Derby beat West Brom 3-1 to secure sixth spot in the Sky Bet Championship; Middlesbrough miss out on play-offs; Norwich win title
Sunday 5 May 2019 15:41, UK
Derby held their nerve to claim the final play-off place in the Sky Bet Championship as Norwich wrapped up the title on a topsy-turvy final day of the regular season.
The Rams seemed set to agonisingly miss out when Martyn Waghorn's 19th-minute header was cancelled out by West Brom midfielder Stefan Johansen's curling effort moments after the interval.
With Middlesbrough leading already-relegated Rotherham at the time, Derby could ill-afford to drop points and substitute Mason Bennett's goal and Harry Wilson's penalty gave them a 3-1 win.
Tom Lawrence saw his strike saved but Bennett scored the rebound in the 70th minute and, moments later, Wilson netted from the spot after Lawrence went to ground.
The Baggies spurned a number of opportunities throughout to miss out on the chance to finish third and their misery was compounded when substitute Hal Robson-Kanu was sent off late on for a senseless kick out at Bradley Johnson.
Tony Pulis' side finished in the undesired position of seventh, although they closed their campaign with a 2-1 win at Rotherham.
Britt Assombalonga's 28th-minute penalty, after he was clumsily fouled by Clark Robertson in the area, put them on their way.
John Obi Mikel then got on the score sheet nine minutes later for his first goal in England since September 2013 - his first since arriving at the club.
Michael Smith pulled one back for the Millers four minutes from time from the penalty spot after Mikel's foul on Kyle Vassell in the box.
Mario Vrancic scored four minutes from time as Norwich made sure they capped promotion by winning the second tier title following a hard-fought 2-1 win at Aston Villa.
Teemu Pukki had put Norwich ahead in the seventh minute and though Jonathan Kodjia levelled just before the quarter-of-an-hour mark, Vrancic ensured the Canaries left the Championship in style.
The result at Villa Park mattered little, though, as Sheffield United were unable to win at Stoke, who twice threw a one-goal lead away in a 2-2 draw at the bet365 Stadium.
Leeds stayed third - but only because of West Brom's defeat - as Ipswich signed off in style from the Championship, defeating Marcelo Bielsa's men 3-2 at Portman Road.
The relegated Tractor Boys needed Collin Quaner's last-gasp strike to seal victory after Leeds had missed a penalty to go in front themselves, with Kemar Roofe unable to slot home after being fouled by Luke Chambers, who was dismissed.
Before the frantic finale, Ipswich's goals from Flynn Downes and Andre Dozzell were cancelled out by Mateusz Klich and Stuart Dallas.
Matt Smith struck in the third minute of time added-on as QPR overcame Sheffield Wednesday 2-1.
Darragh Lenihan and Bradley Dack struck but Blackburn could only claim a 2-2 draw against Swansea, whose goals came from Courtney Baker-Richardson and Oliver McBurnie.
Markus Henriksen's added-time own goal saw Bristol City claim a 1-1 draw at Hull, who had gone ahead through Jackson Irvine in the 55th minute, while Joe Lolley's strike just before the half hour helped Nottingham Forest edge out Bolton 1-0.
Ezri Konsa, Neal Maupay and Marcus Forss were on target as Brentford overcame Preston 3-0, Joe Garner's early effort ushered Wigan to a 1-0 win over Millwall and Reading against Birmingham finished goalless.
