We suffered our first relegation of the season across the Football League as we ramp up to the business of it. TIBS News reviews it all.
Championship
Fulham’s promotion party was delayed as Coventry emerged 3-1 winners at Craven Cottage. Michael Rose and Viktor Gyokeres got the visitors off to a flyer before Bobby Decordeva-Reid pulled one back. Callum O’Hare sealed the win in the 93rd minute to cap off a memorable day for Coventry as they rose to 10th.
Stoke continued their recent bout of form with their third win in their last four games as they saw off West Brom 3-1 at the Hawthorns. Lewis Baker caused Jake Livermore to score an own-goal to start the game before Jacob Brown added a second. Callum Robinson brought the Baggies back into the game before Baker wrapped up all three points to well and truly end West Brom’s play-off hopes.
Hull denied Middlesbrough the chance to sneak into the play-offs as Keane Lewis-Potter’s second-half goal was enough to separate the two sides. George Honeyman had previously seen Boro’s defence clear his shot off the line in a game that also saw Aaron Connolly have a goal ruled out for offside for the home team. Boro remain just three points outside of the top six while Hull sit 15 points clear of relegation.
League One
Crewe Alexandra became the first team in the EFL to be relegated as they lost 2-0 to Doncaster. Tommy Rowe and Josh Martin scored in each half as Doncaster showed their opponents how to fight for survival. Crewe suffered their eighth-consecutive loss as they returned to the fourth tier, two years after their promotion.
Sunderland’s Elliot Embleton scored a last-minute winner to sneak his side into the last play-off place as the Black Cats beat Oxford 2-1. Corry Evans gave the visitors the lead before Elliott Moore equalised for Oxford. Embleton’s late winner damaged Oxford’s own play-off hopes as they now lie four points away after seeming shoe-ins earlier in the campaign.
Fleetwood remain in relegation trouble after a 2-1 loss to Accrington Stanley. Ellis Harrison headed the home side ahead before Sean McConville tied the game up. Fleetwood’s goalkeeper Alex Cairns was sent off for handling the ball outside of the area before Accrington broke the hosts’ hearts when Michael Nottingham stole the win in the 94th minute.
League Two
Veteran striker Padraig Amond snatched the win for Exeter with his 89th-minute winner over Carlisle. The Grecians had been frustrated all afternoon by a stubborn Carlisle defence before Amond pounced at the end of the game. The three points means Exeter stay in second place as they look to ensure an automatic promotion spot to avoid the play-off heartbreak they have become accustomed to in recent years.
Swindon’s play-off dreams were dealt a blow when their own Dion Conroy scored a 90th-minute own goal to give Newport a vital three points. Swindon had been the dominant team for most of the match but when Finn Azaz was clean through on goal, Conroy could do nothing but help it into his own net. The result leaves the Robins four points from the play-offs albeit with a game in hand as they look to return to League One at the first time of asking.
Stevenage recorded a huge 2-0 win over Colchester to throw the race for safety wide open. Jamie Reid and Luke Norris scored in each half before the latter was sent off with just minutes to go for a second bookable offence. The win means Stevenage join Oldham and Barrow on 37 points, setting up a dramatic ending to the season with relegation destined for one of the three teams.
By Joshua Stewart
