Championship final day LIVE: Results, final scores and reaction as Sheffield United and Luton win play-off places
Follow the live updates from all 12 Championship games as the final two play-off berths are confirmed
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sheffield United thrashed champions Fulham 4-0 to book their place in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs.
Fulham had scored 106 goals in 45 games and hammered Luton 7-0 on Monday to secure the Championship title.
But Marco Silva’s side were cut apart by the Blades inside 25 minutes at Bramall Lane.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge all punished poor Fulham defending and Enda Stevens added another in the second period.
Fifth-placed Sheffield United will play Nottingham Forest in the play-offs, while Luton meet Huddersfield.
Luton sealed sixth place with a 1-0 home victory over Reading, in which Harry Cornick’s winner came in bizarre fashion on the stroke of half-time.
Royals goalkeeper Orjan Nyland rolled the ball out unaware that Cornick was behind him, and the Hatters striker pounced on the loose ball to score.
Middlesbrough’s promotion dream died with a 4-1 defeat at Preston. Follow all the reaction on the final day of the Championship season below:
Championship final day latest
Sheffield United thrashed champions Fulham 4-0 to book their place in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs.
Fulham had scored 106 goals in 45 games and hammered Luton 7-0 on Monday to secure the Championship title.
But Marco Silva’s side were cut apart by the Blades inside 25 minutes at Bramall Lane.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge all punished poor Fulham defending and Enda Stevens added another in the second period.
Fifth-placed Sheffield United will play Nottingham Forest in the play-offs, while Luton meet Huddersfield.
Luton sealed sixth place with a 1-0 home victory over Reading, in which Harry Cornick’s winner came in bizarre fashion on the stroke of half-time.
Royals goalkeeper Orjan Nyland rolled the ball out unaware that Cornick was behind him, and the Hatters striker pounced on the loose ball to score.
Middlesbrough’s promotion dream died with a 4-1 defeat at Preston.
Full report on the final day here:
Sheffield United and Luton claim play-off spots as Boro fall short on final day
The Blades will face Nottingham Forest in the play-off semi-finals, with Luton set to meet Huddersfield
Championship final day latest
West Brom ended their Championship season with an emphatic 4-0 win to pile even more misery on relegated Barnsley.
The Baggies, with one of the biggest wage budgets in the division, had been expected to push for an instant return to the Premier League following relegation last year.
But having started the season under head coach Valerien Ismael, new manager Steve Bruce was only able to steer them to a 10th placed-finish.
The Baggies, though, did give their supporters some reason for optimism on the final day, with a brace from Karlan Grant as well as strikes from Adam Reach and Matt Clarke seeing them to victory at The Hawthorns.
With their number of absentees stretching into double figures, Barnsley caretaker head coach Martin Devaney named a youthful side with Cauley Woodrow their only outfield player aged over 22.
And the Tykes struggled to get to grips with West Brom right from the off.
In the 20th minute, goalkeeper Jack Walton made a smart stop to smother the ball at the feet of Grant after he had been put through by Semi Ajayi.
Then in the 26th minute, Dara O’Shea sent a powerful header over the bar following a Matt Phillips corner.
Despite their dominance, it was a refereeing blunder from Leigh Doughty that allowed Albion to open the scoring in the 37th minute.
The official pointed to the spot after judging that Clarke Oduor had fouled Jayson Molumby in the box, despite the Barnsley defender clearly getting the ball.
Grant then fired in from 12 yards for his 17th goal of the season.
There was no element of luck about Albion’s second which arrived in the 40th minute.
David Button sent a long ball forward and with fellow keeper Walton caught in two minds, Reach brilliantly lifted the ball over his head and into the net from 20 yards.
West Brom made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute. Grady Diangana found Grant in the box who then moved it on to an unmarked Clarke to fire in from six yards.
And in the 60th minute it was 4-0 with Ajayi slipping Grant through on goal and the striker brilliantly lifted the ball over Walton and in.
Albion were awarded what, this time, was a certain penalty in the 68th minute when Liam Kitching fouled Darnell Furlong.
Grant though was denied a hat-trick after opting for the same corner as his first penalty only for his low drive to be well saved by Walton.
The Baggies then came a whisker away from grabbing a fifth late on when youngster Caleb Taylor, making his Championship debut, produced a powerful header which Jasper Moon blocked on the line.
PA
Championship final day latest
Sammie Szmodics scored twice as already-relegated Peterborough bowed out of the Championship with a thumping 5-0 victory against a much-changed Blackpool at London Road.
Posh’s fate had been sealed two weeks ago, but a disappointing year in the second tier was at least rounded off by what was comfortably their biggest win of it.
Unlike them, Blackpool have another season at this level to look forward to, but they were never at the races after making seven alterations to the team beaten by Derby in their final home game of the campaign.
Peterborough worked the game’s first opening after four minutes when Harrison Burrows fed the ball inside for Jack Taylor, whose shot was pushed behind by Chris Maxwell.
The Blackpool goalkeeper was soon called upon again when he needed to get down to his right to keep out a dipping and swerving effort by the marauding Ricky-Jade Jones.
Jonson Clarke-Harris was then the latest to be denied by Maxwell as Posh controlled the opening stages.
Following a good break by Kwame Poku, Jones sent in a good cross from the left that was met by a Taylor header that Maxwell did well to claw away to safety.
The hosts continued to be frustrated by the visiting captain when Maxwell had to have his wits about him at his near post to turn Szmodics’ effort aside.
But Peterborough’s dominance was finally rewarded after 36 minutes when Poku’s pass put Clarke-Harris through on goal and he rounded Maxwell before calmly finishing his 12th goal of the campaign.
Blackpool finally had a chance of their own five minutes before half-time when Callum Connolly stabbed wide from close range after Kevin Stewart had lifted the ball through.
The Posh had a chance to double their lead eight minutes into the second half when Poku tricked his way past Stewart before blasting over from a tricky angle.
Just when the game had started to drift, Peterborough did go 2-0 ahead after 62 minutes when Jones chipped a nice ball over the Blackpool defence for Szmodics to slide a low shot past Maxwell.
A lovely move then led to the Posh’s third as Poku played a good pass through for Burrows on the left and his first-time ball across goal gave Szmodics a tap-in as he grabbed his second of a comfortable afternoon.
Burrows then was given all the time in the world to cross from the left and an unmarked Jack Marriott cushioned in a volley, 10 minutes after stepping from the bench.
There was still time for Taylor to score the best of the bunch when, with the crowd willing him to shoot, he curled an absolute beauty into the top corner from 25 yards.
PA
Championship final day latest
Blackburn turned on the style for departing manager Tony Mowbray as he signed off with a 2-1 win against Birmingham at St. Andrew’s before a mass pitch invasion by home supporters at full-time chanting for the removal of the board.
Goal of the season contenders from John Buckley and Ben Brereton Diaz put Rovers comfortably in charge by half-time as Mowbray, 58, prepares to bow out after five years and 267 games in the Ewood Park hotseat.
Kristian Pedersen pulled one back late on but it was not enough to deny Blackburn’s 10th away success of the season.
Despite the efforts of stewards and police, thousands of Birmingham fans swarmed onto the pitch at the final whistle, and gathered in front of the Kop Stand to protest at the unpopular owners Birmingham Sports Holdings.
The win saw the visitors secure their highest finish in the Sky Bet Championship of eighth under the former Celtic, West Brom and Middlesbrough manager.
Birmingham’s 10th home defeat of the season left them in 20th spot amid talk of a takeover of the club by City supporter Paul Richardson and former Barcelona player Maxi Lopez.
Blackburn made the better start and created two early chances after Birmingham prospect Jordan James fired straight at goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.
Former Birmingham loan striker Sam Gallagher sent a volley on the turn straight at goalkeeper Neil Etheridge from Harry Pickering’s pass.
Then Brereton Diaz, playing almost certainly his last game for Rovers as clubs look set to battle for his signature this summer, glanced well wide from Ryan Hedges’s cross.
Rovers forced the first save, in the 22nd minute. The lively Hedges cut in from the right onto his favoured left foot and his fiercely-hit low drive was pushed away by Etheridge.
Rovers took a deserved lead in the 29th minute with a superb goal started and finished by Buckley.
The 22-year-old midfielder, on his 99th appearance for the club, turned Ivan Sunjic just outside his own area before spreading play to Brereton Diaz, who found Hedges to tee up Buckley for a rising 25-yard drive that thundered into the top corner of the net.
Hedges should have made it 2-0 after Gallagher’s clever pass, but he blazed over with only Etheridge to beat.
Birmingham’s best effort of the half came in the 41st minute when Juninho Bacuna drilled well wide from Onel Hernandez’s pull back.
But Rovers deservedly doubled their lead in the 45th minute.
Brereton Diaz picked up a short pass from Pickering and, from just outside the left corner of the box, unleashed a tremendous curling shot into the far corner of the net for his 22nd goal of the season.
Birmingham improved after the break and Lyle Taylor’s header was tipped onto the post by Kaminski from Tahith Chong’s corner.
But Rovers continued to carve out more chances, forcing Etheridge into two more saves.
Brereton Diaz forced a diving save with a low curling shot from the edge of the box before Hedges’s dinked effort was blocked.
Pedersen, playing his last game for the club, reduced the arrears in the 78th minute.
The Danish left-back exchanged passes with James and beat two players before sliding a shot past Kaminski.
Etheridge again denied Rovers when he blocked a shot from clean-through substitute Dilan Markanday.
PA
Championship final day latest
Harry Cornick’s moment of quick-thinking on the stroke of half-time saw Luton secure their Championship play-off place with a 1-0 victory over Reading.
Up against a side who had nothing to play for, a win was all the hosts needed and they managed it thanks to Cornick’s 13th goal of the season.
Any result might have done for the hosts depending on scores elsewhere while with Middlesbrough and Millwall going on to lose, it meant events at Kenilworth Road actually didn’t matter a great deal in the end.
Town wasted a glorious chance in the opening minute as Jordan Clark sent Cameron Jerome clean through but the experienced striker could only shoot low down at Orjan Nyland, who saved comfortably.
Allan Campbell then fired over the bar on the run from Jerome’s knockdown as Town looked to make a fast start to proceedings, Campbell also heading straight at Nyland and Sonny Bradley putting James Bree’s free-kick too close to the Royals stopper.
Jerome had another effort when meeting Reece Burke’s cross but couldn’t keep his header down.
Reading threatened to spoil the party when Ovie Ejaria broke into the box but his deflected attempt was parried by the body of Matt Ingram.
At the other end, Bree tried his luck from a free-kick which did not miss the bottom corner by much.
Town then took the lead on the stroke of half-time with a goal Nyland will not want to see back again.
After gathering Amari’i Bell’s low cross, he took his time before dropping the ball to the floor to clear, only to fail to see Cornick lurking behind him.
The Luton attacker nipped in to take a touch and slot the ball into the net for a huge goal in Town’s play off bid.
After the break, Cornick was first to show once more, his header going over the top from Burke’s delivery.
Town stayed on the front foot, though, a rebound falling to Bree 25 yards from goal as he curled narrowly wide of the target before Jerome fashioned a shooting chance all for himself, crashing his effort against the woodwork and away.
Reading went close when Michael Morrison reached a deep cross at the back post, his header rebounding off keeper Ingram before Yakou Meite dragged wide from the edge of the box.
Bradley did superbly to block from Morrison as the centre-back had a go from range, slicing tamely wide of the goal.
The final few minutes turned into a celebration for the Hatters’ faithful, safe in the knowledge their season was extended by a further two games and hopefully a final at Wembley.
PA
Championship final day latest
Huddersfield enjoyed the perfect preparation for their Championship play-off campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Bristol City.
The Terriers, who moved up to third with victory, extended their unbeaten run to seven games thanks to two strikes before the interval.
Harry Toffolo opened the scoring after a smart solo run with Danny Ward doubling the hosts’ lead.
The visiting Robins - in a purple patch themselves after scoring eight goals in their last two games - could not continue their run of five matches without defeat.
Despite making six changes to his line-up, Carlos Corberan’s side started brightly and dictated the early stages.
However, it was free-scoring Bristol City - whose season tally of 62 goals is bettered only by the top six - that had the game’s first effort on target.
Chris Martin lifted a precise delivery to strike partner Antoine Semenyo, but the latter’s powerful strike from an acute angle was parried by Jamal Blackman.
City’s threat was soon extinguished though, with Huddersfield taking a lead that their play warranted.
Defender Toffolo skipped smartly past two challenges before firing low into the corner beyond an onrushing Daniel Bentley, igniting the game into life after the half-hour mark.
Forward Martin nearly found an immediate response if not for Blackman’s efforts, with the keeper impressing in his first league start since a January switch.
Huddersfield nearly doubled their advantage when an accurate Pipa cross was flicked on by Duane Holmes, only for Bentley to make a miraculous instinctive save.
However, the Robins’ resolve was soon broken when a dangerous Holmes delivery was bundled home by Ward - his 14th league strike of the season.
Huddersfield’s control was not hindered by the interval as they quickly returned to the ascendancy after the restart.
An influential Danel Sinani shrugged off the challenge of veteran defender Timm Klose before firing low to Bentley’s left, but the keeper did well to save.
Klose had a golden opportunity to then halve City’s arrears when the ball fell kindly at his feet in the area, but his strike whistled wide of the target.
Jonathan Hogg, Toffolo and Sinani were all withdrawn before the hour mark as Corberan switched his attention to their play-off endeavours.
But their absence for the final 30 minutes did not sway the hosts’ dominance with Ward - also a goalscorer in the reverse fixture in December - thwarted by Bentley from a one-on-one situation.
Huddersfield dictated the latter stages to keep a 19th clean sheet of the season and will now host Luton in the first leg of their play-off semi final on Friday.
Championship final day latest
Massive performance from the Blades on the last day and a real effort from one of the league’s smallest spenders in Luton - at least two more matches now for both to get through.
Championship final day latest
Full time everywhere!
The play-off spots finish:
3rd Huddersfield
4th Nottingham Forest
5th Sheffield United
6th Luton
It’s Huddersfield vs Luton and Forest vs Sheffield United in the semi-finals.
Championship final day latest
GOAL!
Hold on! All-change again as it wasn’t a winner...Hull have gone straight down the other end and netted an equaliser!
Of course there had to be something dramatic, didn’t there?! Always in the Championship.
Keane Lewis-Potter netted for the Tigers.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments