Leicester have won promotion to the Barclays Premier League after QPR and Derby lost on Saturday afternoon.
Nigel Pearson's side moved to the brink of securing their return to the top flight on Friday night with a 2-1 triumph over Sheffield Wednesday at the King Power Stadium.
That made it 21 Sky Bet Championship games unbeaten as they moved onto 89 points - two more than Cardiff won the division with last season - and meant they would be up if QPR lost at Bournemouth and Derby failed to beat Middlesbrough.
Premier League bound: Anthony Knockaert celebrates with his teammates after Riyad Mahrez socres
Promoted: Anthony Knockaert can't hide his joy as Leicester's promotion to the Premier League is confirmed
Former Leicester and England striker Gary Lineker was quick to acknowledge the club's achievement, posting on Twitter: "Leicester City are promoted to the Premier League. A sentence I've been waiting to say for 10 years."
Asked whether he would be watching the results come in on Saturday, Pearson replied bluntly on Friday evening: "No. My job is to get this club promoted. Whether it's tomorrow, whether it's Tuesday, the next week, the week after it's irrelevant really. It's about getting promotion."
His players were clearly well aware of events on the south coast and in the north-east, though, as they also took to social media to celebrate their feat.
Not satisfied with just having secured a top-two finish, forward Gary Taylor-Fletcher turned his attention to clinching the Championship title.
"We are premier league, say we are premier league!!! Get in. #promotionpush now becomes #champwinnerspush" he wrote.
Left-back Paul Konchesky posted: "Absolutely buzzing about the results today!! #wearegoingup #lcfc ! Let's enjoy the rest of season and go again in the top flight #comeon."
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel added: "Premier league! So proud of all the boys and everyone at the club!!!"
Victory selfie: The Leicester City players show their joy after learning that they had been promoted
Head in hands time: QPR's Joey Barton can't bear to watch as his side fell to yet another defeat
QPR's problems continued as they fell to a 2-1 loss against Bournemouth despite the Cherries playing the last 22 minutes with 10 men.
Tommy Elphick opened the scoring the stroke of half-time before Armand Traore slotted home a minute in to the second half to level the score.
However, Lewis Grabban struck on the hour mark to give the home side the lead once more and held on for all three points despite Harry Arter being sent off for a high challenge on Junior Hoilett.
Miserable return: Steve McClaren's return to Middlesbrough did not go to plan as Derby lost 1-0
Derby failed to take advantage of QPR's slip-up as Chelsea loanee Nathaniel Chalobah earnt Middlesborough a narrow 1-0 victory to dent the Rams automatic promotion hopes.
Steve McClaren found his return to one of his old haunts, having previously taken Middlesbrough to League Cup glory and a UEFA Cup final, unsuccesful as his side managed just two shot on target.
With six matches remaining Derby are 11 points of Burnley who current occupy the second automatic promotion place and will be hoping they can catch them.
Post a Comment