Birmingham Beat Reading To Reach Premiership

Published by djmick on May 3rd, 2009

birmingham reach premiership

Birmingham City have joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League after a hard-fought 2-1 win over promotion rivals Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

A mistake by Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann, who allowed Keith Fahey’s hopeful 25 yard shot to dribble past him in the 19th minute, had given Birmingham a half-time lead before Kevin Phillips gave the Blues a 2-0 advantage on the hour mark.

But Marek Matejovsky immediately pulled one back to ensure that Birmingham fans’ nerves were jangling until the final whistle.

Sheffield United could only draw 0-0 against Crystal Palace and will face sixth placed Preston North End in the play-offs, after their 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers saw them leapfrog Cardiff City. Sean St Ledger scored the crucial 74th-minute winner after Patrick Agyemang had levelled matters following Jon Parkin’s first-half strike.

That ensured final day heartbreak for Cardiff, who lost 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday with Jermaine Johnson’s stunning half-volley putting an end to their Premier League dreams.

Here’s a round up of all the Championship results:

Burnley 4-0 Bristol City; Charlton 4-2 Norwich; Crystal Palace 0-0 Sheffield United; Ipswich 2-1 Coventry; Nottingham Forest 3-1 Southampton; Plymouth 1-2 Barnsley; Preston 2-1 QPR;l Reading 1 – 2 Birmingham; Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Cardiff; Swansea 0-1 Blackpool; Watford 3-1; Wolves 1-0 Doncaster

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