Ipswich Town secured their return to the Premier League with a dominant 3-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers at Portman Road. The win, sealed by goals from George Hirst, Jaden Philogene, and Kasey McAteer, sparked jubilant scenes as fans invaded the pitch to celebrate with the players. Among the crowd was minority stakeholder Ed Sheeran, who joined in the festivities.
Manager Kieran McKenna described the achievement as his toughest yet, having guided the club to a third promotion in four full seasons. 'We had such a climb and a steep fall,' he said. 'We've had to rebuild this team under difficult circumstances and we deserve to be where we are today.'
Ipswich started the match with relentless intensity, scoring twice within the first 15 minutes. Hirst tapped in from close range after a low cross from Leif Davis, before Philogene finished a slick one-touch move. QPR improved after the break, but McAteer added a third late on to seal the win.
The victory confirmed Ipswich's second-place finish in the Championship, securing automatic promotion ahead of Millwall and Middlesbrough. The club's previous Premier League stint lasted only one season, but McKenna's side will hope for a longer stay this time.
