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Coventry head coach Frank Lampard celebrates after the win that sealed his side’s play-off place - PA/Bradley Collyer
Jack Rudoni’s brace confirmed Coventry City’s place in the play-offs and simultaneously ended Middlesbrough’s hopes of achieving a top-six finish on the final day of the Championship season.
Rudoni headed in Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s cross on the stroke of half-time and then doubled his side’s lead with a composed finish on 87 minutes to seal a fifth-place finish for the Sky Blues.
Frank Lampard’s side will now meet Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals after leapfrogging Bristol City, who drew 2-2 with Preston.
The home side dominated the early stages as Ellis Simms turned Sakamoto’s low cross from the right inches past the post on the half-volley.
Lampard’s decision to bring goalkeeper Ben Wilson back into the side for the first time since October paid dividends four minutes before the break when he tipped Finn Azaz’s low curling effort on to the post.
Coventry made the most of that reprieve to break the deadlock on 44 minutes as Sakamoto delivered a cross from the right and Rudoni guided a header into the bottom-left corner.
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Jack Rudoni celebrates after scoring against Middlesbrough - Getty Images/Matthew Lewis
Wilson produced another heroic stop on the hour as the returning goalkeeper somehow kept out Tommy Conway’s powerful effort from eight yards out.
The Coventry ‘keeper came to City’s rescue again moments later as he smothered another Conway shot from distance.
Lampard’s side almost sealed the points when substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante latched on to Wilson’s clearance, cut in from the left and fired a shot against the base of the post.
In a furious end-to-end finale Boro hit the woodwork again as Morgan Whittaker curled a shot against the upright from the edge of the penalty area with Wilson at full stretch.
However, Coventry put the seal on their place in the play-offs three minutes from time when Thomas-Asante held off Dael Fry, broke through band squared the ball to Rudoni to beat Mark Travers from six yards out.
03:28 PM BST
Morris: ‘This club is a roller-coaster’
Luton captain Carlton Morris has been speaking to Sky Sports after suffering a second successive relegation.
“It’s hard to find the words, to be honest. I feel sorry for the fans, for the effort from the lads they’ve put in recently. To go out like that is disappointing, but expecting us to stay up by winning our last four matches was asking a lot of ourselves.”
On falling at the final hurdle: “We’ll receive a lot of backlash for that [blowing it when it was in our hands] and rightfully so, to an extent, but the lads have put their blood, sweat and tears into the last however many weeks – it’s been relentless. So to go out like that is even more frustrating.”
On hearing the fans sing ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’: “It’s tough, but you’ve got to face the music. Ultimately, we’ve put ourselves in this situation, I’m big on accountability and taking accountability and that’s where we’re at now. This club is one hell of a roller-coaster. These fans have seen the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs and this is another chapter in this special club’s journey.”
03:10 PM BST
Lampard: ‘I need to take a breath’
Coventry head coach Frank Lampard has been speaking to Sky Sports.
On the first goal: “It was a great time to score the first goal, because there were things to say at half-time and we were monitoring results, and there was tension. It gives you something to hold on to, to be happy with. We were causing lots of problems on Sakamoto’s side, it was a matter of ‘can we keep doing that?’ You worry when you’re on top and you don’t score. You worry that it could be one of those days, but we got what we deserved for sure.”
On Jack Rudoni’s brace: “I speak a lot with Rudi, I work so closely with him, because he’s a great kid and he’s great to work with. Every day he want to get better, he wants to train harder, he wants to do more.
On his attacking midfield goals being reminiscent of Lampard: “He’s got a great heading talent, I certainly didn’t have that, he definitely beats me with his heading! And that was a great header and a great ball. He’s got constant energy and quality as you saw and to score that second goal as well, he fully deserves it. He can be the main man of the day.”
On playing Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals: “We have to respect the best version of Sunderland who for the first half and more were very good this season. That’s why they are there. Now we go into a different environment. We know it’s going to be really tough, so we need to reboot, rest up and go again.”
On how he feels reaching the play-offs: “I’m excited, it’s great for the club, considering where we came from and you felt the build up through the winning run, and the atmosphere at the CBS with the crowd. The players have taken everything we asked of them on board and have been great.
“It’s going to be a great challenge but I’m just glad to be there. It’s been a long week and I just need to take a breath after that.”
02:38 PM BST
Coventry reach play-offs!
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Coventry have done it!
Jack Rudoni’s brace seals a top-six finish for Frank Lampard’s side who have risen from 17th in the table into the play-offs since his arrival in November.
The decision to recall goalkeeper Ben Wilson to the starting line-up proved inspired as he made two crucial saves with the score at one-nil.
Coventry fans are now dreaming of Wembley.
That lap of appreciation the Coventry players are about to complete will feel very good indeed.
The Arena is still bouncing several minutes after the final whistle.
Middlesbrough pushed the Sky Blues all the way in the second half but were never in the play-off picture in truth.
Boro finish 10th as Michael Carrick’s side narrowly miss out on a top-six finish once again.
02:35 PM BST
LEEDS ARE CHAMPIONS
Leeds are champions!
Solomon’s added-time winner has given them the perfect climax to the season.
It means they amassed a staggering 100 points and yet still only pipped Burnley to the title on goal difference?
02:29 PM BST
FT: Bristol C 2 Preston 2
City’s fightback has earned them a place in the play-offs!
The players were waiting nervously for the result to come through from Bramall Lane but a draw between Sheffield United and Blackburn means their 2-2 draw, from a match in which they were trailing 2-0, is enough to put them in the play-off semi-finals.
And the point is also enough to keep Preston safe.
02:27 PM BST
90+1 mins: Burnley 3 Millwall 1
... and Burnley have scored again, through Josh Brownhill, again!
It’s the midfielder’s 18th goal of the season but it will not bring the title to Scott Parker’s side, unless Plymouth can spoil Leeds’ party.
02:26 PM BST
90+1 mins Plymouth 1 Leeds 2
The away fans are going crazy at Home Park where Manor Solomon has just won the title for Leeds.
His shirt is off, he almost looks as though he’s going to pull his shorts off too as he wheels away in delight followed by his team-mates after a brilliant winning goal, which has surely taken the title back to Elland Road.
Unless Plymouth can equalise. And they almost do!
A header from a corner in the last seconds flies just wide. That would have taken the title back to Burnley.
02:21 PM BST
88 mins: West Brom 5 Luton 3
It will probably count for nothing but Allis second goal of the day is the pick of the bunch. Checking inside from the left he curls a wonderful effort into the top right corner.
Luton are still heading for the drop though, unless Portsmouth can score again against Hull, who have just missed a gilt-edged chance to win it in their game.
02:19 PM BST
87 mins: Coventry 2 Middlesbrough 0
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Delirium at the CBS!
Coventry have surely done it!
It’s Rudoni again with the goal.
Thomas-Asante holds off Dael Fry before running through and squaring to Rudoni who keep his cool to find the net.
Frank Lampard and his coaching staff celebrate wildly on the touchline.
Coventry are heading for the play-offs.
Boro’s season is over. And to think they had hit the post barely two minutes earlier.
02:18 PM BST
84 mins: Swansea 3 Oxford 2
A lovely diving header there from Liam Cullen as Swansea seek to end the season on a high. That looks like being a fantastic winner.
02:16 PM BST
84 mins: Norwich 4 Cardiff 2
Yousef Salech gives Aaron Ramsey something to smile about with his second goal of the day.
02:15 PM BST
80 mins: As things stand...
... Burnley are going to lift the Championship title, Coventry and Bristol City are heading to the play-offs and Luton Town are going down.
But there are still 10 minutes left for that to change.
One goal for Portsmouth will spare Luton,. who trail 5-2.
02:12 PM BST
78 mins: Swansea 2 Oxford 2
The goals have been flying in at Swansea (sorry if I didn’t get around to covering this one) where Joe Allen is walking off to a warm reception from the Swans faithful.
Today is his last game as a professional footballer and he has been substituted in order to receive his well-earned plaudits.
02:10 PM BST
77 mins: Coventry 1 Middlesbrough 0
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Almost two for Coventry.
The Sky Blues come within inches of securing their place in the top-six.
Goalkeeper Wilson launches a clearance up the pitch which is retrieved by substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante.
He cuts in from the left and curls a shot against the base of the post from 25-yards out with Travers at full stretch.
Moments later, Haji Wright breaks into the box and just has to square the ball to a teammate but decides to go alone and loses possession.
02:08 PM BST
74 mins: Bristol C 2 Preston 2
Ross McCrorie strikes again to bring the West Country side back from the brink.
City could yet be pipped to the post by Blackburn, who are drawing with Sheffield United, but we’re in for a dramatic final 15 minutes now.
02:05 PM BST
72 mins: Coventry 1 Middlesbrough 0
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A huge chance goes begging for Middlesbrough.
You get the feeling it might not be Boro’s day.
The ball breaks to Tommy Conway in the box eight yards from goal only for Wilson to produce another heroic save.
The save was celebrated like a goal by the home fans
Cue the chants of ‘super Ben Wilson in goal’.
02:04 PM BST
71 mins: Derby 0 Stoke 0
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Still 0-0, but the party has started early here. Derby fans are loudly chanting the name of their head coach John Eustace, and the Stoke fans are in good voice too.
It’s not all over, though: Former Celtic youngster Bosun Lawal, making his first start for Stoke, almost bundled in a Lewis Baker corner a few moments ago. But it’s turned into one of those weird final-day games where the crowd only have one eye on the pitch.
02:02 PM BST
69 mins: Bristol C 1 Preston 2
Bristol City have woken up and reduce the arrears with a towering header from Ross McCrorie.
The hosts broke down the right wing and McCrorie met a pinpoint cross at the far post to give the home side hope of clawing their way back into the top six.
02:01 PM BST
67 mins: Norwich 4 Cardiff 1
A dismal day for Aaron Ramey whose side are receiving a schooling from his former team-mate Jack Wilshere’s side.
Shane Duffy it is who scores Norwich’s fourth against the already relegated Welsh side.
02:00 PM BST
65 mins: Burnley 2 Millwall 1
Jaidon Anthony shows brilliant control as he brings a long free-kick under his spell, races in on goal and passes the ball into the net with great composure.
With Leeds drawing at Plymouth the title is currently heading to Turf Moor.
01:58 PM BST
65 mins: West Brom 5 Luton 2
Jordan Clark gets a goal for hapless Luton but their fate almost certainly now lies in Portsmouth’s hands.
01:57 PM BST
60 mins: Bristol C 0 Preston 2
Preston are doing everything in their power to stay up. Milutin Osmajic strikes on the hour to double their lead and leave Bristol City staring at the prospect of another miserable end to the season with what would be their thid straight defeat.
01:52 PM BST
61 mins: West Brom 5 Luton 1
Callum Syles strikes again, from a corner this time, and Luton are in dire trouble.
All is not lost though, because if Portsmouth score again against Hull, it will be they and not Luton who slip into League One.
01:51 PM BST
59 mins: Sheff U 1 Blackburn 1
Rovers have slipped but of the top six again as Anel Ahmedhodzic doeas Bristolm City a favour by levelling for Sheffield United.
01:49 PM BST
57 mins: West Brom 4 Luton 1
Luton, though, are not helping their cause. They have just fallen a further goal behind, Callum Styles scorng West Brom’s fouth of the day.
01:48 PM BST
55 mins: Portsmouth 1 Hull 1
Danger for Hull as Christian Saydee smashes in Portsmouth’s equaliser with a drilled effort that beats the keeper at his near post.
Luton are still going down for now but one more Pompey goal – or a fightback from Matt Bloomfield’s side – could turn the relegation picture on its head.
01:46 PM BST
53 mins: Plymouth 1 Leeeds 1
Wilfried Gnonto is too good for the Championship. Luckily he won’t be playing there next season.
A fine strike levels things up at Home Park and means that as things stand the Championship title is heading back to West Yorkshire.
01:42 PM BST
50 mins: Sheff Utd 0 Blackburn 1
Yuki Ohashi has just broken the deadlock for Blackburn who have crept into the top six as a result.
The goal came against the run of play but the visitors won;t care about that.
Rovers have won their last four in a row and as things stand, with a fifth, will replace Bristol City in the play-offs.
01:40 PM BST
46 mins: Second halves under way
Whistles have sounded around the country as 24 sets of supporters steel themselves fro the final knockings.
01:37 PM BST
HT: Coventry 1 Middlesbrough 0
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That was the perfect time to score for Coventry who, after a strong start, created little in truth before Rudoni’s header on 44 minutes.
Middlesbrough improved as the half went on and came so close to taking the lead just moments before Coventry broke the deadlock.
This is far from over but the table is looking good if you’re in Sky Blue.
On the other hand, Boro have dropped a place and need at least two goals after the break to keep their play-off hopes alive.
01:36 PM BST
HT: Derby 0 Stoke 0
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It’s been tight, it’s been tense. The nerves have been on display more than once. Stoke keeper Viktor Johansson made the save of the half to keep out Sondre Langas’ header, with Matt Clarke blazing over from the resulting corner, but that’s been more or less it in terms of chances.
Both sets of fans have been singing: “We are staying up.” And as it stands, they are.
01:30 PM BST
The state of play at half-time
As things stand Luton are in dire trouble. Trailing 3-1 to West Brom, unless they can score three goals in the second half and Hull slip up at Portmouth, where they are winning 1-0, it looks like back-to-back relegations for Matt Bloomfield’s side. The 41-year-old head coach needs to summon a team talk for the ages.
At the top Coventry are looking good for a play-off place, while Bristol City are clinging on to sixth place despite finding themselves behind at home to Preston.
It could all still change in the last 45 minutes of the regular season though.
01:17 PM BST
45+1 mins: Watford 1 Sheff Wed 1
Moussa Sissoko lands an added-time blow for Watford, who draw level on the stroke of half-time.
01:16 PM BST
44 mins: Coventry 1 Middlesbrough 0
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Lift off for Coventry!
Sakamoto floats a ball in from the right and Jack Rudoni plants a now trademark header beyond Mark Travers.
The CBS Arena erupts.
That came just moments after Ben Wilson superbly tipped Finn Azaz’s low curling effort on to the post.
How quickly things can change in football.
Boro have a lot to do now to haul themselves into the play-off spots.
The ‘super Frank Lampard’ chants have begun as Coventry lie fifth as things stand.
01:14 PM BST
40 mins: Coventry 0 Middlesbrough 0
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News of Bristol City falling behind against Preston has filtered through to the CBS Arena.
Chants of ‘Wembley again, ole, ole’ ring around the ground.
Coventry are up to fifth for the time being at least.
Boro need a goal to get themselves in the play-off picture.
01:13 PM BST
40 mins: Swansea 1 Oxford 1
Greg Leigh hits the target for Oxford to bring the visitors level in a game with nothing in stake at either end of the table.
01:09 PM BST
35 mins: Derby 0 Stoke 0
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Just over half an hour gone, no goals, two shonky back passes. First Derby defender Matt Clarke, under minimal pressure, overhit an attempted ball back to goalkeeper Josh Vickers and watched it roll out for a corner, which came to nothing.
Then Stoke centre-back Ben Wilmot, being harassed by the hard-working Marcus Harness, whacked a ball across his own goal that keeper Viktor Johansson slipped as he tried to clear, before it hit Ben Gibson’s shin and bounced clear. And breathe.
01:07 PM BST
34 mins: Coventry 0 Middlesbough 0
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Sakamoto and van Ewijk are causing Middlesbrough a world of problems down Coventry’s right.
Boro’s Hayden Hackney is already in the book for hauling Sakamoto down as he attempted to break clear down the flank.
And the duo link up nicely again to force a corner which ultimately comes to nothing.
Boro are containing Coventry well everywhere else on the pitch with chances at a premium since the early pressure.
Still goalless.
01:04 PM BST
33 mins: West Brom 3 Luton 1
It’s a disaster class from Luton. Dyke plays a lovely dinked through ball to Fellows, who races into the area and lifts a cute chip over the keeper for his second goal of the day.
01:02 PM BST
29 mins: West Brom 2 Luton 1
Big problems for Luton, who are one point from safety as we speak after this header from Daryl Dyke.
The American is given the freedom of The Hawthorns to score and Luton are staring into the abyss.
01:00 PM BST
29 mins: Watford 0 Sheff Wed 1
Dean Windass scores his 13th goal of the season in this dead rubber.
12:59 PM BST
28 mins: Bristol City 0 Preston 1
Emil Riis rises unmarked to plant a header into the net and boost Preston’s survival hopes.
As it stands Bristol City are still in the top six, but only on goal difference. Drama.
12:57 PM BST
23 mins: Swansea 1 Oxford 0
Both of these sides are safe so can take the handbrake off. And Ji-sung Eom does just that with a spectacular curler into the top-right corner. What a goal!
12:56 PM BST
23mins: Norwich 3 Cardiff 0
Aaron Ramsey’s side are collapsing as Jack Wilshere’s Norwich race into a three-goal lead. Borja Sainz is on target with his 18th goal of the campaign, drilled left footed across the keeper.
12:52 PM BST
18 mins: Plymouth 1 Leeds 0
An own goal by Sam Byram might have cost Leeds the Championship title.
As it stands the trophy is going to Turf Moor, where Burnley are drawing with Millwall.
Plymouth still need a miracle to stay up, though.
12:50 PM BST
18 mins: Portsmouth 0 Hull 1
There is hope now for Hull as Matt Crooks has struck for the visitors, lifting the Humberside club out of the bottom four at Luton’s expense – for the time being
12:48 PM BST
17 mins Norwich 2 Cardiff 0
Marcelino Nunez gets what looks like a miserable afternoon off to a bad start for Cardiff with an early goal.
Calum Chambers is then sent off for a DOGSO offence and from the resultant free-kick Nunez makes it 2-0 for the hosts.
12:46 PM BST
13 mins: Burnley 1 Millwall 1
Straight from kick-off Burnley equalise. Josh Brownhill produced his 17th goal of the season from midfield for the home side, who are still hoping to win the title.
12:45 PM BST
11 mins: Burnley 0 Millwall 1
Mihailo Ivanovic has been in strong form in recent matches, and he scores what could be a crucial goal for the visitors, who are in pursuit of a play-off spot.
12:42 PM BST
8 mins: West Brom 1 Luton 1
The away end goes wild as barely a minute after slipping into the drop zone Millenic Alli hauls them out of it.
Alli perseveres with a run down the left wing, cuts inside and falls over while burying the equaliser. Scenes at The Hawthorns
12:40 PM BST
7 mins: West Brom 1 Luton 0
Bad news for Luton as they are in danger of successive relegations following this early strike from Tom Fellows.
Fellows tried a cross but it comes straight back to him and he chances his arm with a low shot that beats Thomas Kaminski at his near post.
12:38 PM BST
5 mins: Sunderland 0 QPR 1
Sunderland are through to the play-offs already but they are on track to lose their fifth match in a row with Nicolas Madsen scoring the first goal of the afternoon for QPR. A fantastic strike into the top corner from 12 yards out.
12:35 PM BST
3 mins: Coventry 0 Middlesbrough 0
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We’re under way at the CBS Arena after a deafening rendition of We’ll Live And Die In These Towns by Coventry band The Enemy.
Middlesbrough huddled up and ran to their positions on the field, but immediately found themselves under attack as an raid down the left wing brought a dangerous cross that required some alert defending.
Strong start by Coventry.
12:32 PM BST
1 min: Championship clock is ticking
And we’re under way in our 12 (TWELVE) Championship matches. Who will draw first blood?
12:31 PM BST
Pride Park packed out
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Pride Park filling up in the few minutes before kick-off, a loud rendition of Allez Allez Allez coming from the stands. In the South Stand, away to my right, Derby fans wave black and white flags paying tribute to heroes past and present: there’s a Colin Todd flag, one in honour of Paulo Wanchope, and another bearing the name of midfielder Ebou Adams, named Derby’s player of the year this week.
Stoke’s fans, packing out the corner between the South and East Stands, respond with a burst of Delilah.
12:29 PM BST
Cauldron of noise
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Supporters have just been given their three-minute warning before kick-off.
Coventry manager Frank Lampard spoke about embracing the challenge and embracing the atmosphere in his programme notes.
There are very few spare seats in the house here with the club hoping to break the league attendance record at the CBS Arena.
Coventry’s version of Take Me Home, Country Road by John Denver rings around the Arena with the supporters already in fine voice.
It will be a cauldron of noise all afternoon with only promoted clubs Leeds and Burnley beating Coventry here since Lampard’s appointment.
A huge challenge awaits Michael Carrick and Middlesbrough.
12:27 PM BST
Three-minute warning
We are three minutes away from D-Day.
Buckle up.
12:23 PM BST
Sheff Utd v Blackburn teams
Sheffield United narrowly missed out on automatic promotion while Blackburn need a few kind results as well as a win of their own to squeeze into the top six.
Here are the teams:
Sheff Utd: Adam Davies, Gilchrist, Ahmedhodzic, Holding, McCallum, Vinicius Souza, Peck, Brooks, O’Hare, Hamer, Cannon. Subs: Faxon, Brewster, Moore, Burrows, Robinson, Tom Davies, Campbell, Seriki, One.
Blackburn: Toth, Brittain, Hyam, Batth, Yuri Ribeiro, Tronstad, Travis, Dolan, Cantwell, Hedges, Ohashi.
Subs: Pears, Sanderson, Carter, Pickering, Forshaw, Kargbo, Woodrow, Dennis, Gueye.
Referee: Farai Hallam (Surrey)
12:21 PM BST
Come Hull or high water
Portsmouth have already secured their second-tier status for another season but Hull still have it all to do after a late-season slump.
Here is the team who have travelled to the south coast tasked with digging Hull out of trouble:
Portsmouth: Killip, Devlin, Shaughnessy, Atkinson, Ogilvie, Potts, Lang, Blair, Pack, Murphy, Bishop.
Subs: Schmid, Poole, Bramall, Dozzell, Hayden, Gordon, Ritchie, Saydee, O’Mahony.
Hull: Pandur, Lewie Coyle, Egan, Hughes, McLoughlin, Crooks, Puerta, Kamara, Gelhardt, Joseph, Joao Pedro.
Subs: Lo-Tutala, Jones, Lincoln, Burns, Alzate, Drameh, Amrabat, Palmer, Burstow.
Referee: John Busby (Oxfordshire)
12:18 PM BST
The relegation picture
Cardiff City’s fate has already been decided, while Plymouth are all but down because of their an awful goal difference.
Hull City, 22nd on 48 points, make a 260-mile journey to Fratton Park to take on Portsmouth. Sitting a point off safety, Hull possess a better goal difference than Luton Town (21st on 49 points) by 12 and Preston (20th, 49) by one, so a draw would be enough if either of those sides failed to win.
Victory would ensure safety as they will definitely catch one of Derby (19th, 49) or Stoke (18th, 50) as the two sides play each other.
Three straight league victories have dragged Luton heads above the relegation parapet. Matt Bloomfield’s side know they will need to get something from managerless West Brom if Hull earn at least a point at Portsmouth, while a draw at The Hawthorns will mean Luton only go down if Hull win and Derby and Preston both earn at least a point. Victory will mean Luton avoid back-to-back relegations.
Paul Heckingbottom will be majorly concerned with his Preston side, coming into their meeting at Bristol City with only one win from 14 league games. If Preston lose, they will be relegated if Hull and Luton both get at least a point and Stoke fail to beat Derby by a margin of four goals more than what Preston lose by. A draw could be enough, but they would still be resigned to League One football if Hull and Luton both win and Derby draw against Stoke, so three points would save the headache.
Derby have rallied under John Eustace and face Stoke on the last day. They are positioned one place below their opponents but just one point above the drop zone, so they know a victory will keep them in the division. If Derby are defeated, they will be relegated if Hull win. Derby could also be relegated if they lose by three or more goals, Hull draw and both Preston and Luton get at least a point from their games.
Stoke are the least likely of the threatened teams to be playing League One football next season. Stoke will be safe with a draw at Derby no matter what Preston, Luton and Hull do because it means Derby cannot finish above them.
In the event of defeat, Stoke would only be relegated if Hull and Luton both win and Preston earn at least a point. This could also happen if Luton draw with West Brom, but Stoke would need to lose by six or more goals.
All clear?
12:13 PM BST
Burnley v Millwall team news
Burnley are hoping to better Leeds’ result with a home win over Millwall, who are still in the play-off hunt.
If they do then they will win the Championship title. If not they can still reach 100 points with a home victory. And whatever happens they know they will be back in the top flight next season.
Burnley: Trafford, Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Lucas Pires, Brownhill, Cullen, Edwards, Mejbri, Anthony, Barnes.
Subs: Hladky, Sonne, Worrall, Sarmiento, Redmond, Foster, Ramsey, Laurent, Koleosho.
Millwall: Evans, Crama, Tanganga, Cooper, Sturge, De Norre, Saville, Honeyman, Ivanovic, Azeez, Coburn.
Subs: Przewozny, Wintle, Kelly, Langstaff, Leonard, Emakhu, Cundle, Harding, Matthews.
Referee: Andrew Kitchen (Durham)
12:08 PM BST
Todd tips Deby to survive
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Memories of glorious days gone by during the build-up at Pride Park, as a selection of Derby County’s 1975 league championship-winning team are paraded on the pitch.
Roger Davies, Alan Hinton, Steve Powell, Colin Todd and Roy McFarland are here, along with manager Dave Mackay’s widow Isobel.
Former England defender Todd, asked about today’s game, is optimistic. “Even though the team are in the position they are, they’ll still be a full house here today, and I believe we’ll survive,” he says.
12:07 PM BST
Nothing Else Matters for Coventry and Boro
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Coventry fans sound their appreciation for the players as they begin warming up in brilliant sunshine.
Boro players make their way onto the pitch now as Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters blares out over the loud speakers.
And that could not be a more fitting song to play.
For Coventry, if they win, nothing else matters, they will be heading to the play-offs.
Boro have to win, if they don’t, nothing else matters, their season is over.
12:05 PM BST
Robins relieved ‘I don’t have to play’
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Stoke might feel they should have been safe by now – victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Good Friday took them seven points clear of the relegation zone with three games left.
But a 6-0 thrashing at Leeds and a 2-0 home defeat by Sheffield United have pushed the survival fight to the final day for Mark Robins, their third permanent manager of a troubled season.
Not that he’s showing any nerves. “I’m feeling all right,” he said at his media conference yesterday. “I don’t have to play!”
Derby: Vickers, Langas, Phillips, Clarke, Wilson, Armstrong, Adams, Thompson, Forsyth, Yates, Harness.
Subs: Luthra, Barkhuizen, Osborn, Roofe, Mendez-Laing, Goudmijn, Jackson, Blackett-Taylor, Pieters.
Stoke: Johansson, Wilmot, Phillips, Gibson, *****, Burger, Baker, Lawal, Bae, Al Hamadi, Gallagher.
Subs: Bonham, Pearson, Seko, Moran, Koumas, Manhoef, Fawunmi, Lowe, Griffin.
Referee: Oliver Langford (W Midlands)
12:02 PM BST
Lampard drops goalkeeper Collins
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Some eye-catching team news here, Coventry have named Ben Wilson in goal with Bradley Collins dropped to the bench.
It’s a huge call from Frank Lampard.
It means Wilson starts for the first time since October and for the first time since Lampard took charge of the Sky Blues.
Coventry also recall Milan van Ewijk and Bobby Thomas in defence while Jake Bidwill replaces the suspended Jay Dasilva at left back.
By contrast, Middlesbrough make just one change with defender Neto Borges brought into the starting side.
He replaces former Manchester City and Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who drops to the bench.
It would appear Boro boss Michael Carrick has changed shape for the final game of the season, something extra for Lampard and Coventry to think about.
Coventry: Wilson, van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwill, Grimes, Sheaf, Sakamoto, Rudoni, Wright, Simms.
Subs: Collins, Binks, Allen, Paterson, Borges Rodrigues, Latibeaudiere, Thomas-Asante, Eccles, Moore.
Middlesbrough: Travers, Dijksteel, Fry, Howson, Iling-Junior, Hackney, Morris, Whittaker, Borges, Azaz, Conway.
Subs: Glover, van den Berg, Barlaser, Iheanacho, Burgzorg, Forss, Edmundson, Lenihan, Giles.
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)
11:58 AM BST
Double-jeopardy at Ashton Gate
There’s double-jeopardy in the balance at Ashton Gate where Bristol City are hoping to end their long wait for a first taste of Premier League football at with a win over Preston, who could go down if they lose.
Three points would mean they clinch fifth place and a semi-final meeting with Sunderland. A draw or defeat would mean they need all the teams around them to drop points in order to stay in the top six. Fifth place could still be claimed with a draw, provided Coventry, Millwall and Blackburn all fail to win.
Defeat for Preston and only losses for Luton and Hull will spare them.
Bristol City: O’Leary, Tanner, Vyner, Dickie, Hirakawa, Williams, Knight, McCrorie, Twine, Bird, Wells.
Subs: Bajic, Roberts, Morrison, McGuane, Earthy, Bell, Mehmeti, Armstrong.
Preston North End: Cornell, Storey, Lindsay, Gibson, Whiteman, Kesler-Hayden, Ledson, Brady, Hughes, Osmajic, Jakobsen.
Subs: Stowell, Porteous, Bauer, Meghoma, Thordarson, Greenwood, Evans, Mawene.
Referee: James Linington (Isle of Wight)
11:52 AM BST
Ignorance is bliss for Derby’s Eustace
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If he approaches today as he did last week, Derby head coach John Eustace will spend the next couple of hours in blissful ignorance of results elsewhere. Seven days ago, Eustace took his side to Hull – where they claimed a 1-0 victory – unaware that relegation rivals Luton had won in a lunchtime kick-off.
Rather than watch on television, the Derby party made their way to the MKM Stadium listening to their team bus driver’s favourite tunes. “The bus driver had his music on, which is not great, but we had to listen to it,” Eustace laughed.
11:46 AM BST
Atmosphere building in Coventry
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The atmosphere is building nicely at the Coventry Building Society Arena ahead of a season-defining clash for both Coventry and Middlesbrough.
Some supporters have already taken their seats inside the ground with team news imminent.
The permutations in short: if Coventry win they are all but guaranteed a top-six finish while Boro simply have to win to stand any chance of reaching the play-offs.
Plenty of drama awaits.
11:41 AM BST
The matches
Here are the fixtures for Round 46 of the 2024-25 Championship season.
The clubs from fifth place to to ninth could yet make the play-offs.
Down the bottom everyone from 23rd-placed Plymouth up to Stoke, in 18th, could yet slip through the trap door.
Bristol City (5) vs Preston North End (20)
Burnley (2) vs Millwall (7)
Coventry City (6) vs Middlesbrough (7)
Derby County (19) vs Stoke City (18)
Norwich City (14) vs Cardiff City (24)
Plymouth Argyle (23) vs Leeds United (1)
Portsmouth (16) vs Hull City (22)
Sheffield United (3) vs Blackburn Rovers (8)
Sunderland (4) vs Queens Park Rangers (15)
Swansea City (11) vs Oxford United (17)
Watford (13) vs Sheffield Wednesday (12)
West Bromwich Albion (10) vs Luton Town (21)
The clubs in bold are those either vying for the play-offs or to finish among the top 20.
11:25 AM BST
One hour and counting
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the final round of Championship matches.
No fewer than 12 matches all kick off simultaneously at 12.30pm, with plenty still at stake for a number of clubs.
There are five clubs hoping to make it into the final two available play-off spots for the chance to join Leeds United and Burnley in the Premier League next season.
At the other end of the table two more clubs will be relegated this afternoon along with Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle with six clubs battling to spare themselves from the drop to League One.
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