Championship
• The automatic promotion race remains tense and tight, even if the top four have now peeled away from the rest. Each won this weekend, with Bournemouth’s Friday night win at Brighton being matched by their closest pursuers Norwich, Watford and Middlesbrough. Second-placed Norwich left it late, though, their substitute Gary Hooper scoring an injury-time winner to seal a 2-1 win at Bolton. The former Celtic striker Hooper, a transfer target for Bolton’s Neil Lennon – his former manager at Parkhead – earlier in the season, chipped the keeper Adam Bogdan in the closing seconds to deflate Bolton, who had fought back well from Graham Dorrans’ opener and equalised through Adam le Fondre.
• Norwich remain second, ahead on goal difference from Watford, who won 2-0 at Millwall to push the south London club closer to League One. Matej Vydra’s brilliant volley put Slavisa Jokanovic’s team ahead at The Den and though Millwall enjoyed decent spells of possession and pressure, Watford were more clinical, and Adlène Guedioura doubled their lead shortly after the break. A return to the third tier after five seasons looks increasingly likely for Neil Harris’s team. Middlesbrough remain a point further back in fourth after a dominant performance against Rotherham found its reward in a 2-0 victory at the Riverside. Aitor Karanka needed a response from Boro after their defeat at Watford on Easter Monday and got it, though they had to wait until the second half to forge ahead. Goals by Lee Tomlin and Patrick Bamford sank a Rotherham side who could still do with a couple more wins to make sure of safety.
• Derby, having looked odds-on for automatic promotion for so much of the season, are now grateful just to remain in the play-off spots, which they managed to do courtesy of a dramatic injury-time equaliser against fellow contenders Brentford. Darren Bent pounced at the last to deny Marc Warburton’s side a win that they probably deserved, having dominated for long spells after going ahead through Alex Pritchard’s brilliant goal. Ipswich moved back into the top six with a 3-2 victory over relegated Blackpool at Portman Road. They made hard work of it, though, Christophe Berra’s 83rd-minute header finally sealing victory in a lively match. The Seasiders took a surprise early lead through Andrea Orlandi before Ipswich fought back with two Freddie Sears’ goals in four first-half minutes. Blackpool equalised in the 63rd minute through Henry Cameron before Berra headed in Daryl Murphy’s cross.
• It meant Mick McCarthy’s team are back in the play-off places after Wolves let slip a lead to lose 1-2 at their West Midlands neighbours Birmingham. Benik Afobe had put Wolves ahead in the first half with an easy tap-in but Birmingham swiftly levelled through Rob Kiernan. As the visitors tired, Blues underlined their improvement under Gary Rowett when the highly-rated Demarai Gray hit a stunning second-half winner to secure a 2-1 win.
League One
• A crowd of 16,441 turned up at Deepdale for the meeting between the top two sides Preston and Bristol City and a tense game ensued that ended 1-1, which means the visitors need only three more points to make sure of promotion. Jermaine Beckford had put Preston ahead 14 minutes into the second half but the leaders City responded swiftly, with Aaron Wilbraham equalising four minutes later. Preston had chances to win it but results elsewhere – two of the three sides beneath them failed to win – meant they are still firm favourites for the other automatic promotion spot.
• Third-placed MK Dons were held to a goalless draw at Port Vale, who claimed their first point in seven matches but remain in a precarious position just above the relegation zone. Swindon, having suffered bruising consecutive defeats over Easter to fellow promotion candidates MK Dons and Bristol City, managed to steady themselves with a 1-0 win over Peterborough, who have fallen right out of contention. Swindon made it difficult for themselves, though, Jermaine Hylton thumping a 29th-minute penalty against the bar, but he made amends 19 minutes from time with his first senior goal. It proved the winner. Sheffield United fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Oldham to strengthen their claim on a play-off spot. Chesterfield remain sixth, four points behind United, after they drew 1-1 at Barnsley.
• Yeovil became the first club in the top four divisions to be relegated, their 1-1 draw at home to Notts County confirming a second successive demotion and giving their new manager, Paul Sturrock, a chastening first match in charge. Haydn Hollis’s own goal gave Yeovil the lead but Garry Thompson headed home in the second half to earn a point for County, who also had a new man in the dugout, Ricardo Moniz. The Dutchman, too, has a job on his hands – Notts remain third from bottom and deep in trouble.
• The relegation battle in this division remains incredibly tight. Fourth-bottom Crewe drew 1-1 at home to fifth-bottom Leyton Orient – Darius Henderson securing a point for the O’s after Lauri Dalla Valle had put Alex ahead – while Coventry edged closer to safety with a 1-0 win over second-bottom Colchester, whose four-match unbeaten run was ended by Jim O’Brien’s strike in a 1-0 defeat at the Ricoh Arena. Crawley are still in trouble too following their 2-1 defeat at Scunthorpe United, who had started the day level on points with their opponents.
League Two
• Burton Albion move ever closer to third-tier football for the first time in their history. They won 1-0 at fading Luton thanks to Matthew Palmer’s goal 11 minutes from time to maintain their one-point advantage at the top. The Brewers need only five points from their remaining four matches to confirm their promotion, while Luton’s eighth defeat in nine keeps them outside the play-off zone in ninth. Shrewsbury remain second and on course for an immediate return to League One after a thumping 4-0 win over Exeter. Two goals from Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro sandwiched James Collins’s effort, and Tyrone Barnett added a late fourth. Third-placed Wycombe are guaranteed a play-off place at least after they beat the bottom club Cheltenham 2-1 at Adams Park. Aaron Pierre put the home side ahead in first-half stoppage time and although Durrell Berry equalised soon after the restart, Alfie Mawson promptly headed the home side back in front two minutes later.
• All of which leaves Cheltenham deep in trouble, still three points adrift of safety with matches running out, and contemplating a return to the non-league ranks after 16 seasons in the League. Second-bottom Tranmere lost 1-0 at Southend, whose play-off place (at the very least) looks increasingly certain after Barry Corr’s winner at Roots Hall. Hartlepool, having hauled themselves out of the relegation zone in recent weeks, slipped back into trouble after they were beaten by 10-man York at Bootham Crescent. York had the defender Dave Winfield sent off for serious foul play shortly before half-time but they went on to win it with Luke Summerfield scoring the only goal. Jason Kennedy gave Carlisle’s survival hopes a lift with a second-half winner in a 1-0 success against Dagenham & Redbridge at Brunton Park.
