Championship side Reading, clear at the top of the table, have been promoted to the Premiership today after drawing 1-1 against Leicester City. A win would have seen them go up without any help, but a draw meant that they needed Millwall to beat Watford - which they did.

It's the first time ever that Reading have reached England's top flight, and they clinched promotion in the quickest time ever by an English league side in the post-war era.

Sheffield United are the favourites to clinch the 2nd automatic promotion place.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Leicester 1-1 Reading



Chairman John Madejski has guided the club into the top flight
Reading sealed promotion to the top flight for the first time in their history with a draw at Leicester.

Leicester took a deserved lead against a lacklustre Reading with Iain Hume's powerful finish after being set up by Matty Fryatt.

The Foxes' Joey Gudjonsson then struck a post from a free-kick.

But they were pegged back by Kevin Doyle's close-range header for his 16th goal of the season to send Reading into the Premiership.

Reading went into the game knowing only a win would guarantee them promotion.

But with Leeds and Watford dropping points Reading would have been promoted even with a defeat.

Leicester made the better start in a scrappy opening which suggested the occasion may have got to Reading.

Hume got behind the Reading defence but saw his shot from a tight angle saved by Hahnemann.

The big American keeper then produced an acrobatic save to deny Fryatt.

Reading's sluggish display showed on the bench where manager Steve Coppell and his coaching staff became very animated.

It was no great surprise when Leicester took a deserved lead, with Fryatt setting up Hume for a thumping finish from just inside the penalty area.

Reading offered little threat in the first half and they might have gone further behind when Gudjonsson struck the post with a free-kick.

The Championship leaders mustered a shot in the second half when Bobby Convey saw his effort saved by Paul Henderson.

Leicester displayed the confidence that had seen them win their previous three Championship matches to claw clear of the relegation dogfight.

Gudjonsson illustrated that confidence with an outrageous attempt from all of 45 yards which Hahnemann saved with his legs.

But the Royals showed good spirit to rally and Doyle ghosted in to head the equaliser from six yards out.

The Royals create another bit of history by becoming the earliest side to clinch promotion to the top flight.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leicester:

Henderson, Stearman, McCarthy, Kisnorbo, Johansson, Maybury, Gudjonsson, Williams, Hughes, Hume (Welsh 84), Fryatt (O'Grady 78 ).
Subs Not Used: Gerrbrand, Douglas, Hammond.

Booked: Hume.

Goals: Hume 38.

Reading:
Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Oster (Long 61), Harper, Gunnarsson (Sidwell 61), Convey (Hunt 80), Kitson, Doyle.
Subs Not Used: Stack, Makin.

Booked: Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson.

Goals: Doyle 85.

Att: 25,578

Ref: C Penton (Sussex).



news.bbc.co.uk

The current Championship table -

(Top 2 promoted automatically into the Premiership at the end of the season. Teams that finish 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th then play each other in the play-offs and the winner is promoted into the Premiership)

..........Games...Pts

Reading .40.92
Sheff Utd .40 .78
-------------------
Watford..40..72
Leeds .40 .72
Crystal Palace..40..67
Preston..39..61
-------------------
Wolverhampton..40..59
Cardiff..40..59
Norwich..40..53
Ipswich..40..53
Luton..40..52
Coventry..40..52
QPR..39..49
Plymouth..40..48
Stoke..39..48
Leicester..40..47
Burnley..39..46
Derby..40..45
Hull..40..45
Southampton..39..42
Sheff Wed..40..41
Millwall..40..36
Brighton..40..32
Crewe..39..31