LONDON: Leicester City were promoted to the Premier League on Friday after rivals Leeds United crashed to a shock 4-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers.

The result leaves Leicester top of the Championship with 94 points with two games to play while Leeds stay second on 90 but with just one match left.

Third-place Ipswich Town can pip Leeds to the second automatic promotion place as they currently have 89 points with three matches still to play.

“It’s not in our hands anymore (automatic promotion), we need to be honest,” Leeds boss Daniel Farke told the BBC.

“The race is not over, if Ipswich win the next two games then I will say congratulations but if they don’t win them then we will have a lot to play for (against Southampton on the final day of the season).

“As long as we have a chance, I’m far away from giving up.”

Enzo Maresca’s Foxes achieved promotion at the first time of asking having been relegated from the Premier League last season.

Their final two games begin with a trip to Preston on Monday, before they round off the season with a home finale against Blackburn on May 4.

Leeds will find themselves outside the top two if Ipswich beat Hull or Coventry in their game in hand.

Should Ipswich win both, they will be promoted while Leeds will have to enter the play-offs.Leicester were shock Premier League champions in 2016 but were relegated with Leeds and Southampton last season.

On Tuesday, Leicester demolished the Saints 5-0 thanks to a Issahaky Fatawu hat-trick and goals from Wilfred Ndidi and evergreen striker Jamie Vardy.

That resounding victory put them on the brink of a Premier League return.

Joy at promotion will be tempered to a degree after they were charged in March by the Premier League for alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules relating to their last three years in the top flight. If found guilty, Leicester could start life back in the top flight with a points deduction.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2024