Norwich City have been promoted as champions of the 2018-19 Sky Bet Championship season, after a thrilling final day saw everything settled.
Teemu Pukki struck early to hand the Canaries an early lead at Aston Villa before Jonathan Kodjia restored parity just minutes later, when he flicked in Conor Hourihane’s free-kick.
Both sides then traded chances until the 86th minute when Mario Vrancic picked up Jamaal Lewis’ pass and fired in beyond Jed Steer to secure the win and Championship trophy.
Sheffield United twice came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw at Stoke as they take the runner-up spot, as the play-off picture was finally sorted.
Leeds fell to a 3-2 defeat away to 10 man Ipswich but knew they would finish third and face whoever finished sixth, as long as West Brom didn’t win away to Derby.
Derby meanwhile knew a win would see them qualify for the play-offs ahead of Middlesbrough and Bristol City, and struck first in 19th minute when Martyn Waghorn headed in Jayden Bogle to put them in control of sixth.
Middlesbrough then took a 2-0 lead at Rotherham through Britt Assombalonga and John Mikel Obi, and were soon set to snatch the last play-off spot when Stefan Johansen equalised for West Brom early in the second-half to knock Derby down to seventh.
Across at the KCOM Stadium, Jackson Irvine fired Hull ahead ten minutes into the second-half to effectively end Bristol City’s play-off hopes. Those hopes were soon confirmed when quick-fire goals from Mason Bennett and Harry Wilson put Derby 3-1 up against West Brom, who finished fourth.
Those goals were enough for the Rams to seal the last play-off spot whilst Middlesbrough went on to beat the Millers 2-1 after a Michael Smith penalty halved the Millers’ deficit.
As for Bristol City, they snatched a late draw when Hull’s Markus Henriksen got the final touch on Matty Taylor’s ball and put it into his own net to ensure both teams came away with a point.
Embed from Getty ImagesElsewhere, Brentford overcame a first minute head injury to Julian Jeanvier as they thrashed Preston 3-0 to record an eleventh placed finish.
Sheffield Wednesday blew a chance to finish ninth after losing 2-1 at home to QPR whilst Swansea clung onto tenth after a 2-2 draw at Blackburn.
Two Joes were at it as Garner and Lolley handed Wigan and Nottingham Forest respective 1-0 home wins over Millwall and Bolton.
Finally, Reading were held to a goalless draw by Birmingham City in John O’Shea’s final match before he hung up his boots.
Here are the final standings at end of the regular season.
| Team | Points | Goal Difference |
| Norwich | 94 | +36 |
| Sheffield United | 89 | +37 |
| Leeds | 83 | +23 |
| West Brom | 80 | +25 |
| Aston Villa | 76 | +21 |
| Derby | 74 | +15 |
| Middlesbrough | 73 | +8 |
| Bristol City | 70 | +6 |
| Nottingham Forest | 66 | +7 |
| Swansea | 65 | +3 |
| Brentford | 64 | +14 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 64 | -2 |
| Hull | 62 | -2 |
| Preston | 61 | 0 |
| Blackburn | 60 | -5 |
| Stoke | 55 | -7 |
| Birmingham City | 52 | +6 |
| Wigan | 52 | -13 |
| QPR | 51 | -18 |
| Reading | 47 | -17 |
| Millwall | 44 | -16 |
| Rotherham | 40 | -31 |
| Bolton | 32 | -49 |
| Ipswich | 31 | -41 |
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