QPR clinch promotion

DIVISION TWO UPS & DOWNS Up: Plymouth & QPR Play-offs: Bristol City, Brighton, Swindon & Hartlepool Down: Wycombe, Notts County, Rushden & Grimsby

QPR edged out Bristol City to claim automatic promotion from Division Two with a 3-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

The Robins won 2-1 against Blackpool but will have to be content with a play-off place.

Swindon and Hartlepool also booked their play-off places with a 1-1 draw at the County Ground that left Port Vale missing out on goal difference.

Vale's 2-0 win at Rushden consigned their hosts to relegation along with Grimsby who lost at Tranmere.

Kevin Gallen and Paul Furlong gave Rangers a scent of a first promotion in 21 years, and after Jon Shaw pulled one back for Wednesday, the result was confirmed by a Chris Carr own goal.

At the whistle thousands of travelling supporters swarmed the Hillsbrough pitch to celebrate promotion.

The scenes were a far cry from those at Ashton Gate where the home fans were left with the consolation of a play-off place.

PLAY-OFF DATES 15 May: H'pool v Bristol City 16 May: Swindon v Brighton 19 May: Bristol City v H'pool 20 May: Brighton v Swindon

A quickfire first-half Christian Roberts brace sent City's supporters into delirium, but as news of QPR's scoreline came through they soon realised that their hopes were dashed.

However, they will get a second bite of the cherry in the play-offs against Hartlepool.

Swindon and Hartlepool met knowing a draw would be good enough to send both teams through at Port Vale's expense, and when Pool's Adam Boyd cancelled out Sammy Igoe's opener the teams played out for a point apiece.

Vale won at Rushden to send their hosts down, and for much of the afternoon it seemed as if Chesterfield would be joining them in the Third Division.

But Glynn Hurst's winner two minutes from time against Luton saw the Spirerites climb out of the drop zone, with Grimsby going down having let a 1-0 lead slip against 10-man Tranmere.