Hector, Reid earn EPL promotion with Fulham

Jamaica internationals Bobby Reid and Michael Hector will play in England's top flight next season after their championship side Fulham defeated Brentford 2-1 in Championship play-off final yesterday at the Wembley Stadium in London.

Left back Joe Bryan was the hero for Fulham, scoring a brace to send the Cottagers back to the English Premier League (EPL) after being relegated last year. They will join Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion in the top flight who earned promotion by finishing first and second, respectively, in the country's second tier.

Required extra time

The match required extra time after both teams finished 0-0 in regulation. The breakthrough finally came in the 105th minute when Bryan's free kick caught Brentford goalkeeper David Raya off balance and sailed into the net. Bryan secured the victory in the 117th minute finishing from close range after a pass from substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic. Brentford could only manage a consolation goal from Henrik Dalsgaard at the stroke of full time.

While Reid will be making a return to the elite division, Hector will have his opportunity to play in the top flight outright at age 28. Although he signed for Chelsea in 2015, he has constantly been sent on loan to the lower tiers of English football with spells at Reading, Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday. His journey to the EPL also included a stop in the German Bundesliga in 2016 with Eintracht Frankfurt.

He eventually left Chelsea for Fulham in January where he made 20 league appearances registering two assists.

Meanwhile, Reid's only Premier League season was in the 2018-2019 campaign while still a member of Cardiff City. He scored five goals and registered two assists but could not survive relegation. He went on loan to Fulham last August and the move was made permanent in January. He started 42 league games this season for Fulham scoring six goals and registering three assists.

With Fulham's promotion, the 2020-21 EPL season will feature a total of six teams from London (West Ham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspurs and Crystal Palace).