Leicester's promotion confirmed by Leeds' 4-0 defeat to QPR on Friday night; Foxes can only be caught by Ipswich now but can take another step towards claiming Championship title with victory over Preston, live on Sky Sports Football from 7pm on Monday, kick-off 8pm
Saturday 27 April 2024 07:07, UK
Leicester City have sealed promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, after Leeds were beaten 4-0 at QPR on Friday night.
The result leaves the Foxes top of the Championship table, four points clear of Leeds in second, meaning only Ipswich can still catch them - ensuring them of at least second place.
It will come as welcome relief to Enzo Maresca and his side as they prepare to head to Preston on Monday night, live on Sky Sports Football, that they have got the job done.
Leicester were top of the Championship for the majority of the season, but a major dip in form that saw them lose six games in 10 between February and April had left them in a vulnerable position.
They were also dealt the blow of being charged for allegedly breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, meaning they could face a points deduction next season.
In March, Leicester said they were taking legal action against the Premier League and EFL after being charged with those alleged breaches.
But on the pitch recent wins against West Brom and Southampton took them back to the top of the league, and now they are able to focus solely on winning the Championship title.
Sky Sports' Dan Long:
At first, it went like a dream.
When Leicester won 12 of their first 13 games after relegation from the Premier League, even at that early stage, it seemed as if it was a case of if, not when, they would bounce back at the first time of asking.
It was, perhaps, surprising in some ways, given the standard of players that had moved on in the summer, with the headline departures of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans compounding a painful drop from the top flight.
What would a good story be without a twist?!
To say the last two months have been troublesome would be quite the understatement.
A 1-0 win at Sunderland and a 2-2 draw at Hull took them into the international break on a relative high… but that was disrupted by the news the club had been charged for allegedly breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, meaning they could face a points deduction next season.
In March, Leicester said they were taking legal action against the Premier League and EFL after being charged with those alleged breaches.
To win on their return to action on Good Friday would have been a huge boost under the circumstances, but more frustration followed as Vardy missed four big chances in a game they eventually lost 1-0 to Bristol City.
April has been packed with surprises so far. Wins over Norwich and Birmingham looked to have got them right back on track, before successive 1-0 defeats to relegation candidates Millwall and Plymouth quickly put them back to square one.
Fortunately for them, Ipswich and Leeds were also faltering simultaneously. It was as if the promotion candidates were enjoying the thrill of the chase so much they did not want the race to stop.
In the end, Leicester achieved promotion without so much as kicking a ball and can now work towards winning the title when they travel to Deepdale to take on Preston on Monday night - live on Sky Sports Football - free of pressure.
What awaits them next season regarding the aforementioned PSR breaches is yet to be determined, but while their fate must be at the forefront of their mind, it can wait for tomorrow. Now is the time to celebrate.
