Summary

  • Sunderland leapfrog Millwall to claim final Championship play-off spot

  • Lions beaten 4-3 by Blackburn after leading 3-1

  • Coventry seal top-six place with draw at Middlesbrough

  • Burnley & Sheff Utd promoted; Reading, Blackpool & Wigan relegated

  • Northampton win at Tranmere to clinch promotion to League One; Stockport draw with Hartlepool

  • Stockport, Carlisle, Bradford and Salford into League Two play-offs

  • Leyton Orient & Stevenage already promoted; Hartlepool & Rochdale relegated

  1. Postpublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Preston 0-0 Sunderland

    SO close from Dan Neil!

    Sunderland pour forward and Dan Neil sends a measured low shot just wide of the post.

    With that goal at Millwall for Blackburn that would have been quite the minute in this play-off race.

  2. Postpublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Norwich 0-1 Blackpool

    Teemu Pukki is hunting for a goal like a man possessed, in his final game as a Norwich player.

    He latches on to the end of a pass and with two defenders hanging off him he slashes the ball just wide.

    Probably his best chance of the game so far.

  3. goal

    GOAL: Millwall 3-2 Blackburnpublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Joe Rankin-Costello (51 mins)

    Blackburn celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    Hello?!

    Joe Rankin-Costello halves the deficit.

    Ben Brereton Diaz weighs up a free-kick on the edge of the box for a long time. His set-piece is low and on target with George Long parrying it.

    Callum Brittain forces a save from the rebound and Rankin-Costello slams the loose ball home.

  4. CLOSE!published at 16:08 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Swansea 1-1 West Brom

    Two great goal scoring opportunities for Swansea in the opening two minutes.

    Jamie Paterson sends a floating shot from outside the box toward goal but it sails just wide of the top corner, literally kisses the post.

    Then moments later a scrappy ball is fed through to Joel Piroe on the penalty spot who jabs at the ball but sends it just wide.

    The Dutch striker should've scored.

    Sloppy from the Baggies.

  5. Postpublished at 16:07 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Middlesbrough 1-1 Coventry

    Interestingly this game has kicked off a little bit later than some of the others after a later finish because of first-half injuries.

    Wonder how key that could be if permutations are coming into play late on?

    Don't talk to Sunderland fans about that kind of thing, they've got history with Coventry around that subject...

  6. Postpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Millwall 3-1 Blackburn

    Blackburn celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    Millwall do not need to do anything special in this half. Or more pertinently, don't do anything stupid.

    Somehow Blackburn must score three times and win a game for the first time since 15 March.

    Is that really going to happen?

  7. get involved

    Get Involved using #bbceflpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    #bbcefl

    Paul: I was at Villa Park as a 17-year-old to see the Sky Blues go down. I didn't cry then but as a late-thirties bloke I might cry if they go back up. Non-Sky Blues might be sympathetic to what we've suffered in 21st century, but they still can't really get how hard it's been.

    Lewis Tucker: I'm a Millwall fan I'm feeling sick with nerves but very positive so far, Millwall vs West Ham next season - come on you Lions.

    Sam Bothamley: Billy Sharp to be a super sub and get his 250th goal for the mighty Blades.

    Two of the teams in the Championship play-off places, as it stands, are Luton and Millwall. Should either go up then it would be their first time in the Premier League.

    Keep your final day thoughts, feelings and emotions coming to us using #bbcefl.

  8. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Millwall 3-1 Blackburn

    Blackburn manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has made two changes at the break, with his side needing three goals to turn this around for a potential play-off shot.

    Lewis Travis and Sorba Thomas have been hooked with Tyrhys Dolan and Callum Brittain on in their place.

  9. Postpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Swansea 1-1 West Brom

    Will things improve in the second half for West Brom?

    Their fans in the stands at Swansea looked pretty gutted as that first half came to a close.

    Because as it stands the Baggies will not make the playoffs, even if they win today.

    Hopefully a halftime pie or maybe some Welsh cakes have given supporters a little lift, going into these crucial final 45 minutes.

    It's not over yet.

  10. KICK-OFFpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    #bbcefl

    Coventry fansImage source, Getty Images

    Coventry and Millwall began the day in the top six. They have swapped places in the first 45 minutes but still hold the golden tickets.

    Sunderland, West Brom and Blackburn will be looking to at least do their part.

    What more drama do we have in store?

  11. Play-off battle as it standspublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    #bbcefl

    TableImage source, BBC Sport

    There were plenty of twists and turns in the race for the final two play-off spots during that first 45 minutes.

    But at half-time the same two teams - Millwall and Coventry - are occupying fifth and sixth, albeit in a different order.

    That's because - while Coventry are being held at Middlesbrough - Millwall are 3-1 up against fellow play-off chasers Blackburn.

    Rovers need three unanswered second-half goals to give themselves a chance, while Sunderland and West Brom could do with at least going ahead in their games to put some pressure on those above.

  12. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Burnley 2-0 Cardiff

    Set for three points? Tick. Ashley Barnes goal? Tick.

    Burnley are set to break the 100-point barrier before getting the Championship trophy at the final whistle.

  13. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    QPR 0-1 Bristol City

    Mark Sykes' goal is the difference for Bristol City, as they lead QPR at Loftus Road.

  14. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Huddersfield 0-0 Reading

    Huddersfield's midweek win condemned Reading to League One for the first time in more than two decades.

    So you would think the visitors would want to hammer their hosts today.

    Alas, there's not a whole lot happening in this one and it remains goalless.

  15. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Birmingham 0-0 Sheff Utd

    Sheffield United secured their promotion a couple of weeks ago.

    They've had the better of this but they'll be content with things to finish as they are.

    They've got a parade later in the week and some of the players could be forgiven for wanting to make sure they're looking their best for that!

  16. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Middlesbrough 1-1 Coventry

    Still job half-done for Coventry in their push for the play-offs, as they have the point they require as it stands to secure a top-six berth.

    Gustavo Hamer's thunderbolt had given them the lead and three points as it was at the time, which was a welcome buffer.

    But despite bossing Boro, they couldn't keep the Teessiders out and Cameron Archer pounced in injury time to fire the hosts level.

    Game on.

  17. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Norwich 0-1 Blackpool

    Already relegated Blackpool lead after 45 minutes in a frustrating first half for Norwich.

    The Canaries have had their chances and Teemu Pukki has hit the post but they are vulnerable at the back.

  18. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Preston 0-0 Sunderland

    Very entertaining stuff at Deepdale but no goals as of yet.

    Sunderland need to win this and hope for some favours elsewhere if they're to nab a top six spot.

    Looking unlikely.

  19. goal

    GOAL: Middlesbrough 1-1 Coventrypublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Cameron Archer (45+4 mins)

    Boro scoreImage source, Rex Features

    Big equaliser for Middlesbrough, as a ball into the box was not cleared sufficiently, and Cameron Archer swivels to crash it into the roof of the net.

    Coventry still have the point they need for the play-offs. But it's just one now.

  20. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 8 May 2023

    Watford 0-0 Stoke

    Stalemate at Vicarage Road.