Ipswich are back in the Premier League! Kieran McKenna’s side return to the top flight for the first time in 22 years after 2-0 win over Huddersfield sealed back-to-back promotions

Ipswich Town sealed promotion to the Premier League after a 22-year absence with a comfortable win that also mathematically confirmed Huddersfield’s relegation to League One.

Portman Road celebrated in earnest as Wes Burns broke the deadlock midway through the first half and Omari Hutchinson added a second goal just after half-time to make the scoreline a better reflection of the home side’s dominance.

The Tractor Boys, as they are affectionately known, were last in the top flight in 2002 and also become the first team since Southampton in 2012 to complete back-to-back promotions to the Premier League.

No wonder their jubilant supporters happily chanted the name of their ‘Messiah’ manager Kieran McKenna.

There was an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation in Suffolk, reflected by thousands of supporters turning to greet the team coach as blue smoke filled the streets around the stadium.

Wes Burn had scored the opener in the first half to give Ipswich the perfect start to the match

Omari Hutchinson rounded off a perfect day as the Tractor Boys needed just a point

The Tractor Boys sealed back-to-back promotions after rising from League One last year

Ipswich fans were in a celebratory mood even before kick-off as they welcomed the team with flares

Ipswich only needed a point to guarantee an increase and McKenna couldn’t have asked for better opponents than Huddersfield, who were already assured of the drop and needed to win with a 15-goal swing to avoid it.

Their manager Andre Breitenreiter had publicly criticized his players and made four changes for their final match.

Ipswich had eight attempts on goal in the opening 25 minutes without testing visitors goalkeeper Chris Maxwell, who was starting his first game of 2024.

The best opening belonged to Burns, who was played in by Conor Chaplin but got his angles wrong and slid a low finish past the post.

But the same combination finally ended the deadlock after 27 minutes.

Chaplin was aware of finding Burns on the right side of the penalty area and he fired over Maxwell into the bottom corner, causing a cheer from a capacity crowd.

The directors of Ipswich Town look on with pride as their team returns to the top flight of English football

The news that rivals Leeds were losing to Southampton added to the feel-good factor and the home side almost added a second goal before half-time when defender Luke Woolfenden stepped forward and hit a drive from 25 yards that Maxwell took two attempts to to stop.

Chaplin was also angry that he was not awarded a penalty when challenged by Matty Pearson.

Portman Road, packed to a capacity of 29,000, erupted again just three minutes into the second half when Chelsea loanee Omari Hutchinson broke free in the penalty area and hit a low finish that Maxwell could only help push into the corner.

It was Hutchinson’s 11th goal of the season and he celebrated with a nifty backflip. It was also the sign that all the songs were coming out. ‘Stand Up if you’re Going Up’ was shouted loudly while no one was left in their seat.

Left back Leif Davis underlined the adventure in Ipswich’s game by bombing forward in search of a third goal and going close with a volley that bounced into the ground and rebounded over the crossbar.

Even in their final moment of triumph, Town played with a sense of freedom and desire for more goals, a tribute to their manager.

Goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky was probably happy to get a first save shot on goal from Josh Koroma in the 73rd minute so he could feel part of it.

McKenna was treated with skepticism by some senior Manchester United players when he coached at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Perhaps they should have listened because the 37-year-old Ulsterman is clearly one of the most gifted coaches of his generation.

It’s been a memorable two years for Ipswich, who finished as League One champions last season before becoming an unlikely front-runner for immediate promotion to the top flight.

Former Man United U18 coach McKenna joined the club at the end of 2021 to replace Paul Cook, who was sacked after the team remained mid-table after two wins in nine games.

After stabilizing the club in the 2021-2022 season, McKenna’s Ipswich took off in 2022-2023 as they finished second behind Plymouth Argyle, scoring an impressive 101 goals and amassing 98 points along the way.

The last time Ipswich played in the Premier League was in the 2001-02 season, when they were relegated after finishing 18th with 36 points.