Championship round-up

Owls go down as Blackpool claim final play-off place

Last updated: 2nd May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Championship round-up

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Sheffield Wednesday slipped out of the Championship after failing to beat Crystal Palace, while Blackpool clinched the final play-off spot.

On a final day of great drama at Hillsborough, Wednesday needed to beat Palace to stay up and condemn their opponents to the drop in the process.

However, in a fractious encounter, Palace twice went in front and hung on in the final stages after Darren Purse had brought the Owls level for a second time with three minutes to go.

The result means Wednesday drop into League One, along with Peterborough United and Plymouth Argyle, while Palace will be thankful a 10-point penalty for going into administration did not cost them their second-tier status.

At the other end of the table, Brett Ormerod bravely headed home a second-half equaliser as Blackpool hit back to draw 1-1 at home to Bristol City and clinch the final play-off spot.

Swansea City needed to better Blackpool's result in order to take sixth place, but were frustrated by a 0-0 draw at home to Doncaster Rovers.

Nottingham Forest let a two-goal lead slip at Scunthorpe United, but the result still ensured Billy Davies' side finished third and will play the second leg of their play-off semi-final against Blackpool at home.

Second-half goals from Jay McEveley and David Martin earned Derby County a 2-0 home win over Cardiff City, who finish the regular campaign in fourth spot.

Leicester City will meet Cardiff in the play-offs after a 2-0 home success over Middlesbrough, who had goalkeeper Brad Jones sent off late on.

Champions Newcastle United passed the 100-point mark for the season as Peter Lovenkrands scored the only goal at Queens Park Rangers, who had former Magpies defender Peter Ramage sent off just after half-time.

West Bromwich Albion bid farewell to the Championship with a 1-1 home draw against Barnsley, with Graham Dorrans scoring a last-minute equaliser for the hosts.

Bottom club Peterborough United finished the season in style as Craig Mackail-Smith's second-half brace earned a 2-1 win at fellow relegated side Plymouth Argyle.

Danny Graham scored a goal in each half, and Henri Lansbury and Marvin Sordell were also on target, as Watford enjoyed a thumping 4-0 win at Coventry City.

Sheffield United ended their campaign on a positive note with a 3-0 success away to Ipswich Town, with Mark Yeates, Ched Evans and Richard Cresswell on the scoresheet.

Reading's improved form in the second half of the season since Brian McDermott took charge was rewarded with a final day 4-1 hammering of Preston North End at the Madejski Stadium.

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