Blues are back in the Premier League.

A 2-1 win against Reading sealed Blues' return to the top flight of English football at the Madejski Stadium.

Strikes from Keith Fahey and Kevin Phillips earned Alex McLeish's side a hard earned victory on an afternoon of high intensity in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Blues found themselves 2-0 up by the hour mark but Reading pulled a goal back through Marek Matejovski on 61 minutes and it made for a few nervous moments until Howard Webb blew for full-time.

Joyous scenes emerged on the pitch and in the stands with players and fans alike as Premier League football beckons at St. Andrew's for 2009/10.

Blues boss Alex McLeish handed top scorer Phillips a start in one of four changes for the final day trip to Reading.

Cameron Jerome partnered Phillips upfront as Garry O'Connor dropped to the bench, while James McFadden slotted in on the right side of the midfield with Sebastian Larsson having to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench after struggling all week with a shoulder injury.

Lee Carsley returned to the midfield in place of the suspended Lee Bowyer while Franck Queudrue missed out through injury, so Martin Taylor came in at centre-back alongside Radhi Jaidi.

As expected the game began at a fast and intense pace without either team fashioning any clear cut chances.

On seven minutes Royals keeper Marcus Hahnemann had to be alert when Stephen Carr floated a dangerous ball into the area with Jerome lurking nearby.

Shortly after McFadden's defence cutting pass found Jerome on the wing, the powerful striker cut the ball back to the waiting Fahey but the midfielder shot wide after coming under pressure from Michael Duberry.

It took until the 12th minute for Reading's first chance of the afternoon to arise. Jimmy Kebe cut inside from the wing to unleash a powerful shot from outside the area yet in the end it was a comfortable save for Maik Taylor.

Blues were beginning to find their groove and from a McFadden throw-in, Phillips attempted an acrobatic scissor kick from 10-yards out but his effort went wide.

That all important goal came for Blues on 19 minutes. McFadden's drilled shot across goal found Phillips, who headed the ball to Fahey on the outside of the penalty area. The Irishman brought the ball forward a few steps and curled the ball home underneath the body of Hahnemann.

For all the Reading pressure after the goal, Blues soaked it up and were playing some attractive football. McFadden was at the heart of all the positive moves and it was him that dispossessed Jay Tabb in the centre of the pitch. The Scotsman fed the ball through to the advancing Jerome, who could only fire a tame shot at the Royals keeper.

The passing and movement of Blues was a joy to behold. On 38 minutes a sweet flowing move involving saw Fahey weave his way through the Reading defence, his pass found Phillips on the edge of the area. With time on his side the diminutive striker picked his spot but Hahnemann's legs prevented Alex McLeish's side extending the lead.

The Blues defence was standing tall to Reading's attacking threat, Duberry went close on 40 when he flashed a header wide from a corner, although the former Chelsea defender claimed he had his shirt pulled.

Before half-time the Royals had two opportunities to level proceedings through Tabb and Liam Rosenior.

HALF-TIME: Reading 0 Blues 1

Blues began the second half in the same vein as the first. A lovely exchange between Carsley and Jerome saw the latter whip a delightful ball into the area but unfortunately there was nobody there to connect with it.

Jaidi displayed his defensive prowess with 50 minutes on the clock, the centre-half did enough to unsettle Reading striker Shane Long into making a rushed shot which flew wide.

The first substitution of the afternoon was made by Reading on 54 minutes with Matejovski replacing Jem Karacan. Soon after Royals top scorer Kevin Doyle entered the fray as Coppell looked to beef up his attacking options.

Silence was golden around the Madejski before the hour mark. Kevin Phillips latched onto Fahey's defence splitting through ball and the former England man made no mistake as he fired the ball home from 10-yards leaving Hahnemann no chance.

However Blues' 2-0 lead was short lived. One minute later substitute Matejovski pulled a goal back for Reading with a 20-yard pile driver shot after the ball broke loose following a corner.

Alex McLeish reshuffled his pack with Larsson replacing McFadden on 65 but all the attacking threat was being mustered by Reading.

Matejovski tested Taylor's reflexes with another thunderous effort which the keeper did well to push the ball to safety. Another Blues change was made on 72 with Phillips making way for Hameur Bouazza to adopt a 4-5-1 formation - similar to that displayed during the 2-0 away win at Doncaster.

Sub O'Connor almost extended Blues' lead when he fired a shot that agonisingly hit the post with only five minutes remaining.

Six minutes of additional time was indicated by the fourth official and Blues had to ride the storm set by Reading and they did. Blues are back in the Premier League and top flight football is now a certainty at St. Andrew's next season.

Reading (4-4-2): Marcus Hahnemann; Liam Rosenior, Andre Bikey, Michael Duberry (c), Dan Harding (Kevin Doyle 56); Jimmy Kebe, Jay Tabb, Jem Karacan (Marek Matejovski 54), Stephen Hunt; Shane Long, Dave Kitson. Subs not used: Adam Federici (GK), Kalifa Cisse, Brynjar Gunnarsson.

Blues (4-4-2): Maik Taylor; Stephen Carr, Radhi Jaidi, Martin Taylor, Djimi Traore; James McFadden (Sebastian Larsson 65), Damien Johnson, Lee Carsley (c), Keith Fahey; Cameron Jerome (Garry O'Connor 80), Kevin Phillips (Hameur Bouazza 72). Subs not used: Colin Doyle (GK), Marcus Bent.

Bookings: Jaidi (40), Traore (67)