Sheffield Wednesday secured a top-half Championship finish after a 1-1 draw at Watford in what could turn out to be Danny Rohl’s last game in charge.
Josh Windass gave the Owls a 29th-minute lead but Moussa Sissoko replied in first-half added time to ensure a stalemate in a game between two teams with little left to play for.
Rohl – whose future has been in doubt after he was linked with Southampton, Leicester and RB Leipzig – had set his side the target of ending the season in the top half of the Championship for only the sixth time in 19 years.
A point was sufficient to achieve a 12th-placed finish while Watford saw out the campaign in 14th after ending a run of four successive defeats.
A run of just one win in eight games killed off any hopes the Hornets had of forcing their way into the play-offs.
They showed few signs of improving on their recent record as Wednesday took control of the opening stages.
The visitors should have taken the lead in the 10th minute when Windass – one of five players in the Wednesday line-up out of contract this summer – was presented with a clear opportunity following a misplaced pass from Watford forward Mamadou Doumbia.
The forward found himself with time and space in front of goal only to fire his shot over the bar.
Watford’s response was limited to an attempted long-range lob by Imran Louza which was easily dealt with by Owls goalkeeper Pierce Charles.
It was the Owls who were rewarded for their early efforts when Windass made up for his previous miss by making the breakthrough in the 29th minute.
The goal came from a well-worked free-kick with Shea Charles delivering a cross towards the far post where Callum Paterson headed back across goal for Windass to finish from close range.
The shock of conceding appeared to spark Watford into life and Tom Cleverley’s side came close to equalising when centre-back Mattie Pollock headed over from a Louza corner.
Louza was again the provider when Watford drew level in the first minute of added time.
The midfielder lofted a ball over the Wednesday defence and into the path of Sissoko, who took a touch before firing past Charles.
The home side carried on from where they left off at the start of the second half and it took an alert Charles to deny Doumbia the chance to add a second.
The Owls keeper was again called into action to keep out Edo Kayembe’s powerful shot shortly after the midfielder had seen a deflected effort strike the outside of a post.
But the Hornets were unable to find a way through and it was Wednesday who almost carved out a late winner when Olaf Kobacki shot narrowly wide.
Mikel Arteta demanded his Arsenal players use the “rage” from their shock defeat to Bournemouth as motivation for a Champions League comeback against Paris St Germain.The Gunners geared up for Wednesday’s semi-final second leg in France in the worst possible fashion with a 2-1 home defeat after second-half goals by Dean Huijsen and Evanilson cancelled out Declan Rice’s 34th...
Arsenal warmed up for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg at Paris St Germain with a shock 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth.Declan Rice fired the Gunners ahead after 34 minutes but Andoni Iraola’s visitors staged a spirited second-half comeback at the Emirates.Dean Huijsen equalised in the 67th minute and eight minutes later Evanilson bundled in the winner to help Bournemo...
Graham Alexander joked that it was “the Bradford way” after the Yorkshire side clinched automatic promotion in dramatic fashion with a last-gasp 1-0 win.Antoni Sarcevic scored the winner against Fleetwood at Valley Parade in the sixth minute of added time, deflecting home George Lapslie’s shot.Bradford had been facing the prospect of dropping into the play-offs after failing to w...
Reading manager Noel Hunt stressed the need for talks with prospective new owner Rob Couhig after seeing their hopes of a League One play-off place ended.The Royals had needed to better the result of Leyton Orient to pinch sixth place but went down 4-2 at home to Barnsley as Orient triumphed 4-1 win at Huddersfield.After a goalless first half, goals from Stephen Humphrys and Jon Russell gave Barns...
Port Vale manager Darren Moore was keen to focus on the “magnitude” of what his already-promoted side has achieved this season despite ending with a 1-0 defeat at home to Gillingham.Vale needed leaders Doncaster to drop points away at Notts County to have any chance of finishing in top spot but Rovers ran out 2-1 winners to be crowned champions.A stunning goal from Aaron Rowe secured a...
Bromley manager Andy Woodman believes his side have laid the foundations for the club’s future in their first season in the EFL.The Ravens ended their League Two campaign with a 3-0 win over Cheltenham to secure an 11th-placed finish.League Two player of the year Michael Cheek scored two more goals to take his tally to 25 while Nicke Kabamba also netted in a comfortable home victory.And Wood...
MK Dons boss Paul Warne is looking forward to ringing the changes in the summer after voicing frustration with his shot-shy team.The former Derby boss, who took over the Buckinghamshire side in mid-April, saw his side end the campaign with a 0-0 draw at Swindon.The Dons have scored just one goal in their last seven games as they finished 19th.“We need some pace and power,” Warne said.&...
Match-winning Doncaster striker Rob Street hailed a “perfect day” as Rovers were crowned League Two champions after beating Notts County 2-1 at Meadow Lane.Street’s brace before the break was enough for Rovers to take all three points and in turn finish four points clear of Port Vale at the summit.“t was a perfect day. It’s what I set out to do, from the minute I walk...
Derek McInnes was pleased to give the long-suffering travelling fans from Kilmarnock a big win to celebrate after prevailing 2-0 against St Johnstone in Perth.Killie recorded only their third away William Hill Premiership victory of the season and first since October thanks to a goal in either half from David Watson and Danny Armstrong.That was sufficient to take the Ayrshire men six points clear ...
Phil Parkinson praised his Wrexham players for not letting their promotion party plans affect their end to the season.History-making Wrexham, who sealed second spot last week to become the first Football League club to achieve three straight promotions, won 2-0 at Lincoln.The Dragons, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have a promotion party in Las Vegas booked for next wee...
- 1 Daily Laugh - Harry Maguiredinho vs Athletic Club
- 2 Leroy Sane turns down Saudi offer to stay
- 3 Liverpool owner's wife drops hint on Trent Alexander-Arnold's future
- 4 Ruben Amorim says Man United not through to final yet despite victory in Bilbao
- 5 Arsenal beaten by Paris St Germain to dent Champions League final hopes
- 6 Enzo Maresca warns Chelsea against complacency after big win at Djurgarden
- 7 Manchester United thrash Athletic Bilbao to close in on Europa League final
- 8 Paul Pogba 'in talks' for exciting transfer
- 9 Michael Schumacher’s son ‘splits from Miss Universe finalist girlfriend’
- 10 Laura Woods announces shock TV return