The Football League's season finale certainly brought plenty of action yesterday and ironed out the remaining promotion and relegation issues which required sorting.
Leicester City and Burley went into their final fixtures relaxed, knowing whatever came the promised land of the Premier League had been grasped long before kick-off on Saturday. Nigel Pearson's Leicester City amassing a huge 102 point total taking the Championship by storm, only 5 points short of taking Reading's title of most points in a season - 106 in the 2005-06 season - and will make a return to the top flight since being relegated from the Premier League in the 03-04 season.
Brighton & Reading were the only sides capable of taking 6th place - Derby County, QPR & Wigan all previously securing play-off spots. Reading previously occupied the final place before kick-off and must have felt their hard work had paid off, McCleary equalising for the Royals against 2nd place Burnley to make it 2-2, however no amount of pressure which Nigel Adkins side could break down Burnley's door for a third time. A point had looked to be enough for Reading yet like so many times before, Football proved why it's the most viewed sport in the World, a single goal changing everything. Brighton forced a fightback at Nottingham Forest, their determination paying off with Leonardo Ulloa's 90th minute goal completed the play-off package. The seagulls face Derby County while QPR and Wigan battle it out to book a play-off final place at Wembley and ultimately aim to follow Leicester and Burnley to the golden gates of top-flight Football.
Leicester not only took the title, but affected the other end of the scale on the final day. David Nugent broke Doncaster Rovers hearts with a 75th minute penalty, condemning them to an immediate League 1. Birmingham City remaining a Championship outfit via an unbelievable two-goal turnaround against Bolton Wanderers, a clash which once was of the Premier League only a few seasons ago. Paul Caddis defied belief by burying the ball into Bolton's net in the 93rd minute.
Wolverhampton Wanderers mirrored Leicester City in winning their league title and relegating their final opponents at the end of the 2013-14 season. The play-offs already complete before Saturday's games, filled by Leyton Orient, Rotheram, Preston and finally Manager of the Month, Darrell Ferguson's Peterborough United, all now continue to fight for a prospective place in the Championship next season. Defeats for Carlisle United (against Wolves), and Tranmere (losing 2-1 to Bradford) sent them into the abyss along with already relegated Shrewsbury and Stevenage, all four heading for campaigns in League 2 once the summer is over. A single point by Notts County was more than enough to save them from a completely disappointing campaign.
In the final tier of the Football League, 2nd placed Scunthorpe United played out a 2-2 draw to York City, York exceeding all expectations after reaching the play-offs, Nigel Worthington making himself a big contender for manager of the season. Sam Hird and Gary Roberts scored for Chesterfield in their 2-1 victory versus Fletwood - also in the play-offs - finalising the only Football League title left up for contention. Rochdale claimed the 3rd and final automatic promotion place and are now aiming to push up the footballing ladder alongside previously mentioned Scunthorpe & Chesterfield. The least expected relegation candidates for League 2 before yesterdays kick-off fell at the final hurdle, Bristol Rovers failing to overcome Mansfield Town whilst rivals Wycombe Wanderers romped to a 3-0 scalp of bottom placed Torquay, Northampton Town scoring as many goals bringing their own safety. Only a difference of 3 goals officially saving my local team Wycombe Wanderers.
Most Football League fans will now be watching on the final Sunday of Premier League in one week, one final relegation scrap for Norwich, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion. However, the most tantalizing
title race of the decade beckons for 3 teams for which the Barclays Premier League is still up for grabs.
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