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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Rob Smyth

Watford promoted to Premier League, Bayern fail to seal title: clockwatch – as it happened

Adam Masina cracks open the bubbly as Watford head back to the top flight.
Adam Masina cracks open the bubbly as Watford head back to the top flight. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Watford 1-0 Millwall: Match report

That’s about it for today’s clockwatch. It’s still Metz 1-1 Paris Saint Germain in Ligue 1; you can follow that game here. And Scott Murray is in position for West Ham v Chelsea in the Premier League. Thanks for your company and emails, and congratulations to supporters of Watford and Hull. Bye!

GOAL! Metz 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain (Centoze 47)

Metz have equalised at the start of the second half. If it stays like this, PSG will be level on points with Lille, but having played a game more.

“We might find the ways of the Pozzo family unedifying, but they do work,” says Digvijay Yadav of Watford’s promotion. “Can think of many clubs around the country who’d trade PL football even if it meant putting up with a trigger-happy owner.”

Adam Masina of Watford sprays champagne at the final whistle.
Adam Masina of Watford sprays champagne at the final whistle. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Updated

“Promotion and relegation isn’t all that, really,” writes Simon McMahon. “Regards, F Perez.”

The ups and downs

After a frantic, dramatic afternoon, here’s what’s what in the EFL.

Championship

  • Watford and Norwich are promoted to the Premier League
  • Wycombe are effectively, though not mathmetically, relegated

League One

  • Hull are promoted to the Championship. Peterborough will join them if they win any of their last three games.
  • Swindon and Bristol Rovers are relegated

League Two

  • Cheltenham need one point from their last three games to ensure promotion
  • Cambridge and Bolton need to win one of their last two games

Full time: Cardiff 2-1 Wycombe The mathematicians will tell you otherwise, but Wycombe are going back to League One. To their credit, they’ve gone down with a helluva fight.

“Yeeeeeeesssss!” says Watford supporter Mac Millings. “That’s all I can manage for now.”

Oh to be Mrs Millings tonight.

Full time: Middlesbrough 3-1 Sheffield Wednesday Another tale of woe for Wednesday, who are on the brink of relegation to League One.

HULL ARE PROMOTED TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP!

Full time: Lincolon 1-2 Hull City Hull have bounced back at the first attempt!

Joy for the Tigers as they secure their return to the Championship.
Joy for the Tigers as they secure their return to the Championship. Photograph: Tim Goode/PA

Updated

Full time: Charlton 0-1 Peterborough

Peterborough are one win away from promotion to the Championship.

Lincoln 1-2 Hull Lincoln have hit the post in injury time!

WATFORD ARE PROMOTED TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE!

Full time: Watford 1-0 Millwall Watford join Norwich in yo-yoing back to the Premier League! Ismaila Sarr’s early penalty was enough to secure victory on a tense afternoon at Vicaragte Road.

Full time: Cambridge 0-1 Stevenage

Cambridge won’t be promoted today, but they have two more chances to get the two points they need.

Updated

Full time: Derby 1-2 Birmingham

A bad day for Derby, who threw away a half-time lead. But it could have been worse: all the teams below them are losing.

Full time: QPR 1-3 Norwich

Norwich need two points from the last two games to clinch the title.

The Super League corpse is twitching

“Hold the front page, Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Dundee are 2-0 up at Dens against Raith Rovers, meaning they will remain in third place in the Scottish Championship, but be only a point behind the Fifers with one game to play, as the play-off battle heats up. Though the real action takes place tomorrow when Micky Mellon’s Dundee United travel to face Aberdeen in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup, a tournament the Dens men haven’t won, they won’t need reminding, though I’ll do it anyway, since 1910.”

Updated

With a few minutes to play, here are the latest scores in our featured games

Premier League

Championship

  • Bournemouth 0-1 Brentford (FT)
  • Derby 1-2 Birmingham
  • QPR 1-3 Norwich
  • Watford 1-0 Millwall

League One

  • Lincoln 1-2 Hull
  • Charlton 0-1 Peterborough

League Two

  • Cambridge 0-1 Stevenage

Bundesliga

  • Mainz 2-1 Bayern (FT)

Ligue 1

  • Metz 0-1 PSG (4pm)

GOAL! Sunderland 3-3 Accrington (McConville 85) A delicious free-kick from Sean McConville has brought Accrington level again!

GOAL! Lincoln 1-2 Hull (Wilks 83 pen)

Hull are back in front! Mallik Wilks’ nonchalant penalty has made it 2-1, and if it stays like that they will be promoted today.

Mallik Wilks puts the Tigers ahead from the spot.
Mallik Wilks puts the Tigers ahead from the spot. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/BPI/REX/Shutterstock

Updated

GOAL! Middlesbrough 3-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Watmore 81) A bit of good news for Derby and Wayne Rooney: Sheffield Wednesday, who they play on the last day of the season, have missed a big chance to close the gap.

GOAL! Sunderland 3-2 Accrington (Power 83) Max Power resotes Sunderland’s lead at the Stadium of Light.

GOAL! Derby 1-2 Birmingham (Jutkiewicz 84)

Now then. Lukas Jutwiewicz terrific header, his second of the game, has given Birmingham the lead at Pride Park. An hour ago, Derby looked safe. Not any more.

Lukas Jutkiewicz with another header to put the Blues into the lead.
Lukas Jutkiewicz with another header to put the Blues into the lead. Photograph: Malcolm Bryce/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock

Updated

GOAL! QPR 1-3 Norwich (Buendia 82)

Emi Buendia wraps up victory for Norwich. They won’t clinch the title today, unless Millwall equalise at Watford, but it’s been a good day for them.

Updated

Watford 1-0 Millwall It’s been a nervy second half at Vicarage Road. But Watford held onto their lead, and now they are 10 minutes away from becoming one of the Small 14 next season.

GOAL! Middlesbrough 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Coburn 73)

A big blow to Sheffield Wednesday. Josh Coburn has headed Middlesbrough ahead, and as it stands Wednesday will be relegated if Derby get a winner against Birmingha.

Get team news from the London Stadium with Scott Murray

GOAL! Cardiff 2-1 Wycombe (Moore 71) Kieffer Moore’s second goal of the game leaves Wycombe needing snookers if they are to avoid relegation.

Derby 1-1 Birmingham Derby are hanging on for a point at Pride Park. Birmingham have been excellent in the second half, and Alen Halilovic has just hit the post from a very tight angle.

Accrington’s equaliser at Sunderland was a gem of an own-goal, a 25-yard header from Luke O’Nien that beat the outrushing keeper Lee Burge.

GOAL! QPR 1-2 Norwich (Dykes 71)

Lyndon Dykes brings QPR back into the match with a tap-in at the far post.

Lyndon Dykes gets one back for the Hoops.
Lyndon Dykes gets one back for the Hoops. Photograph: Kirsty O’Connor/PA

Updated

GOAL! Sunderland 2-2 Accrington Sunderland have spunked a 2-0 lead at home to Accrington. That means Hull will be promoted today, as things stand.

“Did the Will Grigg volcano blow him all the way to Wigan?” asks Chad Saunders.

Acccccccccccch! I knew I’d cock at least one thing up today, and there it is.

GOAL! Lincoln 1-1 Hull (Montsma 65)

Hull’s promotion might not be confirmed today after all. In a match they need to win to satisfy the mathematicians, they have been pegged back by an equaliser from Lewis Montsma. This is the League One table as things stand.

Updated

The latest scores

Premier League

Championship

  • Bournemouth 0-1 Brentford (FT)
  • Derby 1-1 Birmingham
  • QPR 0-2 Norwich
  • Watford 1-0 Millwall

League One

  • Lincoln 0-1 Hull
  • Charlton 0-1 Peterborough

League Two

  • Cambridge 0-1 Stevenage

Bundesliga

  • Mainz 2-1 Bayern (FT)

Ligue 1

  • Metz 0-1 PSG (4pm)

Full time: Mainz 2-1 Bayern Munich

Peep peep! There will be no title party for Bayern Munich today. The returning Robert Lewandowski got one back in the 94th minute, but Bayern ran out of time.

Bundesliga Dortmund won 2-0 at Wolfsburg despite Jude Bellingham’s red card early in the second half. The Beast scored both goals.

GOAL! Cambridge United 0-1 Stevenage (Norris 63)

Luke Norris has given Stevenage a surprise lead at the Abbey Stadium. Cambridge will be promoted today if they win, but they have played poorly by all accounts and are now behind.

GOAL! Derby 1-1 Birmingham (Jutkiewicz 62)

A long throw is flicked on towards Lukas Jutkiewicz, who heads in from close range. That’s a big goal for Birmingham - and for Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe and Rotherham. Here’s the updated Championship table.

Lukas Jutkiewicz heads the equaliser for the Blues.
Lukas Jutkiewicz heads the equaliser for the Blues. Photograph: Malcolm Bryce/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock

Updated

GOAL! QPR 0-2 Norwich (Aarons 57)

Moments after that missed penalty, Max Aarons puts Norwich two goals clear. Football, eh. It was a brilliant goal, slammed past Seny Dieng on the volley from a very tight angle.

Updated

MISSED PENALTY! QPR 0-1 Norwich Penalty-saving expert Tim Krul has saved an admittedly crap penalty from QPR’s Lyndon Dykes. He smashed it straight down the middle and Krul, who had started to fall to his right, saved with his legs.

WILL GRIGG ISN'T ON FIRE, HE'S VOLCANIC!

MK Dons 5-0 Swindon Grigg has scored his fourth goal, doubling his tally for the 2020-21 season.

Updated

Swindon are on the way down to League Two. They’re 4-0 down to MK Dons, with Will Grigg reviving an old song by scoring a hat-trick. Swindon needed at least a draw to have any chance of staying up.

Updated

GOAL! Metz 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain (Mbappe 5)

An early goal for Kylian Mbappe at Metz. PSG are a point behind Lille in Ligue 1, so Mauricio Pochettino didn’t have the luxury of resting players before their semi-final against Manchester City on Wednesday.

Kylian Mbappe does the splits and scores. Impressive.
Kylian Mbappe does the splits and scores. Impressive. Photograph: Pascal Rossignol/Reuters

Updated

Stat of the day (thanks to my colleague Paul Bellsham for digging it out)

Mainz 2-0 Bayern It looks like Bayern will not clinch the Bundesliga title today. They’re still 2-0 down with 18 minutes remaining in a match they need to win.

It’s half time in the 3pm games. These are the latest scores:

Premier League

Championship

League One

  • Lincoln 0-1 Hull
  • Charlton 0-1 Peterborough

League Two

  • Cambridge 0-0 Stevenage

Bundesliga

  • Mainz 2-0 Bayern (2.30pm)

Ligue 1

  • Metz 0-0 PSG (4pm)

JUDE BELLINGHAM SENT OFF!

Bundesliga Jude Bellingham has received a second yellow card in Borussia Dortmund’s match at Wolfsburg. With half an hour remaining, Dortmund lead 1-0 through yep him.

Jude Bellingham gets his marching orders.
Jude Bellingham gets his marching orders. Photograph: Focke Strangmann/EPA

Updated

Joe Jacobson’s penalty has brought Wycombe level at Cardiff. But they’re still going down, as things stand.

Championship Sheffield Wednesday have equalised at Middlesbrough through Josh Windass’s penalty. That means, as things stand, they won’t be relegated today.

LUHG department

Updated

GOAL! Derby 1-0 Birmingham (Kazim-Richards 36)

Colin Kazim-Richards taps in from five yards to give Derby the lead. That’s a really big goal; as things stand, Wycombe and Sheffield Wednesday are going down today.

Colin Kazim-Richards strikes for the Rams.
Colin Kazim-Richards strikes for the Rams. Photograph: Barrington Coombs/PA

Updated

GOAL! QPR 0-1 Norwich (Quintilla 32)

Xavier Quintilla has given promoted Norwich the lead at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. It was a bad mistake from the QPR keeper Seny Dieng, who made a complete Horlicks over a routine long-range shot. Norwich could clinch the title today, though it’s more likely to happen next weekend.

“Rob,” says Matt Dony, “is there any truth to the rumours of a breakaway Super MBM? I heard that Naylor and Millings have submitted the paperwork...”

I’m trying to get away from the MBM dungeon, not make it a closed shop from which there’s no escape.

The bottom three in the Championship - Rotherham, Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe - all trail. If they lose and Derby win, Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe will be relegated today.

Half time: Mainz 2-0 Bayern

Bayern’s latest title party will be on hold unless they score at least three in the second half. Mind you, Bayern were 2-0 down at half-time in the return fixture, and won it 5-2.

Metz v PSG team news

Updated

The latest scores in our featured games

Premier League

Championship

League One

  • Lincoln 0-1 Hull
  • Charlton 0-1 Peterborough

League Two

  • Cambridge 0-0 Stevenage

Bundesliga

  • Mainz 2-0 Bayern (2.30pm)

Ligue 1

  • Metz 0-0 PSG (4pm)

League One Charlie Wyke has scored twice for Sunderland, who lead Accrington 2-0 at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland still have an outside chance of automatic promotion, but they need Peterborough to fall in a heap.

GOAL! Watford 1-0 Millwall (Sarr 11 pen)

The brilliant Ismaila Sarr wins and then scores a penalty to put Watford ahead against Millwall. By 5pm, they could be a Premier League side agan.

Ismaila Sarr of Watford scores from the penalty spot.
Ismaila Sarr of Watford scores from the penalty spot. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Updated

GOAL! Charlton 0-1 Peterborough (Clarke-Harris 9)

And so, in all probability, are Peterborough.

GOAL! Lincoln 0-1 Hull (Magennis 4)

Hull are heading for the Championship...

GOAL! Mainz 2-0 Bayern (Quaison 37)

What’s the German for ‘Well I never’?

Barnsley 1-0 Rotherham There’s been a fair bit of controversy at Oakwell. Barnsley took the lead in the second minute through Carlton Morris, but there were a couple of buts. It looked like the ball came off his arm rather than his head, as he jumped for the ball with the keeper Viktor Johansson, and he also flattened the keeper in the process. In short, it was probably handball and a foul. Oh, and Johansson has gone off injured, to be replaced by Jamal Blackman.

Mainz 1-0 Bayern The home side still lead through Jonathan Burkhardt’s early goal. As things stand, Bayern are still going to win the league, just not today!

Watford v Millwall is about to kick off, along with all the other 3pm games. Brentford’s victory at Bournemouth means Watford need to win today to clinch promotion. A draw simply won’t cut it.

Bristol Rovers have been relegated to League Two. It’s been on the cards for a while, and a 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth this lunchtime has confirmed it.

Here’s the updated Premier League table. Liverpool are sixth, but I still think they’ll make the top four. Apart from their next game, at Old Trafford, they have a pretty easy run-in.

GOAL! Mainz 1-0 Bayern (Burkardt 3)

Well I never. Bayern are behind already in Mainz, with Jonathan Burkardt rifling one through Manuel Neuer.

Dominik Kohr opens the scoring.
Dominik Kohr opens the scoring. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Updated

Full time: Bournemouth 0-1 Brentford

Peep peep! A terrific win from ten-man Brentford, who move above Bournemouth into third. It’s unlikely to change much, as both teams are heading for the play-offs, but it’ll give Brentford a bit more confidence should they meet again this season.

Updated

Full time: Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle

Peep peep! That’s a marvellous result for Newcastle, who are this close to safety. Liverpool are still in the top-four race, but that’s another big blow.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle (Willock 90+5)

This time they have equalised!

Cambridge v Stevenage team news

Updated

There’s late drama at Anfield, where Callum Wilson had has a 93rd-minute equaliser ruled out by VAR.

Charlton v Peterborough team news

Lincoln v Hull team news

Watford v Millwall team news

QPR v Norwich team news

Derby v Birmingham team news

GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Brentford (Mbuemo 77)

Ten-man Brentford are ahead at the Vitality Stadium. Bryan Mbuemo dragged the ball in from close range after Ivan Toney’s fierce shot was saved.

Bryan Mbeumo scores for the Bees.
Bryan Mbeumo scores for the Bees. Photograph: Sean Ryan/IPS/REX/Shutterstock

Updated

Liverpool 1-0 Newcastle Just over half an hour to go at Anfield, where Liverpool lead through an actual first-half goal from Mo Salah.

Mainz v Bayern Munich team news

Tor machine Robert Lewandowski is back for Bayern, who will be champions if they win today.

Mainz Zentner; St Juste, Hack, Niakhate; da Costa, Barreiro, Latza, Mwene; Burkardt, Quaison; Onisiwo.

Bayern Munich Neuer; Pavard, Boateng, Alaba, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Muller, Coman; Lewandowski.

Bournemouth 0-0 Brentford It’s goalless at the Vitality Stadium with just under 40 minutes remaining. Brentford are down to 10 men, with Pontus Jansson receiving a second yellow card just after half-time. If it stays like that, Watford will need only a draw at home to Fulham to clinch promotion.

Updated

Preamble

Well it looks like we might have made it to the business end of this unique season. It’s time to start handing out the prizes, and the P45s. Today, Watford could be promoted back to the Premier League at the first attempt, Bayern Munich should win their ninth consecutive Bundesliga. Hull (League One) and Cambridge (League Two) could also be promoted.

There’s a lot going on, and we’ll almost certainly fail to keep abreast of it all. The plan is to focus on these games, all 3pm kick-offs unless stated.

Premier League

Championship

League One

  • Lincoln v Hull
  • Charlton v Peterborough

League Two

  • Cambridge v Stevenage

Bundesliga

  • Mainz v Bayern (2.30pm)

Ligue 1

  • Metz v PSG (4pm)

Updated

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