Luton's hopes alive after win over Coventry
Shandon Baptiste's last-gasp winner saw Luton Town boost its EFL Championship survival hopes with a dramatic 1-0 victory over play-off-chasing Coventry City.
With relegation rival Hull City and Derby County playing each other in the day, Luton took full advantage to climb out of the bottom three after a third straight win.
Coventry boss Frank Lampard's former Derby County side then did Luton a huge favour, beating Hull in their match by a single goal to leave Luton outside the danger zone at the end of another enthralling Championship day.
Coventry, which was looking to consolidate its place in the top six, was reduced to 10 men after just 13 minutes, with last man Jay Dasilva dismissed for bringing down Millenic Alli.
Luton went close to capitalising on its numerical advantage with Liam Walsh hitting the post.
However, the hosts also lost a man midway through the second half; Walsh received a second yellow card after a needless shove in the face of Liam Binks.
Nevertheless, there was to be a twist in the dying moments. Coventry failed to deal with a cross, and Baptiste finished from the edge of the box, with his first Luton goal sparking ecstasy at Kenilworth Road.
Derby County, meanwhile, snatched its late 1-0 win over Hull City at MKM Stadium, providing a massive boost to its own hopes of avoiding the drop.
Nathaniel Phillips was the hero, netting a dramatic winner from Craig Forsyth’s pinpoint delivery six minutes from time.
The result dragged Hull into the dropzone, and the Tigers will be relegated if they lose to 16th-placed Portsmouth on the final matchday.
Meanwhile, already-promoted Burnley boosted its title hopes with a 5-0 rout of Queens Park Rangers.
Scott Parker's side secured its immediate return to the Premier League last weekend and, with Leeds United not playing until Tuesday (AEST), built on that momentum at Loftus Road.
Josh Brownhill teed up Josh Cullen to break the deadlock from close range after just 10 minutes.
Connor Roberts had a goal disallowed, but Zian Flemming struck twice in the space of eight minutes to put the Clarets 3-0 to the good inside half an hour.
Jeremy Sarmiento added a fourth with a deflected strike in the 62nd minute, while the substitute added a second time in stoppage-time to wrap up a dominant victory.
Elsewhere, Cardiff City confirmed its relegation after playing out a goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion in the Welsh capital.
The result leaves the Bluebirds bottom of the table and five points from safety with one game to play, sealing a return to EFL League One for the first time since 2003.
Playing just its second match under interim boss Aaron Ramsey after the sacking of Omer Riza, Cardiff created a few promising chances in a desperate bid to keep its survival hopes alive, needing a win after Luton's win over Coventry.
Yousef Salech struck the woodwork in the 60th minute, while West Brom’s Adam Armstrong squandered a golden opportunity at the other end.
Plymouth Argyle earned a spirited 2-1 victory over Preston North End at Deepdale, deepening the host's own relegation fears, but Argyle is all but down because of its poor goal difference.
Mustapha Bundu continued his fine form, opening the scoring in the 14th minute with a brilliant top-corner finish after combining with Bali Mumba.
Callum Wright added a second with a sweetly-taken volley in the 75th minute, before Emil Riis Jakobsen grabbed a late consolation goal for Preston on the stroke of full-time.
Bundu has now contributed to five goals in his last three games in the Championship, picking up four goals and an assist.
Preston is hovering one point above the relegation zone, with a difficult trip to Bristol City coming up on the final day of the season.
Sunday's (AEST)results also mean Stoke City is not out of relegation danger, although the Potters only need a point at Derby to confirm their second-tier status.
Further up the table, Millwall kept its play-off hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Swansea City at The Den, ending the Swans’ six-match unbeaten run.
George Saville netted the vital goal to keep Millwall’s slim hopes of promotion intact, firing a driven shot low into the center of the net late in the first half.
Josh Coburn missed a chance to double the lead, while Swansea was left frustrated by wastefulness in front of goal, particularly from Eom Ji-Sung and Zan Vipotnik.
Oxford United secured its Championship status with a 2-0 win over Sunderland at Kassam Stadium.
Ben Nelson opened the scoring with a guided header from a set-piece, and Michal Helik sealed the result with a well-taken volley early in the second half.
Sunderland was frustrated by Oxford’s resilient defence, with the host impressively holding an opponent without a shot on target for the first time this league season.
