Bees blow it, while Wigan face last-day of season fight

BRENTFORD missed the chance to move into the Championship’s automatic promotion places as their eight-match winning run came to an end with a 1-0 defeat at Stoke – a result which handed the title to Leeds.

Avoiding defeat would have seen the Bees replace West Brom in second spot ahead of Wednesday’s final round of fixtures.

But Lee Gregory’s close-range finish in the 38th minute, on the follow-up after David Raya parried an effort by Sam Clucas, proved the only goal of the game as Stoke’s safety was sealed.

In the day’s other early kick-off, Macauley Bonne’s stoppage-time equaliser dented the survival hopes of Wigan and boosted Charlton’s as he earned the hosts a crucial point in an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Jamal Lowe and Kieran Dowell had put the administration-hit Latics on track for a sixth win in eight, but Charlton boss Lee Bowyer saw ex-leyton Orient forward Bonne net late on at The Valley to ensure survival remains in their hands.

Charlton head to champions Leeds on the final day, while Wigan host Fulham knowing they may need a result at the DW Stadium, especially if a looming 12-point deduction is implemented.

The big match at the bottom of the table between Hull and Luton saw the Hatters hand themselves a huge survival lifeline with a 1-0 victory.

Kazenga Lualua scored the only goal five minutes from time and Luton are now only in the relegation zone on goal difference.

Hull’s situation, meanwhile, is desperate, being three points adrift of safety heading into the final game of the campaign.

Swansea remain in the hunt for the top six after Connor Roberts’ strike secured a 1-0 win at Bristol City, who missed the chance to level things up when Famara Diedhiou hit the post with a penalty.

Neeskens Kebano and Aleksandar Mitrovic both scored twice and Bobby Reid was also on target for Fulham as they beat Sheffield Wednesday 5-3.

Atdhe Nuhiu scored twice for the Owls either side of Jacob Murphy’s effort.

There were plenty of goals too at Ewood Park where Sam Gallagher delivered the decisive strike as Blackburn beat Reading 4-3, the same scoreline at Loftus Road where Millwall’s play-off hopes ended with defeat to QPR.

Patrick Bauer and Brad Potts were on target for Preston as they concluded their home campaign with a 2-0 win against Birmingham, who are two points above the bottom three.