Do you remember the Black Cats? They are knocking on the Premier League doors again
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 08.05.23. | 20:18
Sunderland into Championship play-offs after Millwall collapse against Blackburn
Sunderland secured their place in English football's Championship play-offs with a 3-0 win away to Preston on Monday but only after Millwall suffered an extraordinary loss at home to Blackburn Rovers.
The final day of the regular second-tier season kicked off with Millwall knowing a win would guarantee their place in the play-offs that decide the last available spot on offer in next term's lucrative Premier League.
Burnley, the champions, and second-placed Sheffield United were already assured of automatic promotion, but the identity of the clubs finishing fifth and sixth -- the teams that would join third-placed Luton and fourth-placed Middlesbrough in the play-offs -- had still to be decided.
Amad Diallo for Sunderland during the 2022/23 Championship season:
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 8, 2023
â—‰ Most goals (13)
â—‰ Most shots (67)
â—‰ Most shots on target (29)
└◎ 2nd fouls won (52)
└◎ 2nd touches in opp. box (142)
└◎ 3rd take-ons completed (62)
When loanees become legends... pic.twitter.com/n3dbMz9ghH
All seemed set fair for south London club Millwall when they led 3-1 at the interval following two goals from Duncan Watmore and one from Oliver Burke. But with Joe Rankin-Costello having reduced the deficit, Ben Brereton Diaz's second-half double inspired a Rovers revival at the New Den.
Sunderland's win at Preston, however, meant the northeast side took sixth place, with Blackburn leapfrogging Millwall only to be denied a play-off position of their own on goal difference.
Coventry, meanwhile, claimed a final day point to finish fifth and secure a play-off berth following a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough -- who they will now meet in a two-legged semi-final.
EFL CHAMPIONSHIP
Birmingham - Sheffield United 1-2 (0-0)
/Sanderson 79 - McBburnie 53, McAtee 56/
Burnley - Cardiff 3-0 (2-0)
/Brownley 27, Barnes 31, Twine 57/
Huddersfield - Reading 2-0 (0-0)
/Coroma 49, Hungbo 84/
Luton - Hull 0-0
Middlesbrough - Coventry 1-1 (1-1)
/Archer 45+3 - Harmer 22/
Millwall - Blackburn 3-4 (3-1)
/Vatmur 8, 37, Burk 39 - Varton 22, Rankin Kostelo 51, Dijaz 63, 87/
Norwich - Blackpool 0-1 (0-1)
/Rodgers 15/
Preston - Sunderland 0-3 (0-0)
/Diallo 54, Pritchard 61, Clark 65/
QRP - Bristol City 0-2 (0-1)
/Sykes 28, Bell 56/
Swansea - WBA 3-2 (1-1)
/Cundle 26, Ntcham 66, Piroe 90+3 - Yokuslu 13, Ajayi 54/
Watford - Stoke 2-0 (0-0)
/Louza 70, Davies 74/
Wigan - Rotherham 0-0
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