Match ends, Cardiff City 0, Reading 0.
Cardiff City secured automatic promotion to the Premier League despite drawing at home to Reading, thanks to Fulham's defeat at Birmingham.
The Bluebirds dominated their tense encounter but were frustrated by the Royals.
However, Fulham's loss - their first of 2018 in the Championship - brought relief and pure euphoria to the Welsh side.
And Reading joined in the celebrations, with the draw sealing their survival.
The real scenes of jubilation, however, belonged to the home side, with Cardiff's fans streaming on to the pitch to mob their players as soon as the final whistle blew.
Manager Neil Warnock had said winning a record eighth promotion would be his "greatest achievement" - and it is no wonder, considering the Bluebirds were second from bottom and in disarray when he was appointed in October 2016.
Despite working with modest means, the veteran manager signed resourcefully to assemble a group of players in whom he instilled a tireless work ethic and bloody-minded will to win.
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The style of play may not always be aesthetically pleasing but, with a robust structure and sheer refusal to relent, this is a Cardiff team whose spirit mirrors that of their manager and supporters.
The Bluebirds started the day second in the Championship table, one point ahead of third-placed Fulham. Cardiff only needed to match Fulham's result at Birmingham to secure promotion.
For Reading, meanwhile, there was still the danger of relegation, which raised the stakes for both sides and fed a cacophonous atmosphere inside a sold-out Cardiff City Stadium bathed in sunshine.
The tension was palpable and, although the hosts sought to keep their fate in their own hands with a strident start to the game, the mutual sense of apprehension meant there were few early scoring opportunities.
However, the anxiety soon eased thanks to events elsewhere.
Reading's fans were the first to celebrate, chanting "We are staying up" after discovering both their chief relegation rivals, Barnsley and Burton, were losing.
And those cheers were soon drowned out when news of Birmingham's opening goal against Fulham was met with an almighty roar from the home supporters.
Wild celebrations
It was something of a reprieve for Cardiff, who were dominating possession and territory but unable to carve open their obdurate opponents.
Junior Hoilett curled one effort narrowly wide and then had an appeal for a penalty rejected after he fell under a challenge from Tiago Ilory.
Again, the home nerves jangled but, again, Birmingham calmed them by doubling their lead against Fulham.
The second half followed the same pattern: Cardiff the aggressors, trying but failing to force their way through; their frustration tempered by the scoreline at St Andrew's.
That was to prove enough, with Che Adams' goal for Birmingham sealing Fulham's 3-1 defeat and sparking pandemonium in the Cardiff City Stadium stands and a premature pitch invasion from some supporters.
They took their seats for the closing moments and when the final whistle eventually went, the wild celebrations could begin in earnest as Cardiff toasted their return to the Premier League for the first time since 2014.
Line-ups
Cardiff
Formation 4-3-3
- 25Etheridge
- 2Peltier
- 4Morrison
- 14Bamba
- 3Bennett
- 18Paterson
- 8Ralls
- 21Bryson
- 19Mendez-Laing
- 10ZohoreSubstituted forMadineat 86'minutes
- 33HoilettBooked at 58minsSubstituted forWardat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Ecuele Manga
- 6Richards
- 13Pilkington
- 24Grujic
- 28Murphy
- 29Ward
- 44Madine
Reading
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Mannone
- 20IloriSubstituted forKellyat 34'minutes
- 3ElphickBooked at 27mins
- 6Moore
- 2Gunter
- 19Bacuna
- 4van den Berg
- 16Edwards
- 14AlukoSubstituted forMcShaneat 84'minutes
- 23BödvarssonSubstituted forKermorgantat 70'minutesBooked at 74mins
- 17Barrow
Substitutes
- 5McShane
- 8Evans
- 10Swift
- 18Kermorgant
- 27Martin
- 31Jaakkola
- 38Kelly
- Referee:
- Robert Madley
- Attendance:
- 32,478
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away1
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away0
- Corners
- Home4
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away11
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Cardiff City 0, Reading 0.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match (Cardiff City). Video Review.
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Foul by Gary Madine (Cardiff City).
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Joey van den Berg (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Sean Morrison (Cardiff City) because of an injury.
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Delay in match Yann Kermorgant (Reading) because of an injury.
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Attempt missed. Jamie Ward (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Gary Madine with a headed pass.
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Foul by Sean Morrison (Cardiff City).
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Paul McShane (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Joey van den Berg.
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Attempt missed. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
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Jamie Ward (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Joey van den Berg (Reading).
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Substitution
Substitution, Cardiff City. Gary Madine replaces Kenneth Zohore.
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Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Paul McShane replaces Sone Aluko.
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Post update
Attempt missed. Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Joe Ralls.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Bennett.
Comments
Join the conversation
Finally my thoughts go out to Sir Alex, keep fighting and get well soon the world wouldn't be the same without you.
Congratulations to Neil Warnock and his lot. :)
Thank you for the good comments and classy fans that just like true support.
Really not bothered if you don’t like us. We are coming up anyway.
Sir Alex....keep strong and best wishes from Cardiff.
Well done Cardiff. Considering some of the other squads and spending in the Championship this year, it's a very good achievement.
Well played Cardiff. League table never lies so they deserve to go up.
another bigots post, who doesn't realise Cardiff have been playing in English football longer than Southampton, joined the English football league system in 1910 and southampton joined Saints joined the newly formed Football League Third Division in 1920, so maybe some of the bigots want to stop being so racist/stupid whatever you want to call it
Welcome to the Prem