Southampton clinched promotion to the English Premier League with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Coventry City on the final day of the Championship campaign yesterday.

The Saints return to the top flight for the first time since 2005 after goals from Billy Sharp, Jose Fonte, Jos Hooiveld and Adam Lallana crushed relegated Coventry in front of a jubilant capacity crowd at St Mary’s.

Nigel Adkins’s side 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.

Aside from promotion, the only other issue to be resolved was the final play-off slot and it was Cardiff who booked their place after a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.

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

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