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Championship climax: Barnsley survive, Sheffield United settle for play-offs, Doncaster Rovers beaten, Sheffield Wednesday finish on a high
SHEFFIELD UNITED are denied the chance to win automatic promotion by a wonderful goalkeeping performance at Palace coupled with Birmingham's win over Reading.
Barnsley are safe after a 2-1 win at Plymouth, a result that meant it did not matter that Norwich lost 4-2 at Charlton. Norwich are relegated.
The Blades will face Preston in the play-offs, after North End snook into the final spot by virtue of Cardiff's defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, and the Welsh side's inferior record against Preston.
Burnley meet Reading in the other play-off semi-final.
Here's how the day unfolded. Click on the blue links to read the match reports.
FT: Swansea 0 Blackpool 1
FT: Preston 2 QPR 1 - Preston in play-offs
FT: Charlton 4 Norwich 2 - Norwich relegated
FT: Ipswich 2 Coventry 1
FT: Plymouth 1 Barnsley 2 - Barnsley are safe
FT: Sheffield Wednesday 1 Cardiff 0
FT: Burnley 4 Bristol City 0 - Burnley in play-offs
FT: Forest 3 Southampton 1
FT: Watford 3 Derby 1
FT: Reading 1 Birmingham 2 - Birmingham promoted to Premier League
FT: Palace 0 Sheff United 0 - Blades finish 3rd
3.10pm: GOAL Forest 3 Southampton 1 - Robert Earnshaw (90).
FT: Wolves 1 Doncaster 0
3.07pm: CHANCE Palace 0 Sheff United 0 - Deep into stoppage tiime, desperate Blades hit the post through Chris Morgan. How close to the goal they crave.
3.06pm: GOAL Wolves 1 Doncaster 0 - Richard Stearman breaks Doncaster's resistance for champions Wolves.
3.05pm: GOAL Burnley 4 Bristol City 0 - Joey Gudjonnsen seals it for Burnley who will finish fifth.
As it stands: 19th Forest 53, 20th Barnsley 52, 21st Plymouth 51, 22nd Norwich 46.
3.02pm: GOAL Forest 2 Southampton 1 - Luke Chambers gives Forest the lead with three minutes to go.
3.00pm: GOAL Watford 3 Derby 1 - John Eustace (82) with a consolation for Derby.
3.00pm: GOAL Ipswich 2 Coventry 1 - Clinton Morrison (79) pulls a goal back.
2.55pm: GOAL Burnley 3 Bristol City 0 - A second Graham Alexander penalty seals Burnley's place in the top six.
2.54pm: GOAL Preston 2 QPR 1 - Sean St Ledger scores meaning it's Burnley and Preston bound for the play-offs with Cardiff missing out.
As it stands: 19th Barnsley 52, 20th Plymouth 51, 21st Forest 51, 22nd Norwich 46.
2.50pm: GOAL Forest 1 Southampton 1 - Joe Garner (73).
2.49pm: GOAL Sheff Wednesday 1 Cardiff 0 - Jermain Johnson gives the Owls the lead, meaning Cardiff need to equalise or hope Preston don't beat QPR to seal a play-off spot.
2.43pm: GOAL Charlton 4 Norwich 2 - Is there hope for Norwich, Sammy Clingan scoring with 29 minutes to go.
2.38pm: GOAL Preston 1 QPR 1 - Patrick Agyemang equalises for QPR.
2.36pm: CHANCE Palace 0 Sheff United 0 - Jamie Ward denied an opening goal by the brilliance of Julian Speroni, who moments later saves from Greg Halford.
As it stands: 19th Barnsley 52, 20th Plymouth 51, 21st Forest 50, 22nd Norwich 46.
2.34pm: GOAL Charlton 4 Norwich 1 - Got to be all over at the bottom now, Norwich 4-1 down and heading down as Deon Burton seals his hat-trick.
As it stands: 2nd Birmingham 83, 3rd Sheff United 80, 4th Reading 77.
2.34pm: GOAL Reading 1 Birmingham 2 - Hang on, it's not over yet, Reading have pulled a goal back through Marek Matejovsky.
2.33pm: GOAL Reading 0 Birmingham 2 - United's inability to find the net has been compunded by news from the Madejski Stadium where Birmingham have doubled their lead through Kevin Phillips, and it is still the Blues are heading up.
2.31pm: CHANCE Palace 0 Sheff United 0 - Neil Danns almost finds the net as Palace come out fired up in the second half.
As it stands: 19th Barnsley 52, 20th Plymouth 51, 21st Forest 50, 22nd Norwich 46.
2.24pm: GOAL Plymouth 1 Barnsley 2 - Barnsley are looking safe as Jamal Campbell-Ryce gives them the lead at Home Park two minutes into the second half.
2.23pm: CHANCE Palace 0 Sheff United 0 - Paddy Kenny keeps United in the promotion race with a fine save from a clean through Victor Moses.
As it stands: 2nd Birmingham 83, 3rd Sheff United 80, 4th Reading 77 - Birmingham will be promoted.
As it stands: 21st Barnsley 50, 22nd Norwich 46 - Norwich will be relegated.
HT: Charlton 3 Norwich 1
2.05pm: GOAL Charlton 3 Norwich 1 - A glimmer of hope for Norwich who pull a goal back through Alan Lee.
HT: Swansea 0 Blackpool 1
HT: Preston 1 QPR 0
HT: Forest 0 Southampton 1
HT: Ipswich 2 Coventry 0
HT: Burnley 2 Bristol City 0
HT: Plymouth 1 Barnsley 1
HT: Wolves 0 Doncaster 0
HT: Wednesday 0 Cardiff 0
HT: Watford 3 Derby 0
HT: Palace 0 Sheff United 0
HT: Reading 0 Birmingham 1
2.00pm: GOAL Burnley 2 Bristol City 0 - Wade Elliott doubles Burnley's lead.
1.59pm: GOAL Burnley 1 Bristol City 0 - Graham Alexander's penalty puts Burnley back in the driving seat for the play-offs.
1.59pm: GOAL Watford 3 Derby 0 - Gregor Rasiak (41).
1.56pm: GOAL Preston 1 QPR 0 - Preston are keeping the pressure on Burnley and Cardiff in the final two play-off spots by taking the lead against QPR, Jon Parkin on target.
As it stands: 21st Barnsley 50, 22nd Norwich 46.
1.53pm: GOAL Charlton 3 Norwich 0 - And it looks like Barnsley are safe, Norwich now have a mountain to climb as Deon Burton scores his second and Charlton's third.
1.52pm: GOAL: Plymouth 1 Barnsley 1 - Barnsley are on course to survive, Adam Hammill equalises for Barnsley.
1.49pm: CHANCE Palace 0 Sheff United 0 - Julian Speroni makes a flying save to deny Chris Morgan.
As it stands: 21st Barnsley 49, 22nd Norwich 46.
1.48pm: GOAL Charlton 2 Norwich 0 - Great news for Barnsley, Norwich are now two down, Deon Burton with Charlton's second meaning Norwich now have to score three times to win and stand any chance.
1.46pm: GOAL Watford 2 Derby 0 - Gregor Rasiak (28).
1.45pm: GOAL Ipswich 2 Coventry 0 - Pablo Counago (26).
1.43pm: GOAL Ipswich 1 Coventry 0 - G Dos Santos (24).
1.36pm: GOAL Forest 0 Southampton 1 - Bradley Wright-Phillips (16).
1.35pm: GOAL Swansea 0 Blackpool 1 - DJ Campbell (13).
As it stands: 2nd Birmingham 83, 3rd United 80, 4th Reading 77.
1.34pm: GOAL: Reading 0 Birmingham 1 - Bad news for the Blades, Birmingham have taken the lead at Reading, meaning they stand four points clear of Blackwell's side in second spot. Keith Fahey on target for the Blues.
1.30pm: GOAL Watford 1 Derby 0 - Jobi McAnuff (14).
As it stands: 21st Barnsley 49, 22nd Norwich 46.
1.29pm: GOAL Charlton 1 Norwich 0 - But there's good news for the Reds, Norwich have fallen a goal behind to Charlton, Nick Bailey heading home.
1.28pm: GOAL Plymouth 1 Barnsley 0 - Terrible news for Barnsley, 12 minutes in and they have fallen behind to a Gary Sawyer header from Paul Gallacher's corner.
1.27pm: CHANCE Plymouth 0 Barnsley 0 - Jamal Campbell-Ryce shoots just over for Barnsley.
1.26pm: CHANCE Palace 0 Sheff Utd 0 - Darius Henderson just fails to make full contact with David Cotterill's cross.
1.15pm: Kick-off in all 12 Championship games.
Championship
Burnley v Bristol City
Charlton v Norwich
Crystal Palace v Sheff Utd
Ipswich v Coventry
Nottm Forest v Southampton
Plymouth v Barnsley
Preston v QPR
Reading v Birmingham
Sheff Wed v Cardiff
Swansea v Blackpool
Watford v Derby
Wolverhampton v Doncaster
Crystal Palace v Sheffield United
Team news: Midfielder Brian Howard is back in contention for the Blades after serving a two match ban.
Defender Gary Naysmith has been ruled out for over six months with damaged knee ligaments and joins Derek Geary, Ugo Ehiogu, and Gary Speed on the injured list.
Stephen Quinn is struggling with a back problem.
Victor Moses returns from suspension for Palace, who are still without skipper Shaun Derry (shoulder) and winger Sean Scannell (hernia).
John Oster (neck) and Paul Ifill (hamstring) are still struggling.
Plymouth Argyle v Barnsley
Team news: Barnsley will be boosted by the return of captain Stephen Foster who has missed the last two games through illness.
Foster is set to replace Dennis Souza who has been struggling with a hamstring strain.
Winger Adam Hammill plays after recovering from an ankle injury but striker Iain Hume (head) remains a long term absentee.
Plymouth will again be without on-loan Manchester United defender Craig Cathcart because of his knee injury.
Argyle boss Paul Sturrock may look to give Cameroon international striker Rudi Douala a run-out.
Simon Davey: "We are not looking for a point - we have to go there with the mentality that we have to win to stay in this division."
Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff City
Team news: Wednesday manager made a couple of changes to the team which drew at Bristol City last week.
Leon Clarke and Etienne Esajas missed out with minor niggles, James O'Connor and Jermaine Johnson brought in to midfield, with Marcus Tudgay pushed up front to partner Francis Jeffers.
Brian Laws: "We want to win our last game and make sure we finish in the top 12 in the division."
Wolves v Doncaster Rovers
Team news: Rovers defender James Chambers is set to shake off ankle trouble to line-up against the club he supported as a boy.
Rovers have doubts over James Coppinger (ankle) and Matt Mills (groin) but defender Gordon Greer is available after completing a loan spell at Swindon Town.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is battling against back and hamstring problems to be fit, while fellow striker Andy Keogh was replaced by youngster Ashley Hemmings midway through the second half at Barnsley having sustained a knee injury, but he should be okay to feature.
Sean O'Driscoll: "The fact that they have clinched the Championship and we have stabilised ourselves in this division means that both parties can congratulate themselves."
Log on throughout the day for the latest news from your club, including all the goals as they happen in the Championship and how they affect your club.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
