Southampton 3-1 Walsall
Walsall crawl to League safety despite falling away from home to a soaring Saints performance.
With their League One fate in their own hands Walsall needed a win to guarantee survival. Southampton although not mathematically could risk conceding a bagful and still be sure of automatic promotion.
The Saints however were in no mood to roll over and hand Walsall an easy win.
Guly stuck the first knife into the backs of the traveling Saddlers' fans on 26 minutes firing home after Jordan Cook cheaply lost Walsall the ball. Three minutes later Connolly added a second wound firing past Walker at his near post sucking the life out of a desperate Walsall side.
Hope wasn't lost for the visitors when Gray skipped through the Saint's defence shooting past Kevin Davies to cap a superb goal that turned Dean Smith's half time team talk into a slightly more upbeat affair.
Smith's efforts to boost his side to a win failed to inspire as Southampton crushed Walsall's attempt to grab a share of the points when on 65 minutes substitute Alex Chamberlin picked up the ball on the Southampton wing, cut inside and blasted past Jimmy Walker in the Walsall goal to mathematically seal promotion and leave the Saddlers waiting for final scores from Peterborough and Colchester.
To Walsall's delight Peterborough smashed 5 past Dagenham while Bristol Rovers were unable to win at Colchester (let alone win by the 15 or so goal margin needed for survival) leaving the Midlands boys safe just one point off the drop zone and Dean Smith safe in the knowledge that his side will be playing football in League One in 2011/12.
Despite the loss Walsall keeper James Walker was delighted with Walsall's survival achievment.
"This is a fantastic achievement, we looked down-and-out in January, but we've dug in and showed great character.
"I'm obviously disappointed about today's result and conceding three goals hurt as it always does, but we can't take anything away from what we have achieved.
"It's a great feeling and I am so pleased for everyone connected to the club. When I came back here I just wanted to do my best and help us move up the table. We've done that and it's so special."
9 May 2011
Ten minute Goal Rush Sees Coventry Deny Norwich a Perfect Sendoff.
Norwich 2-2 Coventry
Both sides seasons were finished before the final day of the season. But a 10 minute period in the second half showed that even with nothing on the line, in modern football, their is rarely a dull day.
Norwich, despite already securing promotion, came out firing. David Cross fired wide from 25 yards out while Zak Whitbread had to watch his close range effort cleared off the line. Canaries' skipper Holt had his best effort of the half saved in spectacular fashion by Michael Quirke.
It was Coventry however who opened the scoring and the floodgates in a 10 minute flood of finishes. Chris Hussey's effort was saved by Ruddy, but the rebound dropped at the feet of defender Keogh who poked the ball home from close range.
Two minutes later however Norwich pulled level, Marc Tierney's cross being met by a thumping header from Holt that flew into Coventry's net.
Just when the fans thought the action was over Norwich took the lead, Dani Pacheco, brought on to replace Holt just after his skippers goal, creating a mazey run into the Coventry box before blasting the home side into the lead 6 minutes after his side pulled level.
But it was Coventry who had the last laugh when two minutes after falling behind striker Jutkiewicz latched on to Hussey's low cross to pull the Sky Blues level and make sure that next years Premiership new boys left the Championship without 3 points under their belt.
Both sides seasons were finished before the final day of the season. But a 10 minute period in the second half showed that even with nothing on the line, in modern football, their is rarely a dull day.
Norwich, despite already securing promotion, came out firing. David Cross fired wide from 25 yards out while Zak Whitbread had to watch his close range effort cleared off the line. Canaries' skipper Holt had his best effort of the half saved in spectacular fashion by Michael Quirke.
It was Coventry however who opened the scoring and the floodgates in a 10 minute flood of finishes. Chris Hussey's effort was saved by Ruddy, but the rebound dropped at the feet of defender Keogh who poked the ball home from close range.
Two minutes later however Norwich pulled level, Marc Tierney's cross being met by a thumping header from Holt that flew into Coventry's net.
Just when the fans thought the action was over Norwich took the lead, Dani Pacheco, brought on to replace Holt just after his skippers goal, creating a mazey run into the Coventry box before blasting the home side into the lead 6 minutes after his side pulled level.
But it was Coventry who had the last laugh when two minutes after falling behind striker Jutkiewicz latched on to Hussey's low cross to pull the Sky Blues level and make sure that next years Premiership new boys left the Championship without 3 points under their belt.
8 May 2011
Owls Fall in 15 Minutes of Lethargy.
Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Exeter
"Chalk and Cheese." Gary Megson's description of a Wednesday performance that went from sublime to horror show as the Owls threw away victory in the dying minutes.
Starting strong Megson's men began full of energy and a desire that matched that of a playoff challenger rather then one aimlessly wandering in the mid table. Their early pressure brought them a deserved opener.
Minutes after James O'Conner saw his curling effort tipped away by Krysiak, Jermain Johnson was set free down the Wednesday left flank before cutting between the Exeter back 4 and lashing a powerful strike into the top right hand corner of Exeter's net.
The Owls continued to press as the half continued and Krysiak was kept busy for much of the opening 35 minutes, first denying O'conner again, then Johnson and finally when beaten seeing Mellor's effort cleared off the line by defender Richard Duffy.
However after the break the Owls pressure eased off and Exeter were allowed to begin creating chances. The open flowing game soon turned into a scrappy untidy affair as chances became few and far between.
Exeter striker Nardiello came closest striking the post after his close range effort was poked against a Wednesday leg, while Nicky Weaver flapped and pawed away the rebound from danger.
Fifteen minutes from time James O'Conner game away possession in the middle of the park and Richard Dunne broke down the centre, sliding a pass outside to Nardiello who fired home from a tight angle 8 yards from goal to bring the visitors level.
Wednesday failed to recover and when substitute Potter was dispossessed by centre-back Archibalde-Henville the pacey defender ran half the length of the pitch, step inside a defender and tucked the ball coolly past Weaver to grab an 88th minute winner.
Wednesday disappointing second half of the season means they end the year in the bottom half of the table while Exeter match their best ever finish in league football (eighth) and miss out on a playoff spot by just one point.
"Chalk and Cheese." Gary Megson's description of a Wednesday performance that went from sublime to horror show as the Owls threw away victory in the dying minutes.
Starting strong Megson's men began full of energy and a desire that matched that of a playoff challenger rather then one aimlessly wandering in the mid table. Their early pressure brought them a deserved opener.
Minutes after James O'Conner saw his curling effort tipped away by Krysiak, Jermain Johnson was set free down the Wednesday left flank before cutting between the Exeter back 4 and lashing a powerful strike into the top right hand corner of Exeter's net.
The Owls continued to press as the half continued and Krysiak was kept busy for much of the opening 35 minutes, first denying O'conner again, then Johnson and finally when beaten seeing Mellor's effort cleared off the line by defender Richard Duffy.
However after the break the Owls pressure eased off and Exeter were allowed to begin creating chances. The open flowing game soon turned into a scrappy untidy affair as chances became few and far between.
Exeter striker Nardiello came closest striking the post after his close range effort was poked against a Wednesday leg, while Nicky Weaver flapped and pawed away the rebound from danger.
Fifteen minutes from time James O'Conner game away possession in the middle of the park and Richard Dunne broke down the centre, sliding a pass outside to Nardiello who fired home from a tight angle 8 yards from goal to bring the visitors level.
Wednesday failed to recover and when substitute Potter was dispossessed by centre-back Archibalde-Henville the pacey defender ran half the length of the pitch, step inside a defender and tucked the ball coolly past Weaver to grab an 88th minute winner.
Wednesday disappointing second half of the season means they end the year in the bottom half of the table while Exeter match their best ever finish in league football (eighth) and miss out on a playoff spot by just one point.
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