Roundup of the final day of 2022-23 Sky Bet Championship season, which saw the play-off spots finalised.
Coventry entered this finale with their fate in their own hands needing one point to secure a play-off spot, which they ultimately got with a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough to finish fifth, after Gustavo Hamer’s opening goal was cancelled out by Boro’s Cameron Archer to set up a play-off semi-final.
Sunderland thrashed Preston 3-0 at Deepdale courtesy of second-half goals from Amad Diallo, Alex Pritchard and Jack Clarke, which ultimately secured sixth and a play-off semi-final tie against Luton.
Millwall – who had twice led and even sat fifth at one stage – suffered a late 4-3 home loss to Blackburn as Ben Brereton Diaz struck twice for the visitors, which ended the play-off hopes of both teams after Sunderland’s win.
West Brom also found themselves briefly flirting with a play-off spot at one point but ultimately suffered a 3-2 defeat at Swansea, having twice led before Olivier Ntcham and Joel Piroe sealed a late victory for the Swans.
Down in the relegation zone, Blackpool avoided finishing rock-bottom after Morgan Rogers struck a first-half chipped winner from Josh Bowler’s pass to defeat Norwich, in-turn ensuring the Canaries’ Teemu Pukki bowed out at Carrow Road with defeat.
Wigan consequently finished in last place after the Latics held Rotherham to a goalless draw at the DW Stadium.
Reading’s difficult season ended with a 22nd-placed finish following a 2-0 loss at Huddersfield, in which Josh Koroma and Joseph Hungbo both scored for the Terriers.
Elsewhere, champions Burnley became the first team since Leicester in 2013-14 season to finish the campaign in triple-digit figures after hammering Cardiff 3-0 at Turf Moor through goals from; Josh Brownhill, Ashley Barnes and Scott Twine .
Sheffield United are also heading up to the Premier League on a high after quick-fire goals from Oli McBurnie and James McAtee sealed a 2-1 win at Birmingham City, who netted a late consolatory goal from Dion Sanderson’s strike.
Keinan Davis assisted in Imran Louza’s curled 70th minute opening goal before adding a second goal himself, as Watford defeated Stoke 2-0 at Vicarage Road.
Bristol City clinched their first final-day win in eight years after defeating QPR 2-0 away at Loftus Road, courtesy of goals from Mark Sykes and Sam Bell.
Luton wrapped up their regular-season with a goalless draw at home to Hull City, with the Hatters already assured of their spot in the play-offs.
| Position | Team | Points | Goal Difference |
| 1 (P) | Burnley | 101 | +52 |
| 2 (P) | Sheffield United | 91 | +34 |
| 3 | Luton | 80 | +18 |
| 4 | Middlesbrough | 75 | 28 |
| 5 | Coventry | 70 | +12 |
| 6 | Sunderland | 69 | +13 |
| 7 | Blackburn | 69 | -2 |
| 8 | Millwall | 68 | +7 |
| 9 | West Brom | 66 | +6 |
| 10 | Swansea | 66 | +4 |
| 11 | Watford | 63 | +3 |
| 12 | Preston | 63 | -14 |
| 13 | Norwich | 62 | +3 |
| 14 | Bristol City | 59 | -1 |
| 15 | Hull | 58 | -10 |
| 16 | Stoke | 53 | +1 |
| 17 | Birmingham | 53 | -11 |
| 18 | Huddersfield | 53 | -15 |
| 19 | Rotherham | 50 | -11 |
| 20 | QPR | 50 | -27 |
| 21 | Cardiff | 49 | -17 |
| 22 (R) | Reading | 44 | -22 |
| 23 (R) | Blackpool | 44 | -24 |
| 24 (R) | Wigan | 42 | -27 |
Key: (P) = Promoted, (R) = Relegated
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