29 Apr 2012

Southampton win promotion to English premier league

6:07 am on 29 April 2012

Southampton have clinched promotion to English football's Premier League with a 4-0 victory over relegated Coventry on the final day of the Championship campaign.

The Saints return to the top flight for the first time since 2005.

Southampton needed the win to hold off the threat from third-placed West Ham, who would have snatched the second automatic promotion spot with their 2-1 win victory over Hull if Southampton had lost.

The Saints' victory meant West Ham's 2-1 win over Hull at Upton Park was rendered meaningless.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce insists his side will rebound from their disappointment to go up via the play-offs.

"I stuck my neck out when I arrived and said we wanted promotion in the first season. We still have three games to win, and we will do it,"

Aside from Southampton's promotion, the only other issue to be resolved on the last day was the final play-off place and it was Cardiff who booked their place in the end of season lottery after a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.

Cardiff will take on West Ham in the play-offs, with the first leg in south Wales on Thursday, while fifth placed Blackpool, who drew 2-2 at Millwall on Saturday, host the first leg of their play-off clash against fourth placed Birmingham on Friday.