Leicester City has secured an automatic return to the English Premier League after Leeds United suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers. The Foxes’ promotion was confirmed when Leeds, trailing by four points, were thrashed at QPR.
Leicester achieved promotion at the first attempt after being relegated from the Premier League last season, finishing third from bottom. The Foxes currently lead the second-tier Championship with two games remaining.
Leeds’ loss leaves them just one point ahead of third-placed Ipswich Town, who have two games in hand. Ipswich’s victory over Reading on Saturday had put pressure on Leeds, who needed to avoid defeat at QPR to maintain their automatic promotion hopes.
However, QPR took control of the match from the outset, scoring twice in the first half through Ilias Chair and Chris Willock. Leeds’ misery was compounded in the second half as Lyndon Dykes and Stefan Johansen added further goals for the hosts.
The result means that Leicester will return to the Premier League next season, while Leeds’ hopes of automatic promotion are now hanging by a thread. Ipswich will be confident of overtaking Leeds in the remaining two games, leaving Leeds to face the prospect of the playoffs.
