Irish midfielder Moylan the hero as Lincoln seal Championship spot for first time since '61
MOY THE BOY: Lincoln City's Jack Moylan (second left) celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Sky Bet League One match at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, Reading. Picture date: Monday April 6, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
Irish midfielder Jack Moylan was the hero as Lincoln clinched promotion to the Sky Bet Championship for the first time since 1961 thanks to a hard-earned 2-1 victory at League One play-off chasers Reading.
Needing just one point to return to the second tier for the first time in 65 years, Lincoln made a bright start and went in front in only the fifth minute through Ryan One.
Reading levelled in the second minute of stoppage time at the end, from a Lewis Wing free-kick, but former Shelbourne star Moylan snatched the winner four minutes later, in keeping with a brilliant campaign in which the 24-year-old has scored 10 times in 29 games.
Meanwhile in the Championship Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna said his team deserved their first comeback win of the season, with the 2-1 victory over Birmingham clinched by Ireland international Kasey McAteer boosting their hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League.
The visitors stuck first in the Sky Bet Championship contest through Carlos Vicente, before the Tractor Boys scored two quick goals just before the break through Ben Johnson and McAteer.
Ipswich have games in hand over their immediate rivals and McKenna said: “A brilliant win, if I’m honest, in many ways.
“The first comeback win of the season is really important and I think it’s been coming. I’ve said that over the last few weeks and months."
Fellow Ireland international Mark Sykes was also on the mark when an inspired second-half performance from goalkeeper Radek Vitek helped Bristol City make it maximum points from two games under interim head coach Roy Hodgson with a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United at Ashton Gate.
The home side took a 23rd-minute lead when United goalkeeper Adam Davies advanced from his area to win a 50-50 challenge with Emil Riis and the ball ran loose for Sykes to guide home past covering defenders with a cool low finish.
Jordan Ayew’s late goal denied Sheffield Wednesday their first home win of the Championship season but it was not enough to drag Leicester out of the relegation zone as they drew 1-1 with the league’s bottom side.
Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles made incredible save after incredible save in a game the Foxes needed to win to move above fellow strugglers Oxford and Portsmouth.
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