For fans of schadenfreude there was plenty to enjoy as Wrexham and Middlesbrough saw their dreams ended. The latter fell short in their unlikely attempt to reach the Premier League automatically, while the former missed out on the playoffs thanks to this final-day draw.
Wrexham were aiming to secure sixth, but finished two points behind Hull, who beat Norwich 2-1, to end their hopes of a fourth successive promotion. The odds were always stacked against Boro, who with the point ensured they will be at home for the first leg of their semi-final against Southampton on Saturday. Wrexham briefly led after Josh Windass and Sam Smith turned things around after Tommy Conway’s opener, but David Strelec ensured neither team would be euphoric.
When Nathan Broadhead pulled the ball back to Windass late on everyone expected a rifling shot inside the area to find the back of the net, only for him to rush the shot, sending it into the stands. Some will see it as season-defining for Wrexham, but it was just one of many moments across 46 matches, culminating in a seventh-placed finish.
“We took the fight to the wire, it just wasn’t to be on the day,” Phil Parkinson said. “We could not have asked the lads for more. We enjoyed the season so much, we didn’t want it to end. To finish seventh is an incredible achievement at this level.”
Wrexham were ineffective in the final third and did not merit victory on the day. They often found themselves in very promising positions, but lacked a killer instinct. There is realism around the club, where it is accepted this team is not good enough for the Premier League. Four years ago, they were in the National League; regardless of what Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac have invested, moving up so quickly is a huge challenge. They have done their best to move with the times, but of the current squad only Callum Doyle is an obvious top-flight player.
The away end was awash with superheroes, including Batman and Parmo Man, as Middlesbrough sought their own footballing legend, but they needed favours from elsewhere, which were not forthcoming. In the nervous tension, there was a willingness to find enjoyment in the bank holiday sunshine.
As a goal went in at Portman Road inside three minutes, Conway started the rollercoaster in north Wales 60 seconds later by steering home a Callum Brittain cross at the near post. Danny Ward will take some blame for his failure to grab the ball, allowing Conway to pounce.
If open play is not working, then it is a sensible idea to have a player who can bend a free-kick into the top corner from 30 yards. Windass took his time to line it up and offered Sol Brynn no chance, as the noise and optimism returned for the north Walians.
Issa Kaboré repeatedly drove at Matt Targett who coped well until the 41st minute, when Kaboré finally found an extra inch to thrash in a cross Smith was there to meet at the front post with a bullet header and put Wrexham back up to sixth.
The tumultuous nature continued, with Strelec levelling things on the day, even if Boro’s chances of moving into the top two were already ended. It was a lesson for the home side as they briefly lost concentration again, with another cross, this time from Targett.
As Ipswich and Millwall cruisedand Boro’s fans continued the carnival in one corner, only the Wrexham conundrum remained. Things changed elsewhere as Derby went behind and Hull ahead, moving the Tigers above Wrexham. In the meantime, it was becoming quiet here. Parkinson sent on Kieffer Moore for Dan Scarr, striker for centre-back, in search of the required goal, but it changed nothing.
Head coach Sergej Jakirovic reflected upon an “unbelievable” achievement after his Hull side earned a spot in the playoffs with a 2-1 comeback win at home to Norwich. Goals in either half from Oli McBurnie saw the Tigers nudge clear of Wrexham and Derby to land a place in the top six.
Jakirovic, who has had to operate all season under a transfer embargo, said: “It’s a big success. To achieve this is my first season at the club is unbelievable, it’s massive for me and club – especially in these circumstances. This is a sweet feeling.”
At the other end of the table Sheffield Wednesday claimed their first Championship home win of the season in front of their new owner, David Storch, as they beat West Brom 2-1 to finally wipe out their 18-point deduction. Arise Capital Partners, which is led by Storch, has completed the acquisition of the Owls and the American was on the pitch before kick-off to address the fans of his new club. He confirmed that the Owls would be starting life in League One without a points deduction, much to the delight of the sold-out home crowd.
Southampton made it 19 Championship matches without defeat as they finished the season fourth with a 3-1 win against Preston at Deepdale. Taylor Harwood-Bellis’s superb 12th-minute header opened the scoring and Ross Stewart doubled the lead with a well-taken second after 47 minutes. Lewis Dobbin capitalised on a Daniel Peretz howler to halve the arrears on the hour, but substitute Cyle Larin tapped home to seal the win in stoppage time.
Stephy Mavididi gave League One-bound Leicester something to cheer about at the end of a miserable campaign as his late goal secured a 1-0 win at Blackburn. Afterwards, Gary Rowett made clear he wants to stay on as Leicester’s manager next season, saying: “I think there’s going to be some big decisions and it’s going to need someone, in my opinion, brave enough to make those decisions. The team needs to look very different. The culture needs to look very different. But it’s a great opportunity so of course I’d like that opportunity.”
An Ellis Simms hat-trick and a Viktor Torp piledriver ensured Coventry signed off on their Championship title-winning season in style with a one-sided 4-0 victory over a sorry Watford side at Vicarage Road. Cheered on by around 2,000 fans, Frank Lampard’s side ended a memorable season with 95 points and 97 goals. Afterwards, the manager told fans to “stay excited” about the summer plans for squad building: “The club has to do the hard work and the owner has said that he wants to talk about that from next week. It’s a special story this year and this is right up there in the amount of pleasure I have had in football.”
Adam Idah came off the bench to score twice as Swansea ended their season with a 3-1 win at home to Charlton.
Sheffield United staged a second half comeback to win 2-1 at Pride Park and end Derby Championship playoff hopes. Derby were in control at the break through Sam Szmodics early goal but the visitors came back strongly to dash the home side’s dream of a top-six finish. A mistake by Joe Ward allowed Tom Cannon to level before a strike from Sydie Peck turned the game on its head.
Adrian Segecic’s excellent end-of-season form continued as Portsmouth played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Birmingham at Fratton Park.
Goals from Delano Burgzorg and substitute Sam Bell saw Roy Hodgson end his short spell as Bristol City interim head coach with a 2-0 victory over Stoke at Ashton Gate. Hodgson said later it could have been his last game as a manager – but didn’t rule anything out: “If someone says ‘we need you to do a job’ and I think I can then maybe, but it’s a long shot. I am certainly not going to be putting my name out there because there are lots of managers and coaches needing jobs. The game has been very kind to me and I don’t need the work anymore. It’s nice to go out on a win.”
“The standard has been set and we want to go one better next season,” Dom Hyam, the Wrexham defender, said. “We are an ambitious group, we signed some top quality players in the summer and January, so there’s a lot of disappointment. I am sure within 24 hours we will feel a lot of pride.”
Middlesbroughagainst the highly-confident Saints in the playoffs will be a thrilling tie. “This is a great chance for us. We have a 25% chance of ending up in the Premier League, we will do everything we can to take that chance,” Kim Hellberg said.
Their supporters enjoyed the party in Wales, but there is business to attend to, which could result in the biggest of all celebrations.
