Championship Results 5th April Part 2

Newcastle 2-1 Sheffield United
It didn’t really matter what Newcastle did in this game. A draw between Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City ensured that Newcastle were promoted before they’d even kicked a ball. But they celebrated their promotion by beating Sheffield United, who are now nine points from the play-offs.
Sheffield United are still missing Ched Evans. Ched doesn’t seem to have a broken collarbone, as was first feared when he suffered the injury, but the quick return he was hoping for isn’t looking very likely now.
Sheffield United coach Gary Speed was sent to the stand for arguing.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Cardiff City
Nottingham Forest could still win automatic promotion, although as this could only happen if West Brom only get one point from the remaining four games (and if Forest can win all their four games and overcome a goal difference which is seventeen goals better than theirs), it looks as though Forest will have to be content with appearing in the play-offs. Blackpool could catch them and ensure that Forest don’t get into the play-offs either, but this is nearly as unlikely as Forest getting automatic promotion.
Cardiff City looked certain for the play-offs last year, only to drop out on the last day of the season when Preston North End thrashed them and took 6th place on goal difference. There’s still a chance the same could happen this season, but for the moment Cardiff are looking pretty healthy.
Following his surprise substitute appearance on Saturday, Joe Ledley started and finished this match for Cardiff. He nearly scored for Cardiff but perhaps his biggest contribution was to stop the goalkeeper from killing Steven Gerrard’s cousin, Anthony.
Darcy Blake and Adam Matthews kept their places in the starting line-up and Aaron Wildig again made a substitute appearance. Aaron Morris was one of the other substitutes.
Darcy had a bad moment when he quite possibly thought he was playing for Wales instead of Cardiff. His mistake meant Forest’s Rob Earnshaw was through and goal and arguably should have scored but luckily Darcy was able to get the ball back and clear it from danger. Rob’s team-mate Chris Gunter was on hand – although one would hope not literally - when it was Cardiff’s turn to come close to scoring.

Plymouth Argyle 0-2 Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough put a dent in Plymouth’s great escape plan by beating them 2-0, and also gave themselves a very small chance of getting into the play-offs.
Carl Fletcher hasn’t recovered from his knee injury yet so Plymouth had to do without him.
Rhys Williams was able to play the full match for Middlesbrough despite a pelvis injury. Danny Coyne sat on the bench as his replacement Brad Jones saved a penalty.