Summary

  • The Millers had been 18 points from safety with six games remaining prior to match

  • Hosts relegated to League One after fail to win

  • Plymouth, who sacked manager Ian Foster on Tuesday, move four points outside relegation zone

  • Argyle arrived in south Yorkshire off the back of six-game winless run

  1. So much more to comepublished at 22:33 British Summer Time 5 April

    #bbcefl

    Thanks for joining us for a game which was just the start of our Championship coverage this weekend.

    From the title to the play-offs and the trap door, there are only a handful of teams who aren't looking one way or the other in the table, and we'll have all the fun and games live for you as usual.

    We'll also have all of the action from the rest of the EFL and beyond, so don't miss it as the run-in ramps up.

    Here's the full list of second-tier fixtures, all of which kick off at 15:00 GMT unless otherwise stated.

    • Norwich City v Ipswich Town (12:30 GMT)
    • Blackburn Rovers v Southampton
    • Cardiff City v Hull City
    • Coventry City v Leeds United
    • Huddersfield Town v Millwall
    • Leicester City v Birmingham City
    • Middlesbrough v Swansea City
    • Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield Wednesday
    • Stoke City v West Bromwich Albion
    • Sunderland v Bristol City
    • Watford v Preston North End

    In the meantime, you can read Brent Pilnick's report from the New York Stadium here.

  2. 'The fans are the club'published at 22:33 British Summer Time 5 April

    FT: Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Plymouth celebratingImage source, PA Media

    Plymouth co-interim manager Kevin Nancekivell on the club's fans: "I haven't got the right words to describe how good they are.

    "They are this football club. They follow us everywhere - the amount of money they spend, the hours they spend travelling away from their families to come and support us. I don't think there's any support like it in the EFL.

    "They were brilliant and, hopefully, they'll play a massive part in carrying us across the line."

  3. 'The group's galvanised'published at 22:29 British Summer Time 5 April

    FT: Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Kevin Nancekivell celebratesImage source, PA Media

    Plymouth co-interim manager Kevin Nancekivell speaking to Sky Sports: "We just wanted to take a bit of pressure off the players so they could go and enjoy themselves.

    "It was nervy at times but we're delighted. It's a massive three points but it's only three points. We'll look forward to Tuesday against QPR with a spring in our step.

    "It's always traumatic when a manager loses his job. The players, staff and club feel that. But we have to move on and three points and a clean sheet was a perfect response.

    "The group's galvanised. They're fantastic and really tight. They've been together and had a lot of success over the last few years. We'll get our heads down.

    "It didn't feel like fun where I was. We want the players to be free and themselves - and, in parts, we did that today."

  4. 'My emotion is for the fans'published at 22:21 British Summer Time 5 April

    FT: Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Leam Richardson is dejectedImage source, Getty Images

    Rotherham manager Leam Richardson speaking to Sky Sports: "It's very, very disappointing. You feel straight away for the fans.

    "Your habits always catch up to your performance. From pre-season and the first game, this club has been chasing its tail.

    "The writing has been on the wall and it's a bitter bill to swallow. It's important that we come together in many departments in this football club.

    "We were in a tough place as we were and to run with probably 64% of the squad for as long as we have in a competitive Championship is hard."

    On his future: "You always try to leave a club in a better place than where you found it. We need to move forward and be proactive. I gave the chairman my views two weeks into the job. He's buoyant and I'm sure going forward we'll be stronger.

    "There are many meetings with people to make decisions positively, with the club's best interests at heart.

    "My over-riding emotion is for the fans. I know they've experienced it many times as this level.

    "The Championship is as competitive as it's been for 20 years, in my opinion, so it's been a challenge, to say the least. I've been there before and left clubs in really good shape, so hopefully this won't be any different."

  5. 'It's been really difficult'published at 22:15 British Summer Time 5 April

    FT: Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Rotherham look on dejectedImage source, Getty Images

    Rotherham midfielder Ollie Rathbone speaking to Sky Sports: "The table doesn't lie and we just weren't good enough. We all wanted to build on last season.

    "The Championship is tough, especially for the team with the smallest budget and the worst training ground - we've had loads of issues with that. But it's still really disappointing.

    "We let the distance get a bit big. Then the confidence gets lower. I can't lie - it's been a really difficult year for everyone. We just hope we can bounce back stronger.

    "The pressure is always on to perform when you play for this football club and to represent yourself and your family."

    On whether the pressure has been off with relegation looming: "It's not a case of going out and doing loads of skills. We'll just keep going out to get as many points as possible.

    "First and foremost to the fans, a massive thank you. It's been a terrible year and we haven't won away from home but the support hasn't wavered.

    "The message is that we've been in this position before and come back. There's a lot we can learn from this season."

  6. 'We've got a fantastic dressing room'published at 22:06 British Summer Time 5 April

    FT: Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Plymouth's Edwards on Argyle's change of management: "That's part and parcel of football.

    "We've got a fantastic dressing room of really talented lads. That togetherness got us to where we wanted last season and it can do it again now."

  7. 'This win will give us a boost'published at 22:05 British Summer Time 5 April

    FT: Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Plymouth Argyle goalscorer Bali Mumba speaking to Sky Sports: "It's been tough. We've been lacking goals for the past few games but we've shown a lot of spirit and been trying.

    "This will give us a boost in confidence. We're at home on Tuesday [against QPR] so we've got to go for it again.

    "We're up for the challenge and we've got the supporters backing us so it'll be a good end to the season."

  8. 'We needed a win to regain confidence'published at 22:04 British Summer Time 5 April

    FT: Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Plymouth Argyle's Joe Edwards speaking to Sky Sports: "It's huge and everything we wanted. We've worked so hard this week to get the result today.

    "We've got a mini season now and this is the perfect way to start it. We've always known we've had the quality in this squad, we've got fantastic players and we needed a result to get the confidence back into us.

    "We got that tonight and now we've got five massive games coming up against teams around us who we can gain points. Hopefully, we'll finish really high."

  9. How things look at the bottompublished at 22:02 British Summer Time 5 April

    FT: Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Look away, Rotherham fans: here's a view of how the Championship table looks tonight.

    The Millers are headed back to League One after their relegation from the Championship was mathematically confirmed.

    They also have an unenviable goal difference of -50 headed into their final five games of the season.

    Meanwhile, the race to avoid the drop continues to hot up in light of Plymouth's victory in south Yorkshire.

    They are now four points off the bottom three and their win this evening means they take a big leap towards survival.

    Bottom of the ChampionshipImage source, BBC Sport
  10. Postpublished at 22:01 British Summer Time 5 April

    FT: Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Chris Cooper
    BBC Radio Devon

    Joint interim manager Kevin Nancekivell has just walked onto the pitch at the final whistle with a clenched fist of salute towards the Argyle board of directors. Rotherham's relegation has been happening for a while, but well done Argyle.

  11. ROTHERHAM RELEGATEDpublished at 21:58 British Summer Time 5 April
    Breaking

    FT: Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Rotherham relegated to League OneImage source, Getty Images

  12. Postpublished at 21:57 British Summer Time 5 April

    FT: Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Rotherham fans dejectedImage source, PA Media

    Leam Richardson's retrieval of the ball seconds from the end is to no avail.

    Rotherham are relegated five games from the end of the season. A smattering of boos ring out as the first side to drop out of the Championship in 2023-24 is confirmed.

    What a relief for Plymouth, whose bid for safety receives a big boost. They won't be in the bottom three this weekend.

  13. Postpublished at 90+3 mins

    Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Arvin Appiah tries to force an opportunity on the right.

    Plymouth have packed their defensive ranks. They're under a little spell of pressure but eventually escape towards the halfway line.

  14. GREAT SAVE!published at 90+1 mins

    Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    One of the stories of Rotherham's season as Viktor Johansson rescues them from further damage.

    It's also the story of the last few minutes for Plymouth, who should be further ahead.

    Seb Revan's poor pass gifts Ben Waine a clear run on goal, and his shot is brilliantly saved by the Sweden international.

    We're in to five minutes of added time, by the way. The hosts are on the brink of relegation, their opponents closing in on a huge win.

  15. Postpublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 5 April

    Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Chris Cooper
    BBC Radio Devon

    I would love it if Ben Waine scored in the next few minutes. That was so close. The goal was gaping from that header, I thought it was in. He could have had a hat-trick!

  16. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 89 mins

    Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    So nearly a second for Plymouth!

    Dan Scarr nods the corner towards goal. Rotherham cannot clear and Ben Waine threatens to make it two again, heading his effort off the far post.

    The visiting fans are loving this.

  17. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 87 mins

    Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Bali Mumba and Morgan Whittaker, who combined incisively to set up the former for the opener, are replaced for Plymouth.

    Brendan Galloway and Mustapha Bundu come on, and their side duly win a corner.

  18. Postpublished at 85 mins

    Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Plymouth would be all but assured of maximum points but for Ben Waine's finish!

    The New Zealand international spins beautifully on the halfway line and surges towards the penalty area, only to roll a low shot into the grateful Viktor Johansson's gloves.

  19. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 83 mins

    Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    A last roll of the dice from Leam Richardson?

    Forward Arvin Appiah, who's on loan from Spanish side Almeria, replaces Lee Peltier.

  20. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Rotherham 0-1 Plymouth

    Rotherham fans are accustomed to thrills and tension at the end of seasons, and it's fair to say they won't be chewing too many fingernails right now.

    All the same, their players have around 10 minutes in which to turn this scoreline around and save themselves from relegation tonight.