Ipswich Town 2-0 Huddersfield: Report as Town reach Premier League

Goals from Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson saw the Blues wrap up their campaign in style, returning to the top flight for the first time in 22 years.

After Huddersfield enjoyed a spell of possession, Ipswich took control around the fifth minute, getting the ball forward quickly and pouncing on the counter whenever they lost the ball. The first real chance came with eight minutes on the clock as Axel Tuanzebe took aim from outside the box, winning a corner which the Terriers cleared.

Town fans welcomed the team coach to Portman Road before the game (Image: Stephen Waller)

Set pieces provided a good chance for the hosts to get the ball into the box, and they came close in the 11th minute as Leif Davis’ corner pinballed around before George Hirst headed wide.

Town were comfortable in possession without really looking to flood bodies forward. Conor Chaplin’s 16th-minute strike from distance bobbled just past the post – another let-off for Huddersfield, albeit that they weren’t under the cosh.

A roar unexpectedly filled Portman Road, signifying that Southampton had taken the lead at Elland Road. Sam Morsy urged his team-mates to stay calm as Huddersfield deliver a dangerous long throw into the box, which was cleared up to the skipper, who began a counterattack that ended as Wes Burns fired over the bar. Soon after, Leeds had equalised against the Saints.

Wes Burns put the Blues ahead in the first half (Image: Stephen Waller)

They kept pushing. In the 23rd minute, Omari Hutchinson delivered a cross onto the head of Burns, who in turn set up Chaplin to flick the ball over the bar from 10 yards out.

Seconds later, Burns was played clean through on goal by Chaplin, forcing goalkeeper Chris Maxwell to rush off his line as the Wales international slotted hit shot narrowly past the post.

Give Burns one chance and he might miss, but Huddersfield made the mistake of leaving him unmarked as Hirst gained possession in the final third. He played the ball centrally to Chaplin, who turned to play the winger into space as he curled a low shot into the net to make it 1-0 on 27 minutes. Portman Road, unsurprisingly, erupted with noise.

Ipswich limited the Terriers to very little in the way of chances (Image: Stephen Waller)

Ipswich maintained their dominance, and they arguably should’ve been awarded a penalty just after the half-hour mark as Matty Pearson bundled Chaplin to the ground inside the box. Referee Simon Hooper opted against giving the spot kick, enraging the attacker.

Just after Huddersfield jumped on a slip-up at the back to get behind Ipswich’s back line, the Blues recovered possession and methodically played their way up the pitch. Hutchinson picked it up centrally, cutting onto his right foot and drilling a shot just wide in the 40th minute.

Less than 60 seconds later, Morsy tested Maxwell with a powerful effort from distance, stinging the goalkeeper’s gloves.

Portman Road erupted with noise as Omari Hutchinson doubled the lead (Image: Stephen Waller)

A fast start after the break was exactly what Ipswich needed, and Hutchinson was the man to deliver, running through to the edge of the area before curling a shot at goal. Maxwell got his fingertips on the ball, but he couldn't do enough to keep it out as the Blues doubled their lead.

IP1 was in party mode, but Town were in no mood to take their foot off the gas. Fans called for manager Kieran McKenna to give them a wave and he duly obliged as his team continued to dominate possession.

With around 15 minutes remaining, Kieran McKenna rolled the dice shortly after Massimo Luongo took aim from distance and forced Maxwell into another fingertip save. The hosts were looking to kill the game off once and for all.

Wes Burns watches as his shot heads past the keeper and into the net to give Town the lead (Image: Stephen Waller)

In the end, it never came. The final stages played out like a pre-season friendly, but Ipswich won't care. They're back in the top flight, where the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea all await - and everyone involved with this incredible promotion will go down as a legend in the club's history.

Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Hladky (Walton 90'); Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Luongo (Taylor 83'); Burns (Jackson 73'), Chaplin (Sarmiento 73'), Hutchinson; Hirst (Moore 73')

Huddersfield XI: 3-5-2: Maxwell; Edwards (Spencer 75'), Helik, Pearson; Turton, Rudoni (Matos 29’), Wiles, Kasumu (Iorpenda 62'), Jackson; Ward (Koroma 62'), Healey (Radulovic 62')

Attendance: 29,011