 0-1 Norwich
Mohamed Toure (26 mins)
GOAL Hull City 1-1 Norwich
Ollie McBurnie (28 mins – penalty)
Hull still sit 7th, two places outside of the playoffs
GOAL: Millwall 1-0 Oxford Utd
Femi Azeez (36 mins)
Millwall unlikely to get 2nd with Ipswich 2-0 up, but move into third – which would be a home match in the second leg of the play-offs – as it stands
GOAL: Wrexham 2-1 Middlesbrough
Sam Smith (41 mins)
Wrexham now back in the play-offs. Silence from Hull fans at the MKM
GOAL: Wrexham 2-2 Middlesbrough
David Strelec (43 mins)
Wrexham fall back out of the play-off places. Loud cheers from Hull fans at the MKM
HALF TIME SCORES:
HT Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Leicester City
HT Bristol City 1-0 Stoke City
HT Derby County 1-0 Sheffield United
HT Hull City 1-1 Norwich City
HT Ipswich Town 2-0 Queens Park Rangers
HT Millwall 1-0 Oxford United
HT Portsmouth 1-1 Birmingham City
HT Preston North End 0-1 Southampton
HT Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 West Bromwich Albion
HT Swansea City 0-0 Charlton Athletic
HT Watford 0-2 Coventry City
HT Wrexham 2-2 Middlesbrough
As it stood at half time, Ipswich 2nd a point ahead of Millwall. Southampton up to 4th, Middlesbrough drop down to 5th. Derby up to 6th, Wrexham out of the playoffs, Hull down in 8th.
GOAL: Preston 0-2 Southampton
Ross Stewart (47 mins)
GOAL: Preston 1-2 Southampton
Lewis Dobbin (60 mins)
GOAL: Derby 1-1 Sheffield United
Tom Cannon (62 mins)
Wrexham move back into the play-off places, Hull 7th and need to find two goals, Derby 8th and need to get back in front.
GOAL: Derby 1-2 Sheffield United
Sydie Peck (69 mins)
It’s all going wrong from the Rams, now look like it might be between Wrexham and Hull now for 6th… loud cheers from Wrexham fans
GOAL: Hull City 2-1 Norwich
Ollie McBurnie (69 mins)
Absolute scenes, some questions over offside, McBurnie marginally off? But with no VAR, it counts. Hull now take 6th, two points ahead of Wrexham, 7th, Derby meanwhile 8th and 4 points from the play-off places
GOAL: Ipswich 3-0 QPR
Kasey McAteer (85 mins)
The party can properly begin, great celebrations, on the pitch, in the stands, Ipswich will join Coventry in the Premier League
GOAL: Preston 1-3 Southampton
Cyle Larin (91st mins)
As it stands, Southampton will play Middlesbrough in the playoffs
FULL TIME: Wrexham 2-2 Middlesbrough
All eyes on Hull, Wrexham need Norwich to score
ALL OVER!
Hull are in the playoffs. They take 6th!
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The moment. @oli_mcburnie #hcafc pic.twitter.com/mQAxatkbuD
— Hull City (@HullCity) May 2, 2026
The changing room is lively at Portman Road! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ffpkg20cGz
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 2, 2026
FULL TIME SCORES:
FT Blackburn Rovers (0) 0-1 (0) Leicester City
FT Bristol City (1) 2-0 (0) Stoke City
FT Derby County (1) 1-2 (0) Sheffield United
FT Hull City (1) 2-1 (1) Norwich City
FT Ipswich Town (2) 3-0 (0) Queens Park Rangers
FT Millwall (1) 2-0 (0) Oxford United
FT Portsmouth (1) 1-1 (1) Birmingham City
FT Preston North End (0) 1-3 (1) Southampton
FT Sheffield Wednesday (2) 2-1 (0) West Bromwich Albion
FT Swansea City (0) 3-1 (0) Charlton Athletic
FT Watford (0) 0-4 (2) Coventry City
FT Wrexham (2) 2-2 (2) Middlesbrough
Playoff schedule
Play-off semi-final first legs
Hull vs Millwall – Friday May 8, kick-off 8pm
Middlesbrough vs Southampton – Saturday May 9, kick-off 12.30pm
Play-off semi-final second legs
Millwall vs Hull – Monday May 11, 8pm
Southampton vs Middlesbrough – Tuesday May 12, 8pm
Play-off final
Saturday May 23, Wembley Stadium
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
Kieran McKenna told Sky Sports: “It means a lot, I have to say. It’s probably been the hardest one (of our three promotions in four years) if I’m honest. It’s brilliant.
“I know how hard we’ve had to work to turn it around. As a club we had such a climb and a steep fall. We’ve had to rebuild this team under difficult circumstances and we deserve to be where we are today.”
On the first half performance: “I thought we were incredible. It was an incredible start, we didn’t manage to maintain that. To have a third promotion at home in four years, and see so many happy faces.”
On leaving it late to secure a top-two finish: “We started slow, which can happen, but we have steadily improved over the course of the year. We showed it on Tuesday at Southampton and today, it’s about how you finish.
“I am going tom enjoy this one – I’m jot going to start thinking about the Premier League today.”
Ipswich goalscorer George Hirst told Sky Sports: “This year everyone wanted us to fail but we’ve done it.
“It’s been difficult, we’ve made it hard for ourselves, but who cares, we’re back in the Premier League and that’s all that matter.”
On being recalled to the side and scoring after three minutes: “It’s games like this when you want to perform. I thought the way we started was unbelievable, to go 2-0 up (after nine minutes).
“We made it difficult for ourselves after that, but who cares.”
On his third promotion with Ipswich: “(This club) means more than anything, I have never experienced anything like being here, I will stay as long as they want me.
“It’s been a great run and hopefully we can keep going.”
Hirst hoping for a place in the Scotland squad for the World Cup and said after a few days of celebration: “I’ll stay ready for when the call comes.”
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