West Bromwich Albion seal Premier League return

West Bromwich Albion secured a quick return to the Premier League by wrapping up promotion from the Championship with a 3-2 win at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

Roberto Di Matteo’s side, relegated from the top flight last year, completed their escape from English football’s second tier after moving 11 points clear of third-place Nottingham Forest with only three matches left for both teams.

Graham Dorrans’ superb free-kick in the 31st minute put Albion ahead and Chris Brunt’s strike increased the visitors’ lead just before half-time.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas pulled one back for Rovers two minutes into the second half, only for Roman Bednar’s 73rd-minute finish to restore the Baggies’ two-goal advantage.

James Hayter added a second for Doncaster in the 85th minute to ensure a nervous finale, but the visitors held on to ensure they joined Newcastle United in clinching promotion just a year after dropping out of the Premier League.

Newcastle remained firmly on course for the title as they thrashed Blackpool 4-1 at St James’ Park to stay six points clear of Albion.

First-half goals from Jonas Gutierrez and Andy Carroll put Chris Hughton’s team in command before half-time and Kevin Nolan and Wayne Routledge extended their advantage after the break.

Brett Ormerod’s goal after 85 minutes for Blackpool was scant consolation for the play-off hopefuls.

Forest strolled to a 3-0 win over Ipswich at the City Ground thanks to goals in the second period from Luke Chambers, Guy Moussi and Robert Earnshaw.

Neil Warnock enjoyed his return to Crystal Palace as his QPR side won a crucial relegation clash 2-0 at Selhurst Park.

Akos Buzsaky’s 11th-minute goal put Rangers in front and a Kaspars Gorkss header after an hour sealed a win that boosts QPR’s survival bid and leaves Palace just one point above the relegation zone.

Fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday remain third from bottom after going down 1-0 at Middlesbrough.

Australian striker Scott McDonald’s deflected goal five minutes before the break kept Gordon Strachan’s side in the play-off hunt.

Swansea’s play-off hopes suffered a blow as they went down 1-0 at Bristol City, with Leicester moving above the Swans into fifth as Gary Johnson’s first game in charge of already-relegated Peterborough ended in a 2-1 defeat.

Fourth-placed Cardiff were held to a goalless draw by Reading.

Watford clinched a vital 1-0 win over second-bottom Plymouth as Heidar Helguson got the decisive goal in the 50th minute at Vicarage Road to move the hosts three points clear of the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, Preston scored twice in the last five minutes to beat Scunthorpe 3-2 at Deepdale, while Richard Cresswell’s goal earned Sheffield United a 1-0 win at home to Coventry and Barnsley’s clash with Derby ended goalless.