Oxford snatch last place in play-offs as Portsmouth falter

OXFORD UNITED took full advantage of Portsmouth’s slip-up to finish in the Sky Bet League One play-offs for the second season in a row.

A 4-0 home win over Burton Albion on yesterday’s final day of the regular campaign ensured Karl Robinson’s side kept up their part of the bargain of needing to win to keep alive their hopes of promotion.

Olamide Shodipo and Matty Taylor struck during the first half and Elliot Lee (pictured left) and

Sam Winnall added gloss late on to help Oxford finish sixth – a remarkable turnaround for a side who were in the relegation zone as recently as December.

Portsmouth dropped down to eighth place after Adam Phillips scored the only goal of the game to earn Accrington Stanley a 1-0 win at Fratton Park, on a disappointing day for Danny Cowley’s men.

Charlton Athletic’s faint top-six hopes were dependent on results elsewhere, but they were still able to finish on a high with a 1-0 home win over champions Hull City.

Jacob Greaves put through his own net in unfortunate circumstances with a quarter of an hour left when goalkeeper Matt Ingram could only push Liam Millar’s cross on to the defender. There were muted celebrations at The Valley, though, after a seventhplace finish.

Peterborough United sealed their promotion alongside Hull earlier this month and they signed off from the third tier with a fine 4-1 win at Doncaster Rovers. Mo Eisa (pictured below), Niall Mason, Idris Kanu and Ricky-Jade Jones netted in the first half for Darren Ferguson’s men. Rovers registered a late Tyreece John-Jules consolation goal.

Blackpool made certain of third spot with a narrow home success over already-relegated Bristol Rovers, with Ellis Simms grabbing the only goal in the 75th minute, and they will face Oxford in the play-offs.

Sunderland and Lincoln City remained in fourth and fifth following low-key draws at home to Northampton Town and AFC Wimbledon, respectively, and will meet later in May in the play-offs.