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Ipswich took the lead after eleven minutes through Shefki Kuqi. He converted a through ball from Kevin Horlock. It didn’t take Leeds long to reply though as Matthew Spring got his first goal for the club just a minute late. The former Luton Town midfielder headed in from fifteen yards after a good cross from Fraser Richardson.
It finished 1-1 an Ipswich dropped more points and the Tractor Boys’ nerves are really starting to show.
As a result, Sunderland were promoted. They beat Leicester City 2-1 at the Stadium of Light. It was not without a worry however. Leicester City full-back Alan Maybury put the Foxes in front after just five minutes. He curled a neat finished just inside the far post after shrugging off Stephen Wright.
David Connolly had a goal dis-allowed for hand-ball in the box, a dubious decision to say the least.
Marcus Stewart equalised for the Black Cats after 23 minutes, he finished low into the bottom corner after Brown’s through ball. Caldwell then got the winner fifteen minutes after half time. A thumping header from Lawrence’s corner.
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The Latics did not take advantage of the slip by Ipswich. A 0-0 draw at home meant that the Latics stayed two points clear of their rivals. Jason Roberts and Nathan Ellington missed the best chances in a game that was not to be.
Derby County managed a good 2-0 home win over struggling Gillingham. Goals from Bisgaard and Peschisolido either side of half time sealed the game, the result keeps the Rams in the playoffs.
Bisgaard’s goal was a wonderful volley on the turn, while Peschisolido tucked home a rebound after Rasiak’s shot was saved.
Cardiff City provided the shock result of the day, they managed to beat Reading 2-0 at Ninian Park. Peter Thorne got the first with a volley from 12 yards, Jerome helped the result with a scrambled goal from a corner. Both goals came in the first half.
West Ham couldn’t get more than a draw at Brighton. Nigel Reo-Coker got the Hammers’ first goal. He headed in from close range after Marlon Harewood’s knock down. Brighton equalised early in the second half, Dean Hammond headed in from Gary Hart’s cross. However, just a minute later and the Hammer’s were back ni front, Harewood finished from close range after a route on ball from the goalkeeper.
Hammond got his second to seal the draw in the final minute he popped up with another header, and a vital header it could be for the Seagulls.
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A life-line was rescued in front of 24,165 fans. They beat Burnley with a goal from Kris Commons, he hammered in a volley after John Curtis’ cross was missed by the goalkeeper.
There is a slim chance now for Forest and Megson.
Crewe and Stoke met each other in the Potteries derby, and it was Stoke who came out on top. Crewe are in terrible form and it is unlikely that they will do the Latics any favours at Portman Road next week.
Stoke ran out comfortable 2-0 winners, Neal got his first goal for more than three years with a header and Gifton Noel-Williams got the second in the last minute with a shot on the turn from 8 yards. Crewe desperately need points now to avoid the drop.
Watford and Sheffield United played out a 0-0 draw, a result that means the Blades are unlikely to make the playoffs.
Argyle went behind to Coventry, Stern John scored on the stroke of half time with a good finished from inside the box, Plymouth however don’t lose many at home, and equalised in the last minute through Tony Cipaldi, he fired in from close range. A result that leaves the Sky Blues close to the drop.
A Kenny Miller double sunk relegated Rotherham. His first came from a corner as he volleyed in ten minutes after the break, whilst his second, Miller’s 19th of the season, was a great finish made by himself, he thumped home from the edge of the area after some good control worked him the chance.
The Latics’ opponents next week, Preston, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Millwall at the New Den in Sunday’s game. Millwall went ahead through Peter Sweeney's drive after nine minutes, but Preston levelled with David Nugent's wonderful half-volley, before Hayles exchanged passes with Danny Dichio and rifled home in the 76th minute. A result that leaves North End in the playoffs.
Here’s a round-up of the results and the league table after 44 games:
| Coca-Cola Championship | ||||||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | (0) | 2 | West Ham United | (1) | 2 | 6,819 | ||
| Cardiff City | (2) | 2 | Reading | (0) | 0 | 14,821 | ||
| Crewe Alexandra | (0) | 0 | Stoke City | (0) | 2 | 9,166 | ||
| Derby County | (1) | 2 | Gillingham | (0) | 0 | 27,481 | ||
| Leeds United | (1) | 1 | Ipswich Town | (1) | 1 | 29,607 | ||
| Nottingham Forest | (0) | 1 | Burnley | (0) | 0 | 24,165 | ||
| Plymouth Argyle | (0) | 1 | Coventry City | (1) | 1 | 18,443 | ||
| Sunderland | (1) | 2 | Leicester City | (1) | 1 | 34,815 | ||
| Watford | (0) | 0 | Sheffield United | (0) | 0 | 17,138 | ||
| Wigan Athletic | (0) | 0 | Queens Park Rangers | (0) | 0 | 12,007 | ||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | (0) | 2 | Rotherham United | (0) | 0 | 25,177 | ||
| Millwall | (1) | 2 | Preston North End | (0) | 1 | 11,417 |
| Last game played on Sunday 24th April 2005 | Pld | Home | Away | Overall | Pts | GD | |||||||||||||||||
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | |||||||||
| 1 | [P] Sunderland | 44 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 44 | 21 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 29 | 19 | 27 | 7 | 10 | 73 | 40 | 88 | +33 | ||||
| 2 | Wigan Athletic | 44 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 39 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 36 | 19 | 24 | 11 | 9 | 75 | 33 | 83 | +42 | ||||
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 44 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 48 | 25 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 31 | 29 | 23 | 12 | 9 | 79 | 54 | 81 | +25 | ||||
| 4 | Preston North End | 44 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 43 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 33 | 21 | 11 | 12 | 65 | 54 | 74 | +11 | ||||
| 5 | Derby County | 43 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 35 | 29 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 31 | 23 | 21 | 10 | 12 | 66 | 52 | 73 | +14 | ||||
| 6 | West Ham United | 44 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 28 | 31 | 20 | 10 | 14 | 63 | 53 | 70 | +10 | ||||
| 7 | Reading | 44 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 32 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 26 | 19 | 13 | 12 | 49 | 39 | 70 | +10 | ||||
| 8 | Sheffield United | 44 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 28 | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 27 | 29 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 55 | 51 | 67 | +4 | ||||
| 9 | Millwall | 44 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 33 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 23 | 17 | 11 | 16 | 50 | 45 | 62 | +5 | ||||
| 10 | Stoke City | 44 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 22 | 17 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 17 | 36 | 36 | 61 | 0 | ||||
| 11 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 44 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 36 | 24 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 30 | 32 | 13 | 21 | 10 | 66 | 56 | 60 | +10 | ||||
| 12 | Leeds United | 44 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 28 | 26 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 24 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 49 | 50 | 59 | -1 | ||||
| 13 | Queens Park Rangers | 44 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 30 | 25 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 22 | 31 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 52 | 56 | 59 | -4 | ||||
| 14 | Burnley | 44 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 24 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 36 | 39 | 56 | -3 | ||||
| 15 | Plymouth Argyle | 44 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 31 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 21 | 39 | 14 | 10 | 20 | 52 | 62 | 52 | -10 | ||||
| 16 | Leicester City | 43 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 20 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 25 | 26 | 10 | 20 | 13 | 46 | 46 | 50 | 0 | ||||
| 17 | Cardiff City | 44 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 19 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 23 | 31 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 46 | 50 | 50 | -4 | ||||
| 18 | Watford | 44 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 24 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 34 | 11 | 16 | 17 | 50 | 57 | 49 | -7 | ||||
| 19 | Coventry City | 44 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 26 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 43 | 12 | 13 | 19 | 54 | 69 | 49 | -15 | ||||
| 20 | Gillingham | 44 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 22 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 21 | 41 | 12 | 12 | 20 | 42 | 63 | 48 | -21 | ||||
| 21 | Crewe Alexandra | 44 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 35 | 37 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 28 | 43 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 63 | 80 | 47 | -17 | ||||
| 22 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 44 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 23 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 36 | 12 | 11 | 21 | 38 | 64 | 47 | -26 | ||||
| 23 | Nottingham Forest | 44 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 24 | 26 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 36 | 9 | 16 | 19 | 39 | 62 | 43 | -23 | ||||
| 24 | [R] Rotherham United | 44 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 33 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 35 | 5 | 13 | 26 | 35 | 68 | 28 | -33 | ||||