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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
PA Media

League One roundup: Plymouth and Ipswich promoted to Championship

Ryan Hardie celebrates promotion to the Championship with the Plymouth supporters after the victory after the  win over Burton.
Ryan Hardie celebrates promotion to the Championship with the Plymouth supporters after the victory after the win over Burton. Photograph: Tim Goode/PA

Plymouth and Ipswich are celebrating promotion to the Championship after contrasting victories on Saturday.

Niall Ennis’s goal was enough for leaders Plymouth to edge out Burton 1-0, while Ipswich confirmed their own rise with a more emphatic 6-0 rout of Exeter.

Five of the goals came in a 25-minute spell in the first half as Conor Chaplin scored twice, with Massimo Luongo, George Hirst and Nathan Broadhead also finding the net between his two strikes. Wes Burns added the sixth early in the second half.

With only one point between the top two, the title race will go down to the final day. Plymouth will win the title next week if they match the result of Ipswich.

The Ipswich manager, Kieran McKenna, is engulfed by his players during the celebrations at Portman Road.
The Ipswich manager, Kieran McKenna, is engulfed by his players during the celebrations at Portman Road. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

Bolton made sure of a playoff place with a 2-0 win over 10-man Fleetwood, secured via a Promise Omochere own goal and a Kyle Dempsey strike, as seventh-placed Peterborough were held to a 0-0 draw by Bristol Rovers.

Sixth-placed Derby failed to take full advantage as they drew 1-1 with Portsmouth, leaving them two points clear going into the final day.

Stevenage secured promotion from League Two as goals from Luther James-Wildin – his first in two years – and Jamie Reid earned a 2-0 win over Grimsby

That win lifted them to second as Northampton blew their chance of securing promotion as Romoney Crichlow’s stoppage-time strike earned a 2-1 win for playoff chasing Bradford at Sixfields. The Cobblers go into the final day two points clear of fourth-placed Stockport, who won 3-0 at the home of champions Leyton Orient to keep hopes of automatic promotion alive. 

Salford all but secured a playoff place with a 3-2 win away to promotion rivals Carlisle, moving them three points clear of Mansfield, who lost 2-1 at home to Harrogate, a side they have still never beaten after seven attempts. 

Crawley secured their League Two survival with a goalless draw at home to Walsall, a result which relegates Hartlepool despite their 3-1 home win over Barrow, who ended the match with eight men as Harrison Neal and Patrick Brough both saw red, with Josh Gordon hobbling off. 

Relegated Rochdale lifted spirits with a 4-1 win over 10-man Sutton in their final home game, while Sam Taylor’s first professional goal earned Tranmere a point in a 1-1 draw with Wimbledon

Late goals from Conor Thomas and Joel Tabiner earned Crewe a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Swindon, Doncaster beat Colchester 1-0 for a first win in 10, while Omar Bogle’s 15th goal of the season earned Newport a 2-1 win at Gillingham.

Third-placed Sheffield Wednesday swept aside Shrewsbury 3-0 but fourth-placed Barnsley had to come from 4-1 down in the last 20 minutes to earn a 4-4 draw at MK Dons, with Max Watters scoring twice in the comeback. The late collapse meant the Dons blew a chance to secure their League One status on the day, but Port Vale are now safe despite going down 3-2 away to Charlton.

Oxford are effectively safe after a 3-0 win away to relegated Forest Green moved them three points clear of 21st-placed Morecambe while boasting a vastly superior goal difference. Morecambe are still alive after coming from 2-0 down to beat Lincoln 3-2, with Cole Stockton grabbing the winner – his second of the afternoon – four minutes from time. The win puts them level on points with the Dons, albeit with a significantly worse goal difference.

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Cambridge are a point further back in 22nd after Harrison Dunk got the winner in a 2-1 victory over Accrington Stanley, who are now effectively down, three points from safety with a dismal goal difference to boot going into the final day. Wycombe beat Cheltenham 3-0.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Plymouth 45 33 98
2 Ipswich 45 66 97
3 Sheff Wed 45 43 93
4 Barnsley 45 35 86
5 Bolton 45 25 78
6 Derby 45 22 76
7 Peterborough 45 19 74
8 Portsmouth 45 11 69
9 Wycombe 45 8 68
10 Charlton 45 4 61
11 Lincoln City 45 -1 59
12 Fleetwood Town 45 2 57
13 Shrewsbury 44 -9 56
14 Exeter 45 -5 53
15 Bristol Rovers 44 -13 53
16 Cheltenham 45 -16 53
17 Burton Albion 44 -23 52
18 Port Vale 45 -21 49
19 Oxford Utd 45 -6 47
20 Milton Keynes Dons 45 -22 44
21 Morecambe 45 -30 44
22 Cambridge Utd 44 -28 43
23 Accrington Stanley 45 -38 41
24 Forest Green 45 -56 27
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