Rotherham secure Championship survival
Rotherham secure Championship survival
Sports updated 1 year ago

Rotherham secure Championship survival

Rotherham secure Championship survival

Rotherham guaranteed their Championship survival with a 1-0 win over 10-man Middlesbrough on Monday.

The Millers had been relegated in each of their previous three second-tier campaigns.

But Hakeem Odoffin's second-half winner ensured their safety with one game to spare.

Rotherham cannot be caught by third-bottom Reading who, following their six-point deduction, currently hold the final relegation spot.

The Royals can now only leapfrog Huddersfield, who are three points above them, have a game in hand and a better goal difference.

Fourth-placed Middlesbrough have already secured a play-off berth but were hoping to pass Luton in third place.

Instead, Michael Carrick's team lost Anfernee Dijksteel to a straight red card just before halftime and could find no way back once Odoffin netted three minutes into the second half. Maywhile 

Huddersfield moved a step closer to securing their Championship survival with a vital 2-1 win at Cardiff on Sunday.

Joseph Hungbo put Huddersfield ahead with a fierce strike and Jack Simpson's own goal doubled the lead for Neil Warnock's side.

Cardiff replied through Isaak Davies' first goal of the season in the 83rd minute.

But the Terriers held on after Lee Nicholls saved superbly from Rubin Colwill in the closing moments.

Fifth bottom Huddersfield are three points clear of the relegation zone.

They can guarantee their Championship safety by avoiding defeat against promoted Sheffield United on Thursday.

Failing that, a draw on the final day at home to third bottom Reading would be enough to keep Huddersfield up.

Warnock won a record eighth promotion at Cardiff in 2018 during a three-year stay in south Wales, but his focus was on survival this season.

The 74-year-old came out of retirement in February with Huddersfield in 23rd place, just one point off the bottom of the table, and looks set to lead a successful escape act.

Cardiff could afford to relax after their Championship status was confirmed on Saturday by Reading's draw with relegated Wigan.

Also

Wigan were relegated from the Championship after a 1-1 draw at Reading on Saturday, while the race to reach the second tier play-offs is set to go down to the wire.

Wigan defender Charlie Hughes headed home from close-range nine minutes from fulltime to give the bottom of the table Latics hope of staying up.

But third bottom Reading equalised in stoppage-time through Yakou Meite to confirm Wigan's relegation.

Wigan, FA Cup winners in 2013, had been making a late bid to avoid relegation after beating Stoke and Millwall in their previous games.

But they slipped into League One after failing to secure another victory at the SCL Stadium.

Reading, without a win in 12 games, are level on points with fourth bottom Huddersfield, who have three games to play compared to only one for the Royals.

Blackpool were the first team relegated from this season's Championship after their 3-2 home defeat against sixth placed Millwall on Friday.

With third placed Luton and fourth placed Middlesbrough already assured of play-off berths, the battle for the two remaining spots is heating up.

Josh Eccles scored the first goal of his career as Coventry strengthened their grip on fifth place with a 2-0 victory over Birmingham.

Viktor Gyokeres was also on the scoresheet from the penalty spot for Mark Robins' men, who sit three points ahead of seventh placed Sunderland with one game remaining.

Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray suffered a hamstring injury while celebrating a dramatic late equaliser in his team's 2-2 draw against Watford at the Stadium of Light.

Patrick Roberts scored a stunning leveller in stoppage-time that resulted in wild celebrations from Mowbray and his coaching staff.

"I never had a hamstring injury in 18 years as a professional because I was never fast enough but when that goal went in I obviously moved a bit too quick!" Mowbray said.

Watford were two goals ahead thanks to headers from Christian Kabasele in the first half and Ryan Porteous in the 69th minute.

But Luke O'Nien gave Sunderland a lifeline before Roberts' moment of magic left Sunderland two points adrift of Millwall with one game left for each team.

West Bromwich Albion kept their top six hopes alive by coming from behind to beat Norwich 2-1 at The Hawthorns.

Josh Sargent opened the scoring for David Wagner's men in the 41st minute before Conor Townsend's free-kick equaliser before halftime.

Jed Wallace fired in Albion's winner in the 56th minute to leave them two points behind Millwall.

Blackburn, in ninth place, can move level on points with Millwall if they beat Luton in their game in hand on Monday.

Champions Burnley won 2-1 at Bristol City, while Sheffield United, already promoted in second place, thrashed Preston 4-1.

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