Live Coverage: Championship - The Final Matchday

The final day of the regular season in the Championship began with four sides still in with a shot of reaching the playoffs.

Ipswich had the trickiest of the fixtures, an away trip to Blackburn, while seventh-placed Brentford and eighth-placed Wolves were at home to relegated Wigan and Millwall respectively. One-time leaders Derby, meanwhile, needed just a point at home to Reading to secure a spot in the post-season.

In a topsy-turvy afternoon, Derby saw their season fall away after missing a penalty and going down 3-0 on the day to finish in eighth. Ipswich lost 3-2 and fell to sixth, just hanging on to the final spot through goal difference. Wolves scored four but conceded two to leave them in seventh, level on points with Ipswich but four back on goal difference to miss out on the playoffs by the narrowest of margins. Brentford did more than their part, thumping three past the Latics to lift them into fifth with the prospect of a second successive promotion on the horizon.

Elsewhere, Bournemouth were promoted to the Premier League as champions after Watford could only draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Vicarage Road.

Relive all the drama of the final day as it unfolded below.

2.35pmWith that, it's time to bring this blog of the final Championship matchday to a close. I hope you've enjoyed our coverage this afternoon - but if you're a Wolves or Derby fan, you're more than deserving of a cold one or two right now. Congratulations to Brentford and Ipswich for making the playoffs, and of course Bournemouth, who are promoted to the Premier League as champions! Do stick with us on Sports Mole this afternoon for full coverage of a packed day in the Premier League, and join us again tonight for live updates from Las Vegas as Mayweather Jr and Pacquiao finally take to the ring for their long-awaited bout. Good afternoon!

2.33pmThe fan protest over at Bloomfield Road has led to the match being abandoned. An hour and a quarter after play was delayed, police have been unable to clear fans from the pitch.

2.32pmBLACKPOOL vs. HUDDERSFIELD ABANDONED

2.27pmOn what could be his final game at the club, Wolves favourite Bakary Sako salutes the fans after the final whistle.

Sako goes over to personally salute the South Bank https://t.co/2QH6Mv8VUy

— Wolves (@OfficialWolves) May 2, 2015

2.24pmStill fans remain on the pitch at Bloomfield Road. The game is paused three minutes into the second half and as things stand, it's Blackpool 0-0 Huddersfield Town. There's nothing at stake in this game, with the possibility that Huddersfield could leapfrog Leeds into 15th with a win.

2.18pmBecause local rivals Norwich and Ipswich have been drawn against each other, the playoff fixture dates have been juggled slightly to accommodate the derby. Here's the fixture dates: Friday, May 8, 7.45pm: Brentford vs. Middlesbrough Saturday, May 9, 12.15pm: Ipswich vs. Norwich Friday, May 15, 7.45pm: Middlesbrough vs. Brentford Saturday, May 16, 12.15pm: Norwich vs. Ipswich

2.17pmWith the results all in, the playoff ties are now confirmed: IPSWICH vs. NORWICH BRENTFORD vs. MIDDLESBROUGH

2.13pmIt's heartbreak for Wolves fans, myself included, as they miss out on the playoff places on goal difference. Brentford power to fifth in the table with a convincing win, while Ipswich are leapfrogged after their loss but reach the playoffs for the first time in ten years. In the most unlikely storyline, Derby finish bottom of the top eight after being thumped 3-0 at home to Reading.

2.11pmHere's the final standings of the top eight: 1. Bournemouth, 90pts 2. Watford, 89pts 3. Norwich, 86pts 4. Middlesbrough, 85pts 5. Brentford, 78pts GD+19 6. Ipswich, 78pts, GD+18 7. Wolves, 78pts, GD+13 8. Derby, 77pts

2.10pmBOURNEMOUTH ARE PROMOTED TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE AS CHAMPIONS

2.08pmIPSWICH TOWN ARE INTO THE PLAYOFFS

2.07pmBRENTFORD ARE INTO THE PLAYOFFS

2.07pmFULL TIME: Blackburn 3-2 Ipswich

2.06pmWatford's draw means that Bournemouth will be promoted to the Premier League as champions within minutes.

2.06pmFULL TIME: Watford 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday

2.06pmGOAL! Norwich 4-2 Fulham

2.05pmGOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-2 Cardiff

2.05pmToo little, too late for Wolves as Bakary Sako finds the net in the first minute of injury time.

2.04pmGOAL! Wolves 4-2 Milwall

2.04pmGOAL! Norwich 4-1 Fulham

2.03pmDouble good news for Bournemouth as Matt Ritchie finds the net to put them 3-0 up at Charlton in the dying minutes.

2.03pmGOAL! Charlton 0-3 Bournemouth

2.02pmThere's still time for a bit of drama at the top of the table, meanwhile, as Sheffield Wednesday find an equaliser. As it stands, Bournemouth will lift the title!

2.02pmGOAL! Watford 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday

2.02pmAs it stands, Brentford will face Middlesbrough in the playoffs while Ipswich will take on Norwich.

2.00pmGame over at the iPro now - Derby will finish eighth and a point shy of the playoffs. Steve McClaren is shaking his head.

2.00pmGOAL! Derby 0-3 Reading

1.59pmPENALTY TO READING!

1.56pmWoah, a flurry of action to deal with here. Brentford's playoff place now looks certain as they go 3-0 up over Wigan through Andre Gray. Great news for Ipswich and bad for Wolves, meanwhile, as Ipswich score from the penalty spot and Wolves concede. Now looking increasingly likely that Brentford and Ipswich will take the final two playoff spots, with Wolves missing out on goal difference.

1.56pmGOAL! Norwich 3-1 Fulham

1.55pmGOAL! Wolves 3-2 Millwall

1.55pmGOAL! Brentford 3-0 Wigan

1.55pmGOAL! Blackburn 3-2 Ipswich

1.55pmGOAL! Norwich 3-0 Fulham

1.50pmOFF! Cardiff keeper David Marshall receives his marching orders at Nottingham Forest

1.48pmMichael Hector puts Reading 2-0 up to all but end Derby's playoff hopes. All eyes are now on Ipswich and Wolves, where three goals separate them in the race for the final playoff place.

1.47pmGOAL! Derby 0-2 Reading

1.44pmWolves need three more goals to oust Ipswich from the final playoff spot after Ethan Ebanks-Landell restores the hosts' two-goal lead over Millwall at Molineux.

1.43pmGOAL! Wolves 3-1 Millwall

1.43pmIt's end to end at Ewood Park as Ipswich look to claw back the deficit. Full coverage of that game here.

1.38pmA reminder of how the playoff race looks right now: 5. Brentford - 78pts, GD+18 6. Ipswich - 78pts, GD+17 7. Wolves - 78pts, GD+13 8. Derby - 77pts, GD+31

1.33pmThings are looking ugly at Bloomfield Road as the supporters are still sitting on the pitch. The police have now arrived on the scene in an attempt to get the game back underway.

1.32pmRudy Gestede gets Blackburn's third to make things more uncomfortable for Ipswich. It's one step forward, one step back for Wolves though as Millwall pull one back through Aiden O'Brien.

1.31pmGOAL! Wolves 2-1 Millwall

1.31pmGOAL! Blackburn 3-1 Ipswich

1.30pmNouha Dicko powers a second into the net at Molineux with all the ferocity of a tennis serve. Wolves really need another few goals to get themselves back in contention here.

1.29pmGOAL! Wolves 2-0 Millwall

1.24pmThe Blackpool fans are staging a relentless protest on the pitch at Bloomfield Road, holding banners with the slogan "Oystons Out".

1.21pmNo messing around for Brentford here as they find the net within the first minute of the second half through Jota. If Derby were to find an equaliser now, Brentford would drop out of the playoffs on goal difference, while Wolves' task looks all the harder.

1.21pmGOAL! Brentford 2-0 Wigan

1.20pmBizarre scenes at Bloomfield Road as the players are forced back into the tunnel early in the second half after a pitch invasion.

1.18pmThe half-time talks are done, but we're now starting to get back underway at games up and down the country.

1.13pmAt the top, Watford are on course to be promoted as champions, with Bournemouth's ascension to the top flight now less than an hour from being certified.

1.09pmDerby currently sit eighth in the table but they just need to find an equaliser to propel them from eighth to fifth as it stands. For Ipswich, concede another and things will start to look bleak but they too just need a point to secure their playoff spot. Brentford need to increase their lead to look more secure, while Wolves need a goal-shower in the second 45 to stand any chance of breaking through if Brentford slip up.

1.04pmHALF-TIME CHECK! Here's how the scores look in our 12 fixtures at the break... Blackburn 2-1 Ipswich Blackpool 0-0 Huddersfield Bolton 0-1 Birmingham Brentford 1-0 Wigan Charlton 0-2 Bournemouth Derby 0-1 Reading Leeds 0-0 Rotherham Middlesbrough 0-0 Brighton Norwich 2-0 Fulham Nottingham Forest 0-2 Cardiff Watford 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday Wolves 1-0 Millwall

1.02pmUnbelievable at the iPro as Reading keeper Adam Federici makes a superb save to deny Darren Bent!

1.02pmPENALTY SAVED!

1.01pmPENALTY TO DERBY!

1.00pmAs it stands, here's the race for the playoff places: 5. Ipswich - 78pts, GD+18 6. Brentford - 78pts, GD+17 7. Wolves - 78pts, GD+13 8. Derby - 77pts, GD+31

12.59pmRobert Tesche breaks the deadlock to move Birmingham into the top half of the table.

12.59pmGOAL! Bolton 0-1 Birmingham

12.57pmThe playoff race gets tighter still! Craig Conway puts Blackburn ahead over Ipswich, who stay in fifth but ahead of Brentford by just one goal in the GD column.

12.57pmGOAL! Blackburn 2-1 Ipswich

12.55pmA good finish from Nathan Redmond puts the Canaries two up at Carrow Road. Over in Derby, Steve McClaren has made a bold move with half an hour played, taking off Stephen Warnock and bringing on United loanee Jesse Lingard.

12.55pmGOAL! Norwich 2-0 Fulham

12.54pmNorwich leapfrog Middlesbrough into third in the table courtesy of Bradley Johnson. As it stands, they'll avoid Ipswich in the playoffs.

12.54pmGOAL! Norwich 1-0 Fulham

12.52pmJordan Rhodes gets his 21st of the season to put the Tractor Boys on edge. As it stands, Ipswich drop to 79 points and 1 point clear.

12.52pmGOAL! Blackburn 1-1 Ipswich

12.51pmWhile it may seem bleak for Derby fans at the moment, they only need to find an equaliser to put them firmly back in the playoff places due to their superior goal difference over Brentford and Wolves.

12.47pmOver in the Premier League, Leicester have broken the deadlock against Newcastle at the King Power! Full updates from that game can be found on SM right here.

12.46pmAs it stands, here's the race for the playoff places: 5. Ipswich - 81pts 6. Brentford - 78pts, GD+17 7. Wolves - 78pts, GD+13 8. Derby - 77pts, GD+31

12.44pmBrentford knock Wolves out of the playoff places on goal difference as Alex Pritchard breaks the deadlock for the hosts with their first meaningful attempt of the game. Derby are currently down in eighth.

12.44pmGOAL! Brentford 1-0 Wigan

12.42pmAs it stands, here's the race for the playoff places: 5. Ipswich - 81pts 6. Wolves - 78pts, GD+13 7. Derby - 77pts, GD+31 8. Brentford - 76pts, GD+16

12.40pmMatej Vydra gets his 16th of the season to put Watford on course for the title at Vicarage Road. Meanwhile, Eoin Doyle, who joined Cardiff from Chesterfield in February, doubles the Bluebirds' advantage in Nottingham.

12.40pmGOAL! Watford 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday

12.39pmGOAL! Nottingham Forest 0-2 Cardiff

12.36pmAllow me to enjoy this moment while I can. Wolves move into the final playoff position as it stands courtesy of Nouha Dicko!!!

12.36pmGOAL! Wolves 1-0 Millwall

12.30pmJoe Ralls thumps it home for the Bluebirds, who leapfrog Forest to go 11th in the table.

12.30pmGOAL! Nottingham Forest 0-1 Cardiff City

12.29pmHarry Arter goes one-on-one with the keeper and wins, picking up his ninth of the season to put Bournemouth two clear.

12.29pmGOAL! Charlton 0-2 Bournemouth

12.28pmMatt Ritchie scores his 14th of the season for the Cherries, who go top of the table as it stands.

12.27pmGOAL! Charlton 0-1 Bournemouth

12.23pmAs it stands, Ipswich are sitting pretty in fifth in the table on 81 points. This is Town's 13th consecutive season in the second tier and under Mick McCarthy's second full season in charge, they've amassed their highest points total in ten years. It's also been ten years since they last reached the playoffs.

12.19pmGreat news for Brentford and Wolves fans as Derby get off to the worst possible start in their game with Reading as Kwesi Appiah finds the net for the visitors. As it stands though, Derby are still in sixth in the table.

12.19pmGOAL! Derby 0-1 Reading

12.18pmTrue to stubborn form, Mick McCarthy laughs off my prediction as Ipswich take the lead inside two minutes. Top scorer Daryl Murphy is the hero with his 26th of the season.

12.18pmGOAL! Blackburn 0-1 Ipswich

12.15pmAnd we're off!

12.14pmWith a minute to go, let's all rise for the national anthem. Just me? Okay then...

12.10pmPREDICTION! As a Wolves fan myself, my heart is pining for the most lucky of circumstances to allow Kenny Jackett's charges into the playoffs at the last moment. Much like Iggy Azalea though, I'm a realist and expect Wolves to fall just short on goal difference. You'd have to fancy Derby to go through and as I'm in a mischievous mood, I'll predict Ipswich to go down at Ewood Park and Brentford to sneak into sixth place on goal difference.

12.07pmI'll have all the goals as they go in across the division over the next couple hours, but we also have coverage of a featured game on Sports Mole this afternoon. We've selected the toughest game for the playoff chasers as Mick McCarthy's Ipswich visit Blackburn Rovers. For detailed updates of that game, join our Championship correspondent and long-suffering Town fan Pascal Lemesre right here.

12.04pmThe team news is all in and there are around ten minutes to go until kickoff in this afternoon's games. Just enough time for a last-minute Bovril...

11.59amTEAM NEWS! Blackpool's final game in the Championship sees Darren O'Dea return from injury at centre-back, while for Huddersfield, James Vaughan partners former Blackpool man Ishmael Miller in attack. Blackpool: Parish, Maher, Clarke, Addison, O'Dea, Dunne, Perkins, Cubero, O'Hara, Telford, Delfouneso Huddersfield: Smithies, James, Hudson, Butterfield, Vaughan, Coady, Miller, Lolley, Smith, Gobern, Lynch

11.55amTEAM NEWS! Joe Ralls is fit enough to start for Cardiff City for their trip to Nottingham Forest, who name Villa loanee Gary Gardner in the starting XI in his final game for Dougie Freedman's side. Forest: Darlow, Kane, Vaughan, Mancienne, Antonio, Hobbs, Lansbury, Gardner, Burke, Lascelles, Blackstock Cardiff: Marshall, Peltier, Morrison, Turner, Fabio, O'Keefe, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Kennedy, Mason, Doyle

11.51amTEAM NEWS! Title-chasers Watford recall Matej Vydra, Marco Motta and Miguel Layun, while visiting Sheffield Wednesday bring in Felipe Malo and Will Keane, as well as Chris Kirkland between the sticks. Watford: Gomes; Angella, Cathcart, Connolly; Motta, Layun, Watson, Abdi, Anya; Deeney, Vydra Wednesday: Kirkland; Buxton, Semedo, Maguire, Lavery, Lees, Helan, Lee, Melo, Vermijl, Keane

11.47amTEAM NEWS! Over in Norfolk, Lewis Grabban is out for Norwich, so Gary Hooper comes in up front as the Canaries welcome Fulham. Norwich: Ruddy; E Bennett, Martin, Bassong, Olsson; Redmond, Howson, O'Neil, Johnson; Hoolahan; Hooper Fulham: Bettinelli, Hoogland, Hutchinson, Burn, Richards, Tunnicliffe, Guthrie, Kavanagh, Ruiz, Rodallega, McCormack

11.42amTEAM NEWS! Chris Hughton makes three changes to his Brighton side for their trip to Boro, who start with Dwight Tiendalli at left-back after George Friend's red card in the defeat to Fulham last week. Middlesbrough: Dimi, Tiendalli, Ayala, Gibson, Amorebieta, Adomah, Clayton, Leadbitter, Forshaw, Tomlin, Kike Brighton: Walton, Halford, Greer, Dunk, Bennett; Ince, Stephens, Kayal; Forster-Caskey, LuaLua, O'Grady

11.38amTEAM NEWS! For second-place Bournemouth, full-back Simon Francis returns from suspension for their trip to Charlton, where boss Guy Luzon makes just one change as Alou Diarra replaces Jordan Cousins. Charlton: Henderson, Solly, Fox, Johnson, Ben Haim, Gudmundsson, Diarra, Buyens, Bulot, Vetokele, Watt Bournemouth: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Surman, Arter, Pugh, Kermorgant, Wilson

11.34amTEAM NEWS! Darren Bent makes a welcome return for Derby, while Adam Federici returns in goal for visiting Reading. Derby: Grant; Shotton, Keogh, Albentosa, Forsyth; Warnock, Hughes, Hendrick; Russell, Ince, Bent Reading: Federici, Gunter, Obita, Pearce, Hector, Karacan, Norwood, Chalobah, McCleary, Stacey, Appiah

11.31amTEAM NEWS! Alex Pritchard is passed fit for Brentford, while Billy Mckay starts up front for visiting Wigan. Brentford: Button, Bidwell, Dean, Douglas, Odubajo, Judge, Gray, Diagouraga, Pritchard, Jota, Tarkwoski Wigan: Nicholls, Maguire, Mckay, Kim, Cowie, Boyce, Bong, Perch, Pearce, Fortune, Chow

11.28amTEAM NEWS! Ipswich bring back Jay Tabb in place of Stephen Hunt for their trip to Blackburn, who name David Dunn as captain in his final game for Rovers. Blackburn: Raya; Henley, Lenihan, Spurr, Olsson; Conway, Evans, Williamson, Dunn; Rhodes, Gestede Ipswich: Bialkowski, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Mings, Skuse, Parr, Bishop, Tabb, Sears, Murphy

11.25amTEAM NEWS! With goal difference at the front of Kenny Jackett's mind Wolves hand starts to goal threat Dave Edwards and attacking trio Nouha Dicko, Bakary Sako and Benik Afobe for their game with relegated Millwall. Wolves: Kuszczak; Iorfa, Ebanks-Landell, Stearman, Golbourne; van La Parra, McDonald, Edwards, Sako; Afobe, Dicko Millwall: Forde; Dunne, Nelson, Beevers, Harding; Upson, Abdou, Powell, Martin; O'Brien, Gregory

11.22amTEAM NEWS! Birmingham have handed a start to Watford loanee Lloyd Dyer for their trip to Bolton, who keep Danns and Bannan in midfield. Bolton: Bogdan, Threlkeld, Ream, Taylor, Moxey, M Davies, Danns, Bannan, Gudjohnsen, Le Fondre, Heskey Birmingham: Randolph, Caddis, Morrison, Spector, Grounds, Gleeson, Tesche, Gray, Fabbrini, Dyer, Donaldson

11.21amTEAM NEWS! Let's start with that game for Rotherham at Leeds, where Neil Redfearn has named an unchanged lineup. Leeds: S Taylor, Wootton, Bamba, Cooper, Berardi, Byram, Murphy, Austin, Mowatt, C Taylor, Morison Rotherham: Martinez, Wilson, Wood, Morgan, Lafferty; Frecklington, Smallwood, Arnason, Pringle; Ward, Derbyshire

11.18amTeam news is now starting to flood in, so let's take a look at who's lining up in this final round of fixtures.

11.16amEarlier in the season, Rotherham boss Steve Evans made a bizarre vow to wear a sombrero and flipflops if he managed to secure their Championship status. True to his word, here he is at Elland Road this morning...

#SombreroForSteve pic.twitter.com/IWiNCRHHfa

— Jack Hunt (@Hunty32) May 2, 2015

11.14amSad news away from the Championship, and it's just been confirmed that Rio Ferdinand's wife has died after a short battle with cancer. More on that developing story here.

11.12amSo the scene is set on what is set to be a thrilling final day in the race for the most lucrative prize in football anywhere in the world: promotion to the Premier League. All 12 games kick off at 12.15pm this afternoon and I'll be here throughout to bring you every twist and turn as we go.

11.10amAt the other end of the table, the business is already taken care of. Some might argue that Blackpool were relegated before the season even began, but their fate was formally confirmed at the start of April. Milwall and Wigan both suffered the drop to the third tier on Tuesday when 21st-placed Rotherham United won their game over Reading to open up a four-point gap ahead of today's fixtures.

11.07amThis is where goal difference could well play its part. Of the four, Derby are way ahead of the pack on 32, meaning that just a point is needed from their home clash with Reading to take one of the two spots. Ipswich have a difference of 19, while Brentford are on 16 and Wolves are on 12. The Bees and Wolves are at home to relegated sides in the form of Wigan Athletic and Millwall respectively, while Ipswich have the toughest fixture of the four - a trip to ninth-placed Blackburn Rovers - and must not be defeated to avoid worries about goal difference playing a part.

11.06amAs mentioned though, the fight for the final two playoff places is still wide open. Ipswich currently sit fifth on 78 points, with Derby one back on 77 points. Brentford are in seventh on 75, joint with Wolves in eighth.

11.04amThe race for automatic promotion for Middlesbrough and Norwich City is over, although they both have confirmed their playoff places. The only question mark between them is who will finish third and who will finish fourth at the end of this afternoon. The order of the playoff places will become more relevant later on to determine the semi-final ties. As it stands, Middlesbrough will face Derby, while Norwich will take on Ipswich Town in a tasty East-Anglian derby.

11.02amWatford were promoted to the Premier League last weekend and will be confirmed as champions if they better Bournemouth's result today. Today is merely a formality for The Cherries, who - barring a 20-goal swing this afternoon - will move into the top flight for the first time in their history even if they lose at Charlton.

11.00amHi everyone, thanks for joining me for the final day of the regular season in the Championship. The second tier has arguably provided the best entertainment in English football this season and as it stands, the playoff race is still wide open.