Roundup of the penultimate matchweek of 2022-23 Sky Bet Championship season, as three teams were relegated.
Goals from Jerry Yates and Lewis Fiorini couldn’t prevent Blackpool being relegated to League One with a 3-2 home defeat to sixth-placed Millwall, who twice led through Tom Bradshaw before Zian Flemming’s penalty wrapped up the Lions’ win.
Rock-bottom Wigan became the second team to be relegated after Charlie Hughes’ header was cancelled out by Yakou Meite’s close-range equaliser, as Reading fought back to snatch a 1-1 draw and kept their own survival hopes alive until at least midweek.
Huddersfield defeated Cardiff 2-1 at the weekend to move onto the brink of survival – which they sealed with Danny Ward’s 58th minute winner against Sheffield United in midweek, in-turn ensuring Reading’s relegation to the third-tier for the first time since 2001-02 season.
Up in the play-off race, Viktor Gyokeres set up Josh Eccles’ third-minute opening goal before his penalty sealed a 2-0 win over Birmingham City, which put Mark Robins’ fifth-placed Blues in control of their own play-off destiny.
Late goals from Luke O’Nien and Patrick Roberts rescued Sunderland a 2-2 draw against Watford – who led through Christian Kabasele and Ryan Porteous’ goals, although Tony Mowbray’s Black Cats must win on the final day to stand any chance of qualifying for the play-offs.
Conor Townsend and Jed Wallace’s goals saw West Brom fight back to end Norwich’s play-off dreams with a 2-1 home win, although the Baggies need results elsewhere to go their way if want to sneak a play-off spot.
Hayden Carter cancelled out Tom Lockyer’s header as Blackburn stuttered to a fifth draw in six matches after holding Luton 1-1 at home, which meant that Rovers’ play-off hopes rely on a final-day victory at Millwall plus slip-ups from Sunderland and West Brom.
Daniel Jebbison provided assists for John Fleck and Iliman Ndiaye whilst Anel Ahmedhodzic and Oli McBurnie also struck for Sheffield Utd, as Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades ended Preston’s play-off dreams with a 4-1 home victory at Bramall Lane.
Elsewhere, Rotherham secured survival after Hakeem Odoffin rifled in a 20-yard winner against ten-men Middlesbrough, who played the second half a man down after Anfernee Dijksteel was red carded for fouling Jordan Hugill.
QPR also clinched safety after Albert Adomah swept in a 48th minute winner on the rebound away at Stoke, following Jack Bonham’s block of Lyndon Dykes’ save.
Jay Rodriguez struck a 62nd minute winner for champions, Burnley in a 2-1 victory at Bristol City after the Robins’ Tommy Conway cancelled out Manuel Benson’s opening goal.
Finally, Luke Cundle’s 39th minute close-range finish cancelled out Ben Cabango’s own-goal as Swansea clinched a 1-1 draw at Hull.
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