Levi Colwill’s own goal was the difference as Nottingham Forest secured promotion to the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final.

Steve Cooper’s side were in the ascendancy in the first half and their reward at Wembley Stadium came when Colwill turned into their own net after 43 minutes.

Huddersfield were hurt in the second half after referee Jonathan Moss failed to award Harry Toffolo a penalty for a challenge from Jack Colback, and Lewis O’Brien also had a strong case for a spot kick.

But Forest held on to secure their return to the Premier League for the first time since the 1998-99 season.

Forest got off to a promising start when Ryan Yates headed wide wide from a James Garner free-kick.

Yates squandered another presentable chance, but the pressure from Cooper’s side seemed to have eased until just before the interval, when Colwill inadvertently turned away towards his own goal after Garner’s teasing cross.

Yates obediently fired into the hands of Huddersfield’s Lee Nicholls after the break, while an unmarked Jonathan Hogg headed unnecessarily from Sorba Thomas’ corner at the other end.

Huddersfield grew in the game after the hour mark and Toffolo thought he had won a penalty but instead was booked for diving after falling under Colback’s challenge.

O’Brien was denied what appeared to be an equally strong call following clumsy play by Max Lowe, leaving Huddersfield furious at defeat as Forest – who had to withdraw goalkeeper Brice Samba due to a an injury – got a promotion.

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Forest, playing in their first English Football League play-off final, were the dominant force for much of it against Carlos Corberan’s side and earned a deserved victory.

Twice European Cup winners in the Brian Clough era, Forest will feel they have rightly returned to the English top flight, while Cooper eventually won promotion through the Championship play-offs in the third time.

Cooper’s incredible turnaround

Cooper inherited a Forest side that languished in the relegation zone at the start of the season after Chris Hughton was sacked in mid-September.

He transformed Forest’s fortunes, triumphing in 27 of his 45 games in charge with a winning percentage of 60 – the highest of any Forest manager to take charge of at least 15 games since the club joined the League football in 1892-93.

Colwill fight

Chelsea loanee Colwill was unfortunate when he overtook his own goalkeeper Lee Nicholls in the first half.

It made Colwill the first player to score an own goal in a Championship play-off final since Joe Allen in 2011, and Huddersfield could not recover from there.

And after?

Forest can prepare for life in big moments, with Premier League fixtures confirmed next month and the new season starting in early August. Huddersfield will compete in the Championship again next season.