Championship: Luton’s Kazenga LuaLua pushes Hull to brink of relegation after Stoke stun Brentford

There were plenty of goals as Blackburn won a seven-goal thriller with Reading, Fulham beat Wednesday 5-3, and QPR edged out Milwall 4-3 to end the south London side’s play-off hopes

Luton celebrate their late winner by Kazenga LuaLua (PA)

Hull City are on the verge of relegation to League One after losing a crucial relegation showdown to Luton Town. Kazenga LuaLua’s late goal condemned Hull to defeat, leaving them three points from safety with only one game to play.

The Tigers must now win their final game of the season, away against play-off chasing Cardiff City, to have any chance of staying in the Championship, although there are external factors which could come into play.

At the end of a tense encounter, LuaLua seemed to pose little threat as he picked up possession just inside the Hull half, but his bobbling shot from 25 yards was enough to beat Matt Ingram in goal.

Hull’s owner Assem Allam is already facing accusations of mismanagement with the club in financial difficulty and having failed to tie down key players to contracts in time for the restarted season, and relegation will only add to the club’s struggles.

Wigan Athletic will be docked 12 points at the end of the season for entering administration. Wigan currently have 58 points, 13 more than Hull and only 10 more than both Hull and Charlton, against whom they drew 2-2 on Saturday.

Sheffield Wednesday could also be dragged into the picture. The Owls, who are eight points clear of trouble, have yet to discover their fate regarding the club’s controversial sale and leaseback of Hillsborough to chairman Dejphon Chansiri, but could have points deducted.

There were plenty of goals as Blackburn won a seven-goal thriller with Reading, Fulham beat Wednesday 5-3, and QPR edged out Milwall 4-3 to end the south London side’s play-off hopes.

Cardiff’s 3-1 win at Middlesbrough put them in pole position to clinch the final play-off spot on the final day, with that home game against Hull to come and a three point cushion over Welsh rivals Swansea, who beat Bristol City 1-0.

Earlier Stoke City stunned Brentford to deny the Bees the chance to move into an automatic promotion spot, and in doing so confirmed Leeds United’s title triumph.

Results

Blackburn 4-3 Reading

Charlton 2-2 Wigan

Fulham 5-3 Sheffield Wednesday

Hull City 0-1 Luton Town

Middlesbrough 1-3 Cardiff City

Preston 2-0 Birmingham City

QPR 4-3 Millwall

Swansea City 1-0 Bristol City