Fulham held off Aston Villa to win the play-off final 1-0 and return to the Premier League for the first time since 2014.
With Wolves And Cardiff already having long since guaranteed their places in next season's Premier League it came down to Aston Villa and Fulham to fight it out in the play-off final for the last place.
The sun of last week's FA Cup final at Wembley managed to stick around for the cliched 'richest game in English football' with the winner guaranteed around £100 million even if they finish bottom of the Premier League next season.
The final saw the side that finished third in Fulham, who were unlucky not to go up automatically on the last day of the season, against Steve Bruce's fourth placed side.
Advert
It was the West London side who had the best of the opening exchanges and on 23 minutes the Cottagers went ahead. There was great work from teenager Ryan Sessegnon and the Englishman played a slide rule ball into the box for the on rushing Tom Cairney.
The Scot ran onto the ball and opened his body up, side footing the ball past Sam Johnstone in the Villa goal.
Perhaps the biggest moment of note in the opening 45 minutes was a stamp by Ryan Fredericks on Jack Grealish that took place right in front of the benches and Bruce was incensed when the Fulham player went unpunished.
Advert
The Midlands club were trying to play everything through the talented Grealish and he had a chance early in the second half to level things up when he went past a couple of players and got into the box but his shot was straight at Fulham's keeper.
Just moments later the former Ireland under 21 player was lucky to stay on the pitch himself. His lunge on Cairney just outside Fulham's own area was late and ugly and could have been a red card but was only yellow.
Stefan Johansen should have put Slaviša Jokanović's two goals up but put the ball over the bar from the edge of the area after more good work from Sessegnon and then Aboubakar Kamara claimed a penalty after going down in the area but there wasn't much in it.
Advert
Just a minute later Fulham were down to 10 men when Denis Odoi saw red for a second bookable offence. He was tricked by Grealish and could only clumsily bring the 22 year old down.
Fulham still had 20 minutes left to hang on to their slim lead and now with a player down.
The Craven Cottage side managed to keep Villa at bay with Robert Snodgrass' free-kick from the edge of the area the best chance for Bruce's side but it sailed wide of the post.
Grealish felt he should have had a penalty with three minutes of the five added on to go but Anthony Taylor was right to wave it away.
Advert
Welcome back to the Premier League Fulham.
Featured Image Credit: