Portsmouth 3-2 Barnsley: Pompey seal promotion with late winner

Portsmouth came from behind to beat Barnsley 3-2 and seal promotion to the Championship thanks to late goal from defender Conor Shaughnessy.

It means they return to the Championship for the first time since 2012.

John McAtee had silenced the Fratton Park crowd, calmly slotting the ball into the net shortly before the hour mark, before the late turnaround which led to the home fans streaming onto the pitch at the final whistle.

Before the game, the Blues knew that a point would be enough to secure promotion and all three would bring them the League One title.

Tykes forward Devante Cole poked home from close range for his eighteenth league goal of the season to give the visitors a sixth-minute lead.

But Portsmouth responded just three minutes later, the ball breaking to Kusini Yengi who thumped home from 10 yards out.

Abu Kamara's good work down the right wing played a big part in the goal, with his pace causing problems for the Barnsley defence early on.

Yengi's emphatic strike was his eighth league goal of the season and put Mousinho's side back on track.

Pompey goalkeeper Will Norris came to his side's aid just after the 30 minute mark, denying McAtee who raced through on goal and after the break the visitors continued to look dangerous.

They made Portsmouth pay on 59 minutes when McAtee received the ball on the edge of the Portsmouth box before finishing well to give the Tykes the lead.

But Portsmouth were far from done as substitute Christian Saydee drove into the Barnsley box and was taken down to earn a penalty for his side.

Bishop struck the ball into the back of the net and Shaughnessy's late heroics sent the home fans into wild celebrations.

Pompey end 12-year absence from second tier

Pompey's promotion to the Championship ends a 12-year absence from English football's second tier.

It caps a long way back to where they started having suffered successive relegations to League Two in the midst of financial troubles soon afterwards.

Eventually, stability followed, with former Disney CEO Michael Eisner purchasing the club in 2017 with a long-term plan to lift the club out of the English Football League (EFL) and return them to the Premier League.

Eisner's arrival at Pompey came after Paul Cook had led the club to the League Two title, but their stay in League One has lasted seven seasons.

In stepped John Mousinho, who took over in his first head coach job - having previously being involved as a player and coach at Oxford United - has efficiently guided the club back to the second tier in style.

After victory against Shrewsbury, a win at fellow automatic promotion chasers Bolton was the first opportunity for Portsmouth to seal their return to the Championship.

An exceptional season has seen Mousinho's side promoted with an eight-point gap between them and second place confirming the promotion and the title.

Their forwards have been in fine form this campaign with Colby Bishop and Abu Kamara contributing at least 20 goals each across all competitions, while winger Paddy Lane has contributed towards 18 goals.

The Blues have topped the League One table throughout 2024 and will look to continue their momentum to return to the top flight after 14 years away.

Listen to a Portsmouth promotion special on BBC Radio Solent from 18:00 BST to 19:00 BST on Wednesday, 17 May, or listen again on BBC Sounds.