Barnsley 0 – 1 Queens Park Rangers

QPR got the only goal to win this typical end-of-season wind-down fixture with neither side fighting for promotion or against relegation.

Mikele Leigertwood’s strike in the first half was the difference from 18 yards having been tee’d up by Hogan Ephraim.

Rangers denied Tykes efforts from Hugo Colace, Adam Hammill and John Macken and a goal-shy second period saw Bobby Hassell testing Cerny however he was equal to it to ensure the win.

Bristol City 2 – 1 Derby County

Nicky Maynard was at the double to ensure a win for new boss Steve Coppell despite Derby’s late come-back.

Maynard opened the scoring after receiving the ball from Marvin Elliott after just three minutes and fired from close-range.

His and City’s second came after Maynard was fouled by Hunt, and picked himself up to drill home the penalty, after Derby had gone close through Hunt, Chris Porter and Tomasz Cywka. The Rams did eventually find a way past Dean Gerken through Stephen Pearson but no more than a consolation with minutes remaining.

Cardiff City 3 – 2 Sheffield Wednesday

An excellent double from Jay Bothroyd ensured victory over play-off contenders Cardiff and deepened Wendesday’s relegation fears.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring though when Jermaine Johnson headed home Tom Soares’ cross, but Peter Wittingham scored from a dubious free-kick just a minute or two later.

Bothroyd then brought down a ball from Stephen McPhail and calmly slotted past a poorly-positioned Lee Camp but Marcus Tudgay levelled again from an extraordinarily tight angle.

It was Bothroyd who would dash Wednesday hopes though late on with a fine strike after being found by sub Aaron Wildig and lashed home from 20 yards.

Wednesday will be relegated if Crystal Palace beat West Brom on Monday, however if not an intriguing match between the two relegation rivals on the final day will decide their fate.

Doncaster Rovers 4 – 3 Scunthorpe United

An end-of-season goalfest at The Keepmoat saw Doncaster just edge visitors Scunthorpe by the odd goal in seven.

Gary Hooper scored early for Iron before Jay Emmanuel-Thomas brought Donny level. Jordan Mutch gave the home team the lead before half-time but Paul Hayes once more drew the sides level.

James Hayter gave Donny the lead once more before Hooper levelled for a third time however Donny stole the points with six minutes remaining when Shelton Martis nodded in a Dean Shiels corner.

Middlesbrough 1 – 1 Coventry City

The season’s curtain fell at Riverside with a drab draw with both sides wanting to see the back of 2009/10.

Seven minutes after the break, January signing Scott McDonald gave the home side the lead by firing on the turn, but Aron Gunnarsson’s close-range finish saved a point for The Blues after Stephen Wright’s strike was parried by Brad Jones.

Newcastle United 2 – 2 Ipswich Town

Newcastle were crowned Champions at the biggest crowd of the Championship season but were denied a perfect day by a late Ipswich equaliser.

Andy Carroll headed home and Connor Wickham brought the sides level having beaten two Newcastle players before a foul on Nicky Butt gave Shola Ameobi the chance to score from the spot.

But the party was dampened somewhat when Jon Walters scored in injury time to ensure a share of the spoils.

Nottingham Forest 3 – 0 Plymouth

Plymouth’s relegation was confirmed with a whimper away at play-off side Nottingham Forest.

Forest ensured a home tie in the play-off second leg with a comfortable win, started by Robert Earnshaw’s sliding strike from a Radoslaw Majewski pass.

Guy Moussi’s cross then deflected in off Pilgrims defender Bondz N’Gala and Paul Anderson was in the right place to slot home a combined effort with Lewis McGugan to wrap up the points.

Peterborough 0 – 1 Blackpool

Blackpool put themselves in the play-off chase driving seat with a win to capitalise on Swansea’s slip up at Sheffield United.

Already-relegated Peterborough had only 15 fit professionals for the visit of the Tangerines and had a late penalty shout turned down after Liam Dickinson was felled, but it was DJ Campbell who grabbed the only goal on 11 minutes from the rebound having forced a save from James McKeown from a bicycle kick to end a difficult week off the pitch for the striker.

Blackpool need only to equal or better Swansea’s result against Doncaster next Sunday to ensure their season is extended.

Preston NE 0 – 1 Leicester City

Leicester sealed their play-off berth with a solitary goal win over Preston at Deepdale.

The winner on 63 minutes was superb from Welsh midfielder Andy King, picking up the ball on the halfway line before running at goal and unleashing an unstoppable effort past Andy Lonergan.

Preston had efforts from Matt James and Billy Jones but King’s goal was enough for Nigel Pearson’s men who will likely face Cardiff in the play-off semi-finals.

Sheffield United 2 – 0 Swansea City

Swansea City messed up their chance to ensure their own play-off fate with a disappointing reverse at Sheffield United, slipping out of the play-offs for the first time since December.

The Blades rarely troubled the Swans goal but scored twice through Richard Cresswell in the second half, the first on the hour when he smashed home left-footed after some good work by Mark Yeates.

Swansea had several chances to score and three penalty shouts turned down, one in the first half with the free-kick controversially given right on the line of the 18-yard box, but could not find their way past returning ‘keeper Paddy Kenny and spurned glorious chances to ensure their own fate.

The Blades however snuffed out any chance of a comeback late on with Cresswell’s mazy run into the area ending in his shot squirming under Dorus de Vries.

Swansea must now hope that they win against Doncaster at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday and Blackpool lose or draw at home against Bristol City.

Watford 3 – 0 Reading

Watford ensured their Championship survival in style with a rousing victory over resurgent Reading at Vicarage Road.

The Hornets bossed the match and took a deserved lead through Heidar Helguson’s flick on to Danny Graham from close range.

Helguson then scored himself when he fired home a Don Cowie cross, and Graham got his second with a cool finish after capitalising on a mistake by Andy Griffin.

Graham missed out on a chance of a hat-trick when he blazed over from Helguson’s cross but the win was enough to ensure the Hornet’s place in the Championship next season.

Jon Osterland