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Wolves players celebrate promotion to Premier League

Wolves have been promoted to the Premier League with four games to spare after Fulham drew at home to Brentford.

Fulham needed to win all four of their remaining matches to stand any chance of catching the Championship leaders.

But Neal Maupay's injury-time equaliser earned the Bees a 1-1 draw and ensured Wolves will play in the top flight next season for the first time since 2012.

Wanderers, who host Birmingham on Sunday, require a maximum of four points to be crowned champions.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have led the Championship table since 18 November and at one stage had looked on course to challenge the Championship record points tally of 106, set by Reading in 2005-06.

A sequence of poor results in January and February saw that possibility diminish, although they could still reach a maximum of 104 points if they win their remaining four games, starting with Sunday's West Midlands derby against Birmingham City.

Chinese owners Fosun have spent heavily to help Wolves achieve promotion, although the method of their player recruitment has been questioned by some other Championship clubs.

In March, Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani confirmed he had written a letter to the English Football League to clarify the legality of Wolves' links with Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes, although the Molineux club do not believe they have broken any rules.

Nuno spearheads Wolves revival

Nuno Espirito Santo took Porto to the last 16 of the Champions League in 2016-17

In the six seasons since they were last in the Premier League, Wolves have had six different managers, been down to League One and changed owners.

Under Nuno, who became head coach in May 2017, Wolves have built a side which many pundits believe is one of the best to be assembled in England's second division.

Financial backing was key to that. After twice breaking their transfer record last season to sign forwards Ivan Cavaleiro and Helder Costa from Monaco and Benfica respectively, they then paid a Championship-record fee, reported to be £15.8m, to sign Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves from Porto in the summer.

Nuno, who has previously managed Valencia and Porto, has employed a 3-4-3 formation which makes the most of Wolves' pace and energy in wide positions but has also provided a solid base to keep 21 clean sheets in 42 league games so far.

The former goalkeeper, who played under Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho at Porto, has made headlines in recent weeks for his exuberant celebrations at Middlesbrough and Cardiff.

But, while the 44-year-old may have angered opposition managers Tony Pulis and Neil Warnock, the passion shown after those important late-season victories has only endeared him even more to the Molineux crowd witnessing some of the best football they have seen for decades.

Star man - Ruben Neves

Ruben Neves (left) is expected to be named in Portugal's squad for the upcoming World Cup in Russia

With such a hefty price tag, Neves simply had to deliver in his first season in English football and he has done so spectacularly.

His recycling of the ball and passing range are critical to how Wolves play, while all six of his goals - the pick of them a stunning 30-yard volley in Wednesday's 2-0 home win over Derby - have been scored from outside the penalty area.

His performances have seen him called up to recent Portugal squads in the lead up to the World Cup and shortlisted for the EFL's Championship player of the year award alongside Fulham duo Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon.

Five key matches

October's win over Aston Villa took Wolves top of the Championship for the first time this season

Wolves 1-2 Cardiff - 19 August, 2017

After starting with three successive league wins, Wolves' first defeat against in-form Cardiff gave their foreign imports an idea of the challenges posed in the Championship.

Wolves struggled to fully come to terms with the visitors' physicality and a well-taken winner by former Molineux youngster Nathaniel Mendez-Laing gave the Welsh side victory.

Wolves 2-0 Aston Villa - 14 October, 2017

Wolves climbed to the top of the Championship for the first time this season with a dominant performance against local rivals Villa.

Diogo Jota and Leo Bonatini got their goals as Wolves demonstrated their quality in front of a live television audience.

Bristol City 1-2 Wolves - 30 December, 2017

Against a Bristol City side flying in the Championship and fresh from reaching the Carabao Cup semi-finals, Wolves needed all of their resolve to go 10 points clear at the top.

They recovered from Danny Batth's early red card and a 1-0 deficit to strike a huge blow in the promotion race, Ryan Bennett heading a stoppage-time winner to spark wild celebrations at Ashton Gate.

Middlesbrough 1-2 Wolves - 30 March, 2018

Wolves raced into a 2-0 half-time lead but referee Stuart Attwell's decision not to penalise Boro defender George Friend for an apparent trip on Costa when he was through on goal incensed the visitors.

A crazy few minutes followed. Wolves lost their heads, Neves and Matt Doherty were sent off and Wanderers held on to win despite playing the final 20 minutes with only nine men.

Cardiff 0-1 Wolves - 6 April, 2018

One moment of quality and two penalty failures in another amazing finale settled a match between the Championship's top two and put Wolves on the brink of promotion.

Leading through Neves' superb free-kick, Wolves conceded two spot-kicks in stoppage time. Keeper John Ruddy saved from Gary Madine before Junior Hoilett struck the bar with the last kick of the match.

How Wolves reacted on Twitter...

Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has been unable to play this season after being diagnosed with leukaemia in July

Scottish full-back Barry Douglas has scored four goals and claimed 14 assists for Wolves this season