Wigan 0-1 Wolves
Kenny Jackett was delighted after his Wolves side kept their play-off hopes alive with a 1-0 win that all but confirmed Wigan’s relegation. “We’ve got 75 points now with one game left, and if we can win our last match at home against Millwall that would take us to 78. If we don’t get into the top six with those type of figures, I think we’d be unlucky.” Gary Caldwell was left to reflect on what might have been for Wigan. “We were excellent for the first 25 minutes – but the result was all that mattered.”
Ipswich Town 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Mick McCarthy paid tribute to strike pair Daryl Murphy and Freddie Sears after they earned Ipswich a vital but edgy 2-1 win. “Murph has had a great season, there was some great link-up between him and Freddie. Freddie has certainly made a big impact since joining.” Ipswich now need to avoid defeat at Blackburn next Saturday to secure a play-off place. “Everyone involved in the promotion race has been excellent,” said McCarthy. “We’ve given ourselves a great chance to be involved.”
Fulham 4-3 Middlesbrough
Aitor Karanka was left ruing his decision to send keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos up for a stoppage-time corner after Fulham scored a breakaway winner in a big setback to Boro’s hopes of automatic promotion. A Bournemouth win at home to Bolton on Monday will effectively consign them to the play-offs. “I felt that one point wasn’t enough – in the moment I preferred to take a risk. It will be difficult now but our aim was always to get into the play-offs. We wanted the play-offs a few weeks ago.”
Millwall 3-3 Derby
Neil Harris admitted he will not be able to watch Rotherham’s midweek match that could decide Millwall’s fate after seeing his side throw away two points. A hat-trick from Lee Gregory gave them a 3-1 lead going into the final 20 minutes, but play-off-chasing Derby pulled it back at the death. “I can’t pick the players up at the moment. They will come in on Monday and pick themselves up – then we have to sit and wait. I won’t be watching.” Steve McClaren said: “We’re making hard work of everything.”
Rotherham 1-1 Norwich
Alex Neil has set his sights on the play-offs after a 1-1 draw hit Norwich’s automatic promotion hopes. Neil, whose side played for more than an hour with 10 men after Lewis Grabban was sent off for violent conduct, conceded an 86th-minute equaliser – which earned Rotherham a vital point to keep them out of the bottom three. “We have got to take care of ourselves,” said Neil. “If Bournemouth get second then fair play, they will deserve to be where they are. We just need to keep momentum.”
Reading 0-2 Brentford
Mark Warburton is hoping to get an extra three games to say his farewells at Brentford after an impressive 2-0 away win kept their play-off hopes alive. His side now need to win their final match, against Wigan at Griffin Park, to stand a chance of a top-six finish. Warburton, who leaves at the end of the season, said: “It’s very disappointing to be going, it’s a great club. But the situation is what it is. Will it end at Wembley? That’s our aim, it has to be – but all we can do now is focus on Wigan.”
