Ipswich are back in the Premier League. And in what style. They are used to promotion parties in this part of Suffolk and, under Kieran McKenna, they do not fall flat. Two early goals dismissed any fears of shredded nerves and an afternoon of celebration could commence. No police presence around the pitch perimeter was ever going to be sufficient to stop this pitch invasion. Happy days, indeed.
It had not been the simple season many anticipated for a team widely expected to make this instant return to the top flight. Given the swashbuckling style of their last Championship ascent and their status as title favourites this time around, it is difficult to avoid the sense that Ipswich largely underperformed in a campaign that flickered at regular points, but never really caught light.
There was nothing underwhelming when it truly mattered. The manner in which Ipswich put this promotion decider to bed was as exhilarating as anything they had produced all season, laying siege on the Queens Park Rangers goal from the first whistle. It was a barrage as devastating as it was sublime and early goals from George Hirst and Jaden Philogene were no more than they deserved.
Job done with a total absence of fuss, the remainder of the match could pass largely without incident before Kasey McAteer sealed the deal with a late third. No need for consideration of permutations that might have given Millwall or Middlesbrough designs on snatching the Championship’s second automatic promotion spot.
