Football League round-up: Blackburn bounce back to the Championship
Football LeagueFootball League round-up: Blackburn bounce back to the Championship
• Charlie Mulgrew’s header seals Rovers’ return at Doncaster
• Chesterfield drop into non-league football without playing
Charlie Mulgrew scored a late winner as Blackburn returned to the Championship with a 1-0 victory at Doncaster. Rovers have bounced straight back under Tony Mowbray, who failed to prevent their relegation last May on goal difference.
Derby’s Matej Vydra bares teeth to boost play-off hopes against Cardiff
Read moreThey have lost only once in League One since mid-October, with unbeaten runs of 18 and 14 matches sandwiching a defeat at Plymouth at the start of February.
With Shrewsbury coming from behind to beat Peterborough 3-1, Rovers had looked as if they would have to wait to secure a top-two spot but Mulgrew made their second-half pressure pay off when he headed home Bradley Dack’s corner kick with 10 minutes remaining. Adam Armstrong’s header had earlier hit the woodwork for Rovers, who will join the leaders, Wigan, in the Championship next season.
Dack’s 18 goals from midfield led to his crowning as the EFL’s League One player of the season, while the 14-goal striker Danny Graham and the defenders Amari’i Bell and Mulgrew joined him in the PFA’s team of the season for League One.
Third-placed Shrewsbury had threatened to keep up the pressure on Blackburn, despite falling behind to a 14th-minute strike from Peterborough’s Gwion Edwards at New Meadow. Omar Beckles equalised just before the hour and Stefan Payne put them on course for victory 17 minutes from time. Lenell John-Lewis added a third in injury time but Shrewsbury now have to settle for a place in the play-offs.
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MK Dons, who parted company with Dan Micciche on Sunday, were pushed to the brink of relegation as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Bradford. Timothee Dieng scored after 12 minutes and Nathaniel Knight-Percival put the result beyond doubt five minutes from time.
Oldham fell back into the relegation zone as Southend eased to a 3-0 win at Boundary Park.
Promotion, relegation in England: how they stand
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Premier League
Manchester City have won their fifth English league title. Manchester United (74), Liverpool (71) and Tottenham (68) look set to join United in the top four with Chelsea five points behind Spurs in fifth. Arsenal are four points above Burnley in sixth, but could still reach the Champions League if they win the Europa League. The Clarets look bound for Europe.
West Brom (25pts) are still eight points from safety, after their draw with Liverpool. Stoke (29) and Southampton (29) are losing touch with Swansea (33), Crystal Palace (35), West Ham (35), Huddersfield (35) and Brighton (36) in the fight to avoid relegation.
ChampionshipWolves (pictured) have won the title and with it promotion to the Premier League. Cardiff's defeat to Derby leaves them in a race with Fulham (85pts) one point behind them and Aston Villa (82) with an outside chance of finishing second. There is a fierce battle for the final two play-off spots, with Middlesbrough (72) and Derby (71) leading the way. Millwall, Brentford, Preston, Bristol City and Sheffield United are separated by three points.
Sunderland (34pts) have been relegated after their defeat to Burton (38), who face a relegation shootout with Bolton (40) on Saturday. Barnsley (38pts) will look to take advantage whatever the result there as they host Brentford. Birmingham (43) and Reading (43) are closing on safety.
League OneWigan (94pts) and Blackburn (93pts) have sealed automatic promotion and will now battle for the title. Shrewsbury and Rotherham have sealed play-off places, and will be joined by two from Charlton (68), Scunthorpe (67), Plymouth (65) and Portsmouth (63).
Bury have been relegated to League Two while MK Dons have only a mathematical chance of survival. Northampton (46) and Oldham (48) are in the bottom two with Walsall, Rochdale (both 48) and Wimbledon (50) still in trouble.
League TwoAccrington Stanley and Luton have sealed promotion. Wycombe (78pts), Exeter City (77) and Notts County (76) are battling for third place. Lincoln (74) are set for the play-offs and could still sneak into third after beating Coventry, who have a three-point cushion over Mansfield in the fight for the final play-off place.
Chesterfield have been relegated to the National League after 97 years, while Barnet are five points from safety with two to play. Grimsby and Morecambe are the only teams the Bees can still catch.
Macclesfield Town have secured the only automatic promotion spot from the National League, with one other team set to come up via the play-offs. Tranmere, Sutton and Aldershot have all sealed their places.
Photograph: Ashley Crowden - CameraSport/CameraSport Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback.Plymouth’s play-off bid took a knock as they were held 1-1 at relegation battlers Rochdale, who kept themselves out of the bottom four. A header by Joel Grant gave Plymouth the lead after 53 minutes but Rochdale quickly responded with Ryan Delaney smashing an equaliser into the top corner.
Chesterfield were relegated from the Football League after Morecambe drew 0-0 with Cambridge. Morecambe moved five clear of League Two’s bottom two and enhanced their survival prospects with two games to go.
Goals from the former Accrington striker Padraig Amond and Frank Nouble prevented Stanley from winning the title as Newport recorded a 2-1 victory. Stanley, requiring a point to confirm they would be going up as champions, suffered their first defeat since January. Accrington, for whom Billy Kee netted a consolation, will still be guaranteed the title if they gain a point in either of their final two matches against Lincoln and Swindon.
A goalless draw between Yeovil and Forest Green ensured both will be playing in League Two next season.
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