Live Commentary: Championship final day - Middlesbrough promoted - as it happened

Goooood morning everyone! After 45 tough matches, the Championship season is almost done and today sees one of the biggest final-game face-offs ever!

Who would have guessed back in August that Boro and Brighton would be level on 88 points and within touching distance of automatic promotion to the Premier League? It has been billed as the £200m match, but who will join Burnley in going straight up to the big time?

The match at the Riverside is undoubtedly the biggest of the lot today, but there's 11 other games we can't forget about and here they are:

Blackburn vs. Reading
Cardiff vs. Birmingham
Charlton vs. Burnley
Derby vs. Ipswich
Fulham vs. Bolton
Huddersfield vs. Brentford
Hull vs. Rotherham
MK Dons vs. Forest
Preston vs. Leeds
QPR vs. Bristol City
Wolves vs. Sheff Weds

We'll go through each game in turn over the next hour and 20 minutes before kickoff across the country, but there really is only one place to start and that is up in the North-East at the Riverside...

BORO VS. BRIGHTON: Click here to see how it all stands in the second tier ahead of today's curtain-closer. Boro and Brighton sit second and third respectively, two points behind already-promoted Burnley. What needs to be decided today, then, is both the title and the other side who will join the Clarets in going up. As Boro have the better goal difference, they only need to avoid defeat to return to the big time after seven years away. If Burnley win at Charlton they will be champions, but defeat at The Valley would open the door for the winner of Boro-Brighton, if there is one, to snatch first place.

It'll be packed out soon!

We're all set. pic.twitter.com/yMiyYKV9UD — Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) May 7, 2016

It really does look like a proper humdinger of a match. Chris Hughton's Brighton are the league's form team with five wins and a draw in six matches to surge back into the automatic-promotion race. Going further back, the Seagulls have gone 13 games unbeaten, winning nine and drawing four.

Boro, meanwhile, had won six games in a row to go top of the table three weeks ago, but they have drawn their last three to drop down to second. Two of those matches were away from home and they'll be glad to be back at the Riverside as they are the strongest home team of anyone.

Boro also finished last season with the best home record before going on to lose in the final of the playoffs to Norwich. Aitor Karanka's side are built around a solid defence and for the second year in a row, Boro top the defensive standings with just 30 goals conceded in 45 games at an average of 0.67 per game.

Brighton have conceded 11 more, but the Seagulls do have the best attack with 71 total goals this season. Indeed, Brighton have scored the first goal in more matches than any other team this season (28), with Hughton's men avoiding defeat in all of those games (W21 D7).

Wowee, this is impressive!

#Middlesbrough not conceded more than a single goal in their last 43 home lge games (16 conceded, 27 clean-sheets). #boro #bhafc #UTB — Goodbrand Stats (@StatsChristian) May 6, 2016

TEAM NEWS: Right, an hour until kickoff so team news is reaching us from all 12 matches. We'll start at the Riverside and then move on to each other match in turn alphabetically.

Today's visitors rocking up at the Riverside a little while ago. #borolive pic.twitter.com/kjBwCQ92ua

— Gazette Boro (@GazetteBoro) May 7, 2016

The big news for Boro is that George Friend is passed fit and starts at left-back. Stewart Downing and Jordan Rhodes on the bench! Brighton are without the suspended Lewis Dunk, so Gordon Greer comes in at centre-back.

Boro: Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Leadbitter; Stuani, Ramirez, Adomah; Nugent
Subs: Agazzi, Forshaw, Kalas, Downing, De Sart, Rhodes, De Laet

Brighton: Stockdale, Bruno, Goldson, Greer, Rosenior; Knockaert, Stephens, Kayal, Murphy; Baldock, Hemed
Subs: Maenpaa, Calderon, Bong, Sidwell, Skalak, LuaLua, Wilson

BLACKBURN VS. READING: These two are both on 52 points in 15th and 16th respectively and neither is in good form. Blackburn haven't won any of their previous four league games at Ewood Park, while Reading are bottom of the form guide with only one point gained in their last six matches!

Blackburn are unchanged, while their is a first Reading start for Josh Barrett as Brian McDermott injects some youth into the squad.

Blackburn: Steele, Duffy, Hanley, Kilgallon, Marshall, Lenihan, Lowe, Grimes, J. Gomez, Bennett, Graham
Subs: Raya, Henley, Ward, Williamson, Evans, Conway, Jackson

Reading: Al-Habsi, McCleary, Gunter, Cooper, McShane, Quinn, Norwood, Barrett, Williams, Kermorgant, Rakels
Subs: Bond, Evans, Robson-Kanu, Kuhl, Stacey, Watson, Dickie

CARDIFF VS. BIRMINGHAM: Seventh against ninth in Wales and there's some breaking news for the home side this morning as they announce that their transfer embargo has been lifted. This comes after the Bluebirds yesterday revealed that manager Russell Slade would be relieve of first-team duties and instead become head of football. Cardiff have lost just one of their past 18 league games at home (W10 D7), while Birmingham have won just one of their past 11 league games (D5 L5).

Cardiff are without several players for the final game of the season, while Birmingham keeper Tomasz Kuszczak misses out.

Cardiff: Marshall, Peltier, Manga, Turner, Malone, Noone, O'Keefe, Whittingham, Lawrence, Pilkington, Immers
Subs: Moore, John, Connolly, Harris, Zohore, Ameobi, Saadi

Birmingham: Legzdins, Spector, Morrison, Robinson, Grounds, Adams, Kieftenbeld, Davis, Fabbrini, Cotterill, Donaldson
Subs: Trueman, Gleeson, Vaughan, Solomon-Otabor, Caddis, Shotton, Brock-Madsen

CHARLTON VS. BURNLEY: The hosts are already relegated and their supporters are once again protesting against owner Roland Duchatelet. For Burnley, they know that victory will seal the title. Anything else opens the door for Boro or Brighton.

Marney is passed fit to start for the visitors, while there is one change for Charlton.

Charlton: Pope, Fanni, Diarra, Teixeira, Fox, Kashi, Cousins, Harriott, Gudmundsson, Lookman, Vetokele
Subs: Mitov, Sarr, Suk-Young, Motta, Ba, Jackson, Makienok

Burnley Heaton, Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward, Boyd, Marney, Barton, Arfield, Vokes, Gray
Subs: Robinson, Tarkowski, Dyer, Taylor, Duff, Jones, Barnes

DERBY VS. IPSWICH: Derby are assured of a playoff place, but fourth spot is still to be decided between them and Hull. Ipswich looked like playoff contenders for much of the season, but their season has petered out the last couple of months. They can still finish seventh today.

Jeff Hendrick is back on the bench for Derby after recovering from a long-term injury, while Adam McDonnell makes his league debut for the Tractor Boys.

Derby: Carson, Christie, Bryson, Keogh, Martin, Russell, Shackell, Hughes, Ince, Olsson, Thorne
Subs: Mitchell, Buxton, Hendrick, Bent, Butterfield, Blackman, Weimann

Ipswich: Bialkowski, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Kenlock, Skuse, McDonnell, Bishop, Feeney, Sears, McGoldrick
Subs: Gerken, Digby, Hyam, Foley, Douglas, Varney, Pitman

FULHAM VS. BOLTON: Rockbottom Bolton go to Fulham, who are safe but sit just outside the bottom three after a disappointing campaign.

Fulham forward Moussa Dembele sits out the final match of the season due to a calf injury.

Fulham: Bettinelli, Fredericks, Hutchinson, Burn, Ream, Christensen, Parker, Cairney, Tunnicliffe, McCormack, Smith
Subs: Lonergan, Garbutt, Stearman, Ince, Hyndman, O'Hara, Woodrow

Bolton: Amos, Wilson, Wheater, Threlkeld, Garratt, Derik, Danns, Pratley, Davies, Heskey, Clough
Subs: Rachubka, Moxey, Dobbie, Woolery, Finney, Walker, Newell

HUDDERSFIELD VS. BRENTFORD: The Terriers have achieved Championship safety again, while the Bees have failed to emulate the highs of last season's playoff run.

Huddersfield: Steer, Smith, Whitehead, Hudson, Scannell, Paterson, Matmour, Cranie, Huws, Van La Parra, Lynch
Subs: Allinson, Davidson, Hogg, Bunn, Lolley, Dempsey, Billing

Brentford: Button, Colin, Bidwell, Dean, Saunders, Hogan, Woods, Kerschbaumer, Yennaris, Barbet, Canos
Subs: Bonham, Hofmann, Swift, Vibe, O'Connell, Gogia, Clarke

HULL VS. ROTHERHAM: Steve Bruce's Tigers will guarantee fourth spot with a win, but it won't be easy against a Rotherham side who have done so well to stay up under the stewardship of Neil Warnock.

Hull: McGregor, Odubajo, Davies, Dawson, Robertson, Huddlestone, Livermore, Elmohamady, Snodgrass, Diame, Hernandez
Subs: Jakupovic, Bruce, Maguire, Maloney, Clucas, Akpom, Aluko

Rotherham: Camp; Kelly, Broadfoot, Wood, Richardson; Halford: G Ward, Smallwood, Frecklington, D Ward, Clarke-Harris
Subs: Kenny, Best, Green, Mattock, Belaid, Bailey-King, Facey

MK DONS VS. FOREST: Forest are down in 17th, but they have not been able to sign any new players for the last three transfer windows, something that will change this summer after their embargo was finally lifted. The Dons are down having lasted just one season back in the second tier.

Dons: Burns; Spence, Long, Walsh, Lewington; Potter, Carruthers; Baker, Bowditch, Murphy; Maynard
Subs: McFadzean, Jackson, Kasumu, Powell, Furlong, Reeves, Revell

Forest: De Vries, Lichaj, Mills, Fox, Jokic, O.Burke, Cohen, Tesche, Gardner, Osborn, O'Grady
Subs: J.Wright, Mancienne, Assombalonga, Mendes, Macheda, Vaughan, Grant

PRESTON VS. LEEDS: 11th vs. 12th at Deepdale. Both sides have had decent campaigns and will be eyeing a run at the playoffs next term.

Preston: Kirkland, Vermijl, Wright, Huntington, Woods, Browne, Johnson, Gallagher, Reach, Beckford, Garner
Subs: Hudson, Pearson, Welsh, Robinson,Humphrey, Hugill, Doyle

Leeds: Silvestri, Coyle, Bamba, Cooper, Taylor, Diagouraga, Murphy, Cook, Mowatt, Dallas, Wood
Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Wootton, Phillips, Vieira, Botaka, Antenucci, Doukara

QPR VS. BRISTOL CITY Mid-table QPR take on a Robins side who have improved loads since Lee Johnson came in as manager.

QPR: Ingram, Onuoha, Hall, Hill, Kpekawa, Henry, Faurlin, Gladwin, Chery, El Khayati, Washington
Subs: Lumley, Hoilett, Perch, Polter, Petrasso, Prohouly, Greco-Cox

City: O'Donnell, Ayling, Pearce, Baker, Golbourne, Pack, Reid, Bryan, Tomlin, Wilbraham, Kodjia
Subs: O'Leary, Vyner, Little, Dowling, Freeman, Williams, Agard

Absolutely immense noise as the teams come out! https://t.co/vB9QdT0Uyq

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) May 7, 2016

WOLVES VS. SHEFF WEDS: Wednesday are guaranteed to finish in the final playoff place and they'll be up against whoever ends up third of Boro and Brighton. Wolves start the day 14th.

Wolves: Ikeme; Iorfa, Batth, Hause, Doherty; Price, Coady, Saville; Henry, Wallace, Mason
Subs: Martinez, Deslandes, Edwards, Byrne, Hunte, Le Fondre, Enobakhare

Wednesday: Wildsmith, Palmer, Turner, Semedo, Mathias, Nuhiu, McGugan, Helan, Sasso, Joao, McGeady
Subs: Price, Loovens, Hooper, Lopez, Stobbs, Hunt, Bannan

KICKOFF! We're underway at the Riverside and up and down the country. Bright start from Brighton!

First goal of the day comes at the John Smith's Stadium as Sergi Canos gives Brentford the lead.

At the Riverside, Boro just won a very dubious free kick after their first spell of pressure. Brighton would have been fuming if it had come of anything, but they deal with the danger.

Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal knows that his side can only finish sixth and he's made 10 changes today, so not too surprising that Wovles are in front there.

By the way, you should have this page open in a new tab to see the live table as it stands. Boro still there is second at the moment.

This has been a good start by Brighton in the big one. Knockaert just floated in a dangerous cross that Konstantopoulos collected well.

LIVE PHOTO | Stuani and Stephens battle in midfield. pic.twitter.com/RC9rnkfHiR

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) May 7, 2016

Just in case you were wondering why the times down the left hand side are a bit muddled, they are the times in the games in question.

Breakthrough at the Riverside! Ramirez with a fantastic curling cross and Nugent does superbly to cut the ball back for Stuani to tap in. What a mountain to climb for Brighton now.

Brighton have to change this to go up!

#Middlesbrough not conceded more than a single goal in their last 43 home lge games (16 conceded, 27 clean-sheets). #boro #bhafc #UTB — Goodbrand Stats (@StatsChristian) May 6, 2016

Burnley take the lead at The Valley. Surely they will finish as champions given how poor Charlton have been this season.

Brighton cannot lose their heads here. Knockaert has just been booked for a rash challenge and Stuani was a goalline clearance away from making it two just then!

Two quick goals for Hull so they are on course to secure fourth place and the second leg of their playoff semi-final against Derby at home.

Almost two for Boro as Ramirez pounces on a weak Goldson header, lifting the ball over the keeper but onto the roof of the net. Brighotn have not done well since going behind.

Another chance for Middlesbrough as Adomah gets away down the left but can't find Nugent in the box. A waste, but Boro are playing with so much confidence at the moment.

So it's definitely going to be Hull vs. Derby and Boro/Brighton vs. Sheff Weds in that order in the playoffs. Derby might have fancied sneaking into fourth, but they are losing and Hull are now three up.

Just the one minute of added time at the Riverside. Perfect half for Boro so far.

GOAL PICS | Here's the moment @CristhianStuani put us into the lead! pic.twitter.com/6GFoGjXzrN — Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) May 7, 2016

HALF-TIME SCORES! Here's how it all stands with 45 minutes of the Championship season remaining:

Blackburn 2-1 Reading
Cardiff 1-1 Birmingham
Charlton 0-1 Burnley
Derby 0-1 Ipswich
Fulham 0-0 Bolton
Huddersfield 0-1 Brentford
Hull 4-1 Rotherham
Boro 1-0 Brighton
MK Dons 1-1 Forest
Preston 0-0 Leeds
QPR 0-0 Bristol City
Wolves 2-0 Sheff Weds

Not too many goals about then, but surely that'll change in the second half. This is the Championship after all!

AS IT STANDS: Here's how it all stands then. Burnley on course to be champions and Boro primed for the other automatic-promotion spot.

BRIGHTON SUB: Change in attack for the Seagulls as James Wilson comes on for Sam Baldock.

KICKOFF! Boro get us back underway. Nothing to lose for Brighton, they have to throw everything at the home side.

That'll do it for Burnley, surely? They won't be presented with the trophy today as they are away from home, but they are going to be confirmed as champions.

The league's top scorer makes it three. Well done to Burnley!

GAME ON! It's an almost identical goal from Brighton as a deep left-footed inswinger is headed into the net by Stephens at the back post.

Moments later Boro have a great chance to go back in front, but Nugent is twice denied by the Seagulls' backline.

Huge call from Mike Dean as he sends off Stephens for a studs-up tackle on Ramirez. Stephens got the ball and was high, but I still think a red is very harsh.

The thing is, Dean appeared to have a yellow card out and then seemed to change his mind when he saw the nasty gash in Ramirez's leg. I think it's unlucky that it has ended up this way – the Uruguayan is still receiving treatment – but you see 50-50 tackles like that all the time when the ball is in the air. Stephens won the ball and Ramirez's leg then went into his studs if anything.

By the way, Boro brought on Downing for the injured Ramirez. Sidwell replaces Murphy for Brighotn as well.

Fifteen minutes of normal time remaining at the Riverside, but there will be loads of added time after that red card incident. Brighton just need one.

Adomah misses a golden chance for Boro, but the flag was up anyway. Surely Brighton are going to have one more chance?

EIGHT MINUTES ADDED ON AT THE RIVERSIDE!

Five of the eight minutes have been played and Boro fans are getting ready to invade the pitch.

We'll bring you all the full-time scores soon, but for now we're focussing on the Riverside.

They've done it! Boro hold on for a point which sees them go up to the Premier League by finishing ahead of Brighton on goal difference.

It's not over for Brighton, who will now face Sheffield Wednesday in the playoffs.

Worrying news from the pitch as some Brighton players reportedly had punches thrown at them by some Boro fans. Awful to hear that.

FULL-TIME SCORES

Blackburn 3-1 Reading
Cardiff 1-1 Birmingham
Charlton 0-3 Burnley - Burnley are champions
Derby 0-1 Ipswich
Fulham 1-0 Bolton
Huddersfield 1-5 Brentford
Hull 5-1 Rotherham
Middlesbrough 1-1 Brighton - Boro are promoted
MK Dons 1-2 Notts Forest
Preston 1-1 Leeds
QPR 1-0 Bristol City
Wolves 2-1 Sheff Weds

Brilliant. #UTB pic.twitter.com/S2s0rVWY36 — George Caulkin (@CaulkinTheTimes) May 7, 2016

FINAL TABLE: After a long, 46-game slog this is how it all looks in the Championship. Burnley and Boro go up, with Brighton, Hull, Derby and Wednesday in the playoffs. Charlton, MK Dons and Bolton down.

Anyway, that's all we've got time for today. Thanks a lot for joining SM this afternoon, why not head back to the homepage for some live Premier League games?