Battles to claim a Championship playoff place and avoid relegation are to be decided on what is sure to be a dramatic final day.
Cardiff City have been relegated following their 0-0 draw against West Brom at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Aaron Ramsey’s side will play in League One next season with Bluebirds’ relegation marking an end to their 5-year stay in the second tier. They’ll play in the third tier for the first time in 22 years.
Luton escaped the bottom three with a last-gasp win over Coventry, who are chasing play-offs.
Plymouth face near-certain relegation despite beating Preston, who are just one point above the drop. Argyle’s horrible goal difference means they are basically down despite a win today.
Hull City fell into the relegation zone after losing to Derby, who climbed out of danger. Oxford United secured safety with a win over Sunderland, while Stoke remain at risk.
Millwall drew level with Coventry on points after beating Swansea, trailing sixth place only on goal difference.
Middlesbrough missed a top-six chance with a draw against Norwich, and Blackburn are one point behind Coventry after defeating Watford.
Two more sides are to join Cardiff in the third tier next week, however one of those will almost certainly be Plymouth Argyle.
There are also two places still to decide in the playoff spots, with Bristol City, Coventry, Millwall, Blackburn and Middlesbrough all battling for a top-six finish.
Just 13 games to play out in the Championship this season…
Monday, 28 April
Leeds v Bristol City (20:00 BST)
Saturday, 3 May
Bristol City v Preston
Burnley v Millwall
Coventry v Middlesbrough
Derby v Stoke
Norwich v Cardiff
Plymouth v Leeds
Portsmouth v Hull City
Sheffield United v Blackburn
Sunderland v QPR
Swansea v Oxford
Watford v Sheffield Wednesday
West Bromwich Albion v Luton
Stoke City (0) 0-2 (1) Sheffield United
Stoke City boss Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke:
“I thought we played well. First of all, they’ve given all they can give.
“We’ve had chances, there’s no doubt. We’ve played some good football and tried to be on the front foot against a top three side.
“All you can ask is for them to give you everything and they’ve done that.
“When we got into good positions to cross we hit the first man and we were a bit slow in the build-up from time to time but generally we tried to move it quickly and get the ball through them, that was pleasing. It’s just that last little bit.”
(On staying up) “It’s still in our hands. We’ve got one game to play and we’ve got to go and win it. The only thing we can do is go and beat Derby County next week.”
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:
“The energy of the group since Monday night has been outstanding and I thought the energy of the supporters was amazing tonight. They gave us a push tonight and I thank every one of them for that.
“We wanted to get back to being a winning football club. The attitude from when they came back for the first day of pre-season is we want to win. You have to have that.
“I think a lot of people would be thinking we’d be taking it easy and taking our foot off the gas, you can’t do that. You can’t just turn it on and off, you get hurt when you do that so it was important we went full tilt.
“It was a physical game, I thought there were some big challenges out there, and we never took a backwards step all night and got the result we wanted.”
Blackburn Rovers (0) 2-1 (0) Watford
Watford boss Tom Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio:
“For me, that was an unacceptable performance. It was way, way short of the demands we put on the players and the standards we set for large parts of the season.
“It was completely below the level in all aspects of the game. For me, it has significance on how we can enter the summer and prepare for next season to ensure we don’t fall short next season.
“We spent, I think, 10 weeks in the play-off places this season and next season we want to spend the last week in the play-offs, but performances like that are just unacceptable.
“It’s clear that we need to change quite a lot to ensure that it isn’t replicated. I’ll start with the culture and environment, for sure, I feel like it needs to go up a level.”
Cardiff City (0) 0-0 (0) West Brom
Cardiff interim boss Aaron Ramsey: “I’m gutted. I’m a fan as well. I’m sad to see this club going down. The fans have had a difficult time this season and I really feel for them. I know how they’re feeling,” Ramsey said.
“But also I want to say I’m proud of the last couple of performances. The level of effort the players have put in and the information they’ve taken on was evident.
“We could have won on other days but the reality is we haven’t been good enough over the course of the season and we have to accept that.”
West Brom caretaker manager James Morrison:
“I was pleased with the backline who defended well and put their bodies on the line.
“But I’m frustrated with that last bit. Feels that’s the story of our season.
“I asked them to take that anger and frustration of the week into the game and I could sense that.”
Hull City (0) 0-1 (0) Derby County
Hull City head coach Ruben Selles told BBC Radio Humberside:
“The entire game changed when we conceded that goal and they managed the time at the end.
“It was that final pass or the finishing action which we lacked. I don’t think they were at any moment threatening us, we limited them to two shots and paid the price for not defending that set-piece well.
“I don’t think our final product was good enough but I think we invested enough to get something from the game today.
“I think the players were as focused as they could be. The reality was the game was about one goal and in one action we lost it.”
Derby County head coach John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:
“I’m just very proud of the efforts, the boys were outstanding again today. It was a fantastic result.
“Since I’ve been here this group of players has been written off time after time, but we just keep going and keep fighting.
“The Championship is relentless, you can’t get carried away with the highs and the lows. It’s an emotional time for everyone and you just have to keep cool and I thought the way the lads performed today was excellent.”
Luton Town (0) 1-0 (0) Coventry City
Luton boss Matt Bloomfield told BBC Three Counties Radio:
“The industry we are involved in is going to throw so many challenges your way and you have to try and stay calm and think clearly.
“We had the momentum, we hit the post, their goalkeeper has made a couple of incredible saves, but the ball doesn’t go in so there’s a risk of frustration.
“All of those things go into the pot and for us to find a moment right at the end is incredibly pleasing.
“Shandon is a boy who is really diligent about his work, I think he’s a fantastic player and for him to have that moment after some of the disappointments he’s had this year is fantastic.”
Coventry boss Frank Lampard told BBC CWR:
“We gave absolutely everything, we dug in with 10 men for a long, long time, I know it levelled out but the effort they put in against a team that goes direct, and cross it a lot, when you’re a man down it’s a long afternoon and the lads’ spirit was brilliant.
“It was probably a red (for Dasilva) – he said he didn’t mean to but he clips his heels and pretty much every referee, even thought they’re hard to predict at the minute, will give those and he was very quick with his card.
“There’s a great spirit in the group, that’s why we’ve been able to amass points and move up the table because of spirit first and quality second.
“It’s not easy to change gear from desperation and defending but (after their sending off) we got on the ball in different situations, didn’t create massive chances but they should have gone down to nine and I thought the game was ours – but you can’t legislate for a late mistake that leads to their goal.”
Middlesbrough (0) 0-0 (0) Norwich City
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick speaking to BBC Radio Tees:
“We needed to the win the game and we just didn’t have that moment that we needed to find. We just weren’t able to do that. There was a couple of moments when we had few opportunities but it just didn’t drop for us.
“It’s still possible next week but obviously at this moment we’re all disappointed, we know what last day of the season brings with the ups, downs and the swings that it can bring so we’ve got a chance, whatever that chance is but after today we’re bitterly dissapointed.
“There’s nothing else we can do, we have to accept that. We didn’t get what we wanted from today and that’s the situation. We’ve got to go into next week with the belief and hope and try and do the right things for ourselves.
“I can’t fault the players, they care a lot, they’re desperate to win and they were out on their feet at the end but we couldn’t find what we needed today.
“It’s a massive week and come the game next week it’s a massive game. Historically we’ve seen it and it’s there for all of us to know that anything can happen on the last day. We’ve got to go there believing that we can get what we want from the day never mind the day.”
Millwall (1) 1-0 (0) Swansea City
Millwall head coach Alex Neil:
“Yoi could see there were a lot of nerves around the game. I don’t think it helps that the other game plays before us, although in this instance it worked in our favour because we knew the [Coventry] result.
“It’s certainly not the best we have played. We know we can play better and we will need to play better next week if we want to try to give ourselves an opportunity.
“But what we do have is, we are always in every game, we give it everything we have got.
“I am really proud of the players for their efforts this season, but we have still got one to go.”
Swansea caretaker head coach Alan Sheehan:
“There’s ways to win and ways to lose. If you are going to lose, you want to lose attacking until the very end and that’s what we did.
“In the first half we didn’t control the madness as well as we could have done. But in the second half we made a few tactical tweaks and I thought we were really good.
“We did everything apart from score. On another day you walk away with one or three points, but we just lacked that cutting edge in the final third.
“I am happy that we went to the final whistle but obviously disappointed we didn’t find the net on a number of occasions in the second half.”
Oxford United (1) 2-0 (0) Sunderland
Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford:
“It’s absolutely incredible – the focus was there from the players.
“I’m really proud of everyone at the club and I thought we played really well.
“I thought we created some good moments in the game because we were playing a good team.
“I need a lay down and a glass of wine but that will probably have to wait until tomorrow night.”
Preston North End (0) 1-2 (1) Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth’s Miron Muslic told BBC Radio Devon he accepts relegation is now inevitable:
“I am empty and heartbroken – we gave our all
“It was not easy for the lads going out knowing Luton scored the unbelievable goal and we are relegated.
“But we were ready to give our all one more time and it shows we have the right character but unfortunately it wasn’t enough and we will get relegated because of the goal difference – it’s a tough one to take and it’s a sad day for all of us.
“It’s over and that’s why we’re heartbroken.”
Queens Park Rangers (0) 0-5 (3) Burnley
Burnley boss Scott Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire:
“It was a classy performance – I thought we were excellent.
“Everything we prepped for the game, the boys nailed it to a tee. We were pretty ruthless and I asked for that.
“It’s been a busy week, full of excitement and joy and a bit of relief as well.
“We needed to switch that mindset and become this ruthless animal that we’ve been for large parts this year – we were superb.”
QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes [on speculation over his future]:
“I said before that as long as I’m wanted, I’m very happy.
“The way the fans have been supporting me, it makes me feel that I want to give them something back even more than the last two seasons.
“In any case I am very calm about the job I have done and the fact that we have achieved what were difficult targets.
“I’m an ambitious person in the sense that I always push myself. I always want to improve. I have a contract and I want to keep improving. I enjoy my job here, enjoy English football, and am ready for more.
“I’ve said that the support from the fans that I’ve got this season, in very difficult moments, is something that I have never seen before and will stay with me forever.
“That’s why I’m very sad today. Today hurts. It doesn’t define what this team has done this season and it’s very sad to finish that way.”
Sheffield Wednesday (1) 1-1 (1) Portsmouth
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent:
“It’s a good point. I think it’s a very difficult place to come after the elation of last week and the emotion as well.
“I thought the performance in the first half was really pleasing. Second half we sat in a bit deep, we struggled to deal with their good play.
“Ultimately, I look out onto the pitch and I think they’ve got some very good players at this level, we all know what Barry Bannan can produce on his day and he caused some problems so I’m delighted with the result in the end.”
