Wolves 1-0 QPR

Wolves players celebrate after the match

Wolves players celebrate after the victory at Molineux

Wolves clinched promotion to the Premier League after beating QPR as the Midlands club returned to the top-flight for the first time since 2004.

Fittingly the winning goal was bagged by striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, the club's top scorer this season, who claimed his 25th goal of the campaign.

Absent from the the previous three games through injury, Ebanks-Blake struck just after half-time.

The prolific striker netted from close-range after good work from Andy Keogh.

Mick McCarthy's side won promotion leading from the front after going top of the Championship in October, while they have occupied one of the two automatic promotion places since the third game of the season.

The win means Wolves are all but assured of ending the season as divisional champions.

With two games to play, they are six points clear of second-placed Birmingham with a vastly superior goal difference.

Wolves rode their luck at times after Ebanks-Blake's goal, notably when Rowan Vine's shot deflected off Christophe Berra before hitting the bar.

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Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey then did well to deny Heidar Helguson when the QPR striker was sent clear.

But in front of a sold-out Molineux, Wolves held on for the three points and a place in the cash-rich Premier League.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy: "I'm not sure I can articulate well enough how I'm feeling.

"I'm knackered, I'm beaming on the inside, I'm absolutely thrilled by our achievements. I'm very proud of the players, they've been brilliant all season long.

"It doesn't register, it doesn't sink in. It's not something you can really savour, you just enjoy the high of it for the moment and savour it when I wake up on Sunday."

QPR caretaker-manager Gareth Ainsworth: "I don't want to take anything away from Wolves, it's their day.

"I've got a lot of respect for Mick McCarthy. It would be nice to be in the same situation next season.

"I think this was one of their tougher games. We could have put a dampner on the situation had we taken one of our chances in the second half."

Wolverhampton: Hennessey, Foley, Craddock, Berra, Stephen Ward (Stearman 79), Edwards, Henry, Jones (Vokes 65), Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake (Harewood 60), Keogh.
Subs Not Used: Higgs, Reid.

Booked: Stephen Ward.

Goals: Ebanks-Blake 46.

QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Gorkss, Connolly, Routledge, Lopez (Leigertwood 85), Mahon, Cook (Ephraim 63), Vine (Taarabt 63), Helguson.
Subs Not Used: Delaney, Miller.

Booked: Lopez.

Att: 27,511

Ref: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).