Watford seal immediate return to Premier League with victory over Millwall

The 1-0 win ensured Watford guaranteed one of the two automatic promotion spots alongside EFL Championship leaders Norwich City, who booked their top-flight spot last weekend.

Watford players celebrate scoring a goal in the EFL Championship. (twitter/WatfordFC)

Watford earned promotion to the Premier League on Saturday with two games to spare, after defeating Millwall 1-0 in the (second-tier) Championship match at Vicarage Road.

Ismaila Sarr’s 11th-minute penalty proved enough as Watford guaranteed one of the two automatic promotion spots alongside Championship leaders Norwich City, who booked its top-flight spot last weekend.

Xisco Munoz’s Watford has secured an immediate return to the top flight — which has been worth at least 160 million pounds ($221.3 million) in previous seasons — having finished second-bottom of the Premier League in the 2019-20 campaign.

Story continues below this ad

The win ensured Watford guaranteed one of the two automatic promotion spots alongside Championship leaders Norwich City, which booked its top-flight spot last weekend.

?? BREAKING??

Watford are promoted back to the Premier League! ?? pic.twitter.com/e9LQsZP2ve

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 24, 2021

Watford was one of the playoff contenders after a mixed start to the second-division campaign but found another gear when Munoz replaced Vladimir Ivic as manager in December.

The Spanish manager has guided Watford to 17 wins in 24 Championship games, opening up a 10-point gap over third-placed Brentford, who have a game in hand.

Watford’s victory means Norwich must wait to be crowned champions, despite a 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers.

Daniel Farke’s side needs two points from its remaining two games to guarantee the second division title.