Derby secure their pay-off spot

DERBY County sealed their place in the promotion play-offs with a 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion on the final day of the Championship season yesterday, leaving Middlesbrough facing another year in the second tier.

Frank Lampard’s Derby side needed a victory to guarantee sixth place and they could start celebrating after two goals in three minutes in the second half from Mason Bennett and Harry Wilson settled the jitters.

West Brom, already assured of fourth spot, had equalised just after half-time through Stefan Johansen after Derby had led at the interval through Martyn Waghorn’s header.

Middlesbrough did their part, winning 2-1 away at Rotherham United, while Bristol City, who had a chance of making the top six if results went their way, drew 1-1 at Hull City.

“The lads deserved it and we played brilliantly in spells but when it goes back to 1-1 you fear, I knew Middlesbrough were winning,” Lampard said.

“They were magnificent today. I said, ‘be brave’, there was a lot on this game.”

Norwich City were confirmed as champions after winning 2-1 away at fifth-placed Aston Villa.

Sheffield United, who finished runners-up and also gained automatic promotion to the Premier League, ended with a 2-2 draw at Stoke City.

Third-placed Leeds United, who for so long seemed destined to go up automatically before a lateseason slump, finished their regular season with a surprise 3-2 defeat by bottom club Ipswich Town.

It means Leeds and Derby will face each other in a two-legged playoff semi-final clash with added spice after the so-called “spy-gate” saga in which Leeds officials were caught at Derby’s training ground before the sides met in January.

Head coach Marcelo Bielsa subsequently admitted he had spied on all of Leeds’ opponents.

The other semi-final will be an all-Midlands affair between Aston Villa and WBA.