Ipswich finished the season in third place in the First Division, missing out on the two automatic places for promotion to the Premiership and instead took part in the play-offs for the fourth year running, to determine the third promoted team.[1] Ipswich finished two points behind Manchester City (who were promoted in second place) and four behind league winners Charlton Athletic.
On the final day of the league season Ipswich played Walsall, and won 2–0 with two goals from Ipswich's top scorer David Johnson, who finished the season with 22 goals. At one point, after his first goal, second place Manchester City were trailing to Blackburn, meaning that Ipswich would qualify for promotion automatically.[2] However, this only lasted nine minutes, with City eventually scoring four goals to win the match and secure promotion.[3]
In the play-off semi-finals, Ipswich faced sixth-placed Bolton Wanderers, who had beaten them in the semi-final the previous year.[2] After a 2–2 draw in the first leg away at the Reebok Stadium, Ipswich won 5–3 at Portman Road, winning 7–5 on aggregate.[4][5][6]
In the play-off final, the last domestic competitive fixture at Wembley Stadium before the stadium was redeveloped,[7]
Ipswich played fourth-placed Barnsley, beating them 4–2 and finally securing their return to the Premiership after an absence of five years.[8]
First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.