Nottingham Forest are back in the Premier League after 23 years!

Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest will play Premier League football for the first time since 1998/99 next season, as a Levi Colwill own goal was enough to secure promotion to the first tier after a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town at Wembley.

Forest travelled to Wembley hoping to end a 23-year absence from England’s top-flight, but one year to the day since boss Cooper lost the Championship playoff final with Swansea City, it looked as if wastefulness would once again haunt his side. Left unmarked inside the penalty area midway through the first half, Ryan Yates was unable to glance his header goalwards, much to the frustration of the Forest supporters. At the opposite end, Sorba Thomas provided Huddersfield’s brightest spark, but the Welsh international’s efforts failed to yield a clear sight of goal for the Terriers.

Cheered on by a contingent of unwavering Reds supporters, the two-time European champions would eventually find a breakthrough on the brink of halftime, when Levi Colwill painfully converted into his own net. Attempting to clear James Garner’s ambitious strike from range, the on-loan Chelsea defender’s skewed clearance looped over Lee Nicholls and into the Huddersfield goal.

Second-best during the first half, the Terriers needed a response in the second period, with Carlos Corberán’s side duly providing. Controlling possession and forcing their opponents backwards, Thomas was once again at the heart of all things positive for the Yorkshire outfit, with a flurry of resilient blocks from Scott McKenna denying Huddersfield a clear-cut chance.

Desperate for an equaliser to keep their promotion hopes alive, Huddersfield's game plan switched from control to chaos. Denied two penalties late on, both Harry Toffolo and Lewis O'Brien appeared to be fouled inside the penalty area, with referee Jonathan Moss unmoved for either decision. Instead, it will be Forest who can look forward to trips to Anfield, Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium next season, as a top-flight hiatus of more than two decades comes to a cathartic end for a sleeping giant of English football.

Nottingham Forest join Fulham and Bournemouth in the Premier League promotion while Burnley, Watford and Norwich are headed back to the EFL Championship.

EFL CHAMPIONSHIP

Playoff

Huddersfield Town - Nottingham Forest 0-1 (0-1)

/Colwill 43 og/

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