Queens Park Rangers secure promotion to the Premier League by beating Derby County 1-0 in the Championship play-off final

Bobby Zamora curling the ball in for the goal

A last minute Bobby Zamora goal gave 10 man Queens Park Rangers a smash and grab 1-0 win over Derby County in the Championship playoff final.

The win seals QPR’s return to the Premier League, just one season after they were relegated from the top flight. They join Leicester City and Burnley as the teams to have been promoted from the Championship this season.

Derby dominated for most of the game, and will regret not converting any of the multiple chances they had during the game while QPR have Robert Green to thank for after he had a blinder of a game, saving everything that came his way to keep his team in the match.

Zamora curled in a lovely finish after Keogh failed to clear a Junior Hoilett cross in the 90th minute, making this the second time that he made the difference in a Championship final, after West Ham in 2005.

What makes this even worse for Derby County is that QPR were down to 10 men at the hour mark as Gary O’Neil was sent off when he was the last man for clipping Johnny Russell’s heels when he was clean through on goal.

This loss extends Steve Mclaren’s miserable record at Wembley while Harry Redknapp can look forward to managing in the Premier League again.