Watford secured promotion to the Premier League after Middlesbrough and Norwich failed to win in a dramatic afternoon of Championship action.
Having comfortably beaten Brighton 2-0 in the day’s early kick-off to rise to the league summit, the Hornets needed their rivals to slip up to guarantee an automatic promotion place.
And, in a topsy turvy clash at Craven Cottage, a ten-man Boro found themselves on the wrong side of a crazy finale as Fulham ran out 4-3 winners, thanks to Ross McCormack’s hat-trick and a Michael Turner header, to end their fears of relegation.
Garcia Martinez scored with two minutes to go for the visitors to give them hope of pipping Watford to an automatic promotion spot, but McCormack scored his third and Fulham's fourth in stoppage time to thwart their efforts.
Adam Reach and Daniel Ayala scored Boro’s other goals, who also had George Friend sent off for preventing a goal scoring opportunity.
Boro now sit third on 84 points, with fourth placed Norwich City a point behind after drawing 1-1 against Rotherham United at the New York stadium.
Jordan Bowery scored from an Adam Hamill cross with five minutes to go to rescue a point for the struggling Millers, after Gary Hooper opened the scoring for the Canaries, who were reduced to ten men in the first half when Lewis Grabban was sent off for allegedly punching an opponent.
Bournemouth face Bolton Wanderers at the Goldsands stadium on Monday night to complete the battle for automatic promotion.
Meanwhile, Derby came from 3-1 down to secure a much needed point against Millwall at the New Den.
A Lee Gregory hat-trick should have secured all three points for the Lions, but goals from Tom Ince, Chris Martin and a stunning volley from Jeff Hendrick with five minutes to go keeps the Rams’ play-off hopes alive, while keeping Millwall in the relegation zone, separating them from Rotherham by a point.
Ipswich Town all but secured a play-off place with a 2-1 win at home to Nottingham Forest.
Daryll Murphy rifled in his 25th goal this season before Christophe Berra’s own goal gave Forest a life line, but in-form Freddie Sears secured all three points for the Tractor Boys in the 82nd minute.
Goals from Alan Judge and James Tarkowski secured all three points for Brentford at Reading, as the Bees stay seventh, two points behind Derby.
Wolves join Brentford on 75 points after Benik Afobe’s first half header leaves Wigan a near impossible chance of survival.
Just two years after winning the FA Cup, the Latic's need Rotherham to lose their next two games to seal their fate. Afobe’s goal was his 13th in a Wolves shirt.
Leeds ended their run of five straight defeats as they took all three points in a 2-1 Yorkshire derby win at Hillsborough.
Steve Morison fired in the winner after Sheffield Wednesday keeper Keiren Westwood saved his initial shot. Charlie Taylor had equalised for Leeds after Chris Maguire's first-half penalty put the home side in front.
Two penalties from Eoin Doyle and a Joe Mason strike handed Cardiff a nervy 3-2 win at home to already relegated Blackpool.
Elsewhere, Lloyd Dyer’s 81st minute strike moved Birmingham to 80 points and level with opponents Charlton with a 1-0 win. The home side dominated the game and could have scored earlier, but David Cotterill’s effort bounced back off the post.
Finally, Huddersfield rescued a point at the John Smith’s Stadium as they drew 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers. Rudi Gestede scored his 21st goal of the season before strike partner Jordan Rhodes doubles the visitor’s lead.
A Jacob Butterfield free-kick and a Joe Lolley strike secured the point for the Yorkshire side
Having comfortably beaten Brighton 2-0 in the day’s early kick-off to rise to the league summit, the Hornets needed their rivals to slip up to guarantee an automatic promotion place.
And, in a topsy turvy clash at Craven Cottage, a ten-man Boro found themselves on the wrong side of a crazy finale as Fulham ran out 4-3 winners, thanks to Ross McCormack’s hat-trick and a Michael Turner header, to end their fears of relegation.
Garcia Martinez scored with two minutes to go for the visitors to give them hope of pipping Watford to an automatic promotion spot, but McCormack scored his third and Fulham's fourth in stoppage time to thwart their efforts.
Adam Reach and Daniel Ayala scored Boro’s other goals, who also had George Friend sent off for preventing a goal scoring opportunity.
Boro now sit third on 84 points, with fourth placed Norwich City a point behind after drawing 1-1 against Rotherham United at the New York stadium.
Jordan Bowery scored from an Adam Hamill cross with five minutes to go to rescue a point for the struggling Millers, after Gary Hooper opened the scoring for the Canaries, who were reduced to ten men in the first half when Lewis Grabban was sent off for allegedly punching an opponent.
Bournemouth face Bolton Wanderers at the Goldsands stadium on Monday night to complete the battle for automatic promotion.
Meanwhile, Derby came from 3-1 down to secure a much needed point against Millwall at the New Den.
A Lee Gregory hat-trick should have secured all three points for the Lions, but goals from Tom Ince, Chris Martin and a stunning volley from Jeff Hendrick with five minutes to go keeps the Rams’ play-off hopes alive, while keeping Millwall in the relegation zone, separating them from Rotherham by a point.
Ipswich Town all but secured a play-off place with a 2-1 win at home to Nottingham Forest.
Daryll Murphy rifled in his 25th goal this season before Christophe Berra’s own goal gave Forest a life line, but in-form Freddie Sears secured all three points for the Tractor Boys in the 82nd minute.
Goals from Alan Judge and James Tarkowski secured all three points for Brentford at Reading, as the Bees stay seventh, two points behind Derby.
Wolves join Brentford on 75 points after Benik Afobe’s first half header leaves Wigan a near impossible chance of survival.
Just two years after winning the FA Cup, the Latic's need Rotherham to lose their next two games to seal their fate. Afobe’s goal was his 13th in a Wolves shirt.
Leeds ended their run of five straight defeats as they took all three points in a 2-1 Yorkshire derby win at Hillsborough.
Steve Morison fired in the winner after Sheffield Wednesday keeper Keiren Westwood saved his initial shot. Charlie Taylor had equalised for Leeds after Chris Maguire's first-half penalty put the home side in front.
Two penalties from Eoin Doyle and a Joe Mason strike handed Cardiff a nervy 3-2 win at home to already relegated Blackpool.
Elsewhere, Lloyd Dyer’s 81st minute strike moved Birmingham to 80 points and level with opponents Charlton with a 1-0 win. The home side dominated the game and could have scored earlier, but David Cotterill’s effort bounced back off the post.
Finally, Huddersfield rescued a point at the John Smith’s Stadium as they drew 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers. Rudi Gestede scored his 21st goal of the season before strike partner Jordan Rhodes doubles the visitor’s lead.
A Jacob Butterfield free-kick and a Joe Lolley strike secured the point for the Yorkshire side
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