Goooood morning everyone! After 45 tough matches, the Championship season is almost done and today sees one of the biggest final-game face-offs ever!
Who would have guessed back in August that Boro and Brighton would be level on 88 points and within touching distance of automatic promotion to the Premier League? It has been billed as the £200m match, but who will join
Burnley in going straight up to the big time?
The match at the Riverside is undoubtedly the biggest of the lot today, but there's 11 other games we can't forget about and here they are:
Blackburn vs. Reading
Cardiff vs. Birmingham
Charlton vs. Burnley
Derby vs. Ipswich
Fulham vs. Bolton
Huddersfield vs. Brentford
Hull vs. Rotherham
MK Dons vs. Forest
Preston vs. Leeds
QPR vs. Bristol City
Wolves vs. Sheff Weds
We'll go through each game in turn over the next hour and 20 minutes before kickoff across the country, but there really is only one place to start and that is up in the North-East at the Riverside...
BORO VS. BRIGHTON: Click here to see how it all stands in the second tier ahead of today's curtain-closer. Boro and Brighton sit second and third respectively, two points behind already-promoted Burnley. What needs to be decided today, then, is both the title and the other side who will join the Clarets in going up. As Boro have the better goal difference, they only need to avoid defeat to return to the big time after seven years away. If Burnley win at Charlton they will be champions, but defeat at The Valley would open the door for the winner of Boro-Brighton, if there is one, to snatch first place.
It'll be packed out soon!
It really does look like a proper humdinger of a match. Chris Hughton's Brighton are the league's
form team with five wins and a draw in six matches to surge back into the automatic-promotion race. Going further back, the Seagulls have gone 13 games unbeaten, winning nine and drawing four.
Boro, meanwhile, had won six games in a row to go top of the table three weeks ago, but they have drawn their last three to drop down to second. Two of those matches were away from home and they'll be glad to be back at the Riverside as they are the strongest home team of anyone.
Boro also finished last season with the best home record before going on to lose in the final of the playoffs to Norwich. Aitor Karanka's side are built around a solid defence and for the second year in a row, Boro
top the defensive standings with just 30 goals conceded in 45 games at an average of 0.67 per game.
Brighton have conceded 11 more, but the Seagulls do have the
best attack with 71 total goals this season. Indeed, Brighton have scored the first goal in more matches than any other team this season (28), with Hughton's men avoiding defeat in all of those games (W21 D7).
Wowee, this is impressive!
TEAM NEWS: Right, an hour until kickoff so team news is reaching us from all 12 matches. We'll start at the Riverside and then move on to each other match in turn alphabetically.
The big news for Boro is that George Friend is passed fit and starts at left-back. Stewart Downing and Jordan Rhodes on the bench! Brighton are without the suspended Lewis Dunk, so Gordon Greer comes in at centre-back.
Boro: Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Leadbitter; Stuani, Ramirez, Adomah; Nugent
Subs: Agazzi, Forshaw, Kalas, Downing, De Sart, Rhodes, De Laet
Brighton: Stockdale, Bruno, Goldson, Greer, Rosenior; Knockaert, Stephens, Kayal, Murphy; Baldock, Hemed
Subs: Maenpaa, Calderon, Bong, Sidwell, Skalak, LuaLua, Wilson
BLACKBURN VS. READING: These two are both on 52 points in 15th and 16th respectively and neither is in good form. Blackburn haven't won any of their previous four league games at Ewood Park, while
Reading are bottom of the form guide with only one point gained in their last six matches!
Blackburn are unchanged, while their is a first Reading start for Josh Barrett as Brian McDermott injects some youth into the squad.
Blackburn: Steele, Duffy, Hanley, Kilgallon, Marshall, Lenihan, Lowe, Grimes, J. Gomez, Bennett, Graham
Subs: Raya, Henley, Ward, Williamson, Evans, Conway, Jackson
Reading: Al-Habsi, McCleary, Gunter, Cooper, McShane, Quinn, Norwood, Barrett, Williams, Kermorgant, Rakels
Subs: Bond, Evans, Robson-Kanu, Kuhl, Stacey, Watson, Dickie
CARDIFF VS. BIRMINGHAM: Seventh against ninth in Wales and there's some breaking news for the home side this morning as they announce that their transfer embargo has been lifted. This comes after the Bluebirds yesterday revealed that manager Russell Slade would be relieve of first-team duties and instead become head of football. Cardiff have lost just one of their past 18 league games at home (W10 D7), while Birmingham have won just one of their past 11 league games (D5 L5).
Cardiff are without several players for the final game of the season, while Birmingham keeper Tomasz Kuszczak misses out.
Cardiff: Marshall, Peltier, Manga, Turner, Malone, Noone, O'Keefe, Whittingham, Lawrence, Pilkington, Immers
Subs: Moore, John, Connolly, Harris, Zohore, Ameobi, Saadi
Birmingham: Legzdins, Spector, Morrison, Robinson, Grounds, Adams, Kieftenbeld, Davis, Fabbrini, Cotterill, Donaldson
Subs: Trueman, Gleeson, Vaughan, Solomon-Otabor, Caddis, Shotton, Brock-Madsen
CHARLTON VS. BURNLEY: The hosts are already relegated and their supporters are once again protesting against owner Roland Duchatelet. For Burnley, they know that victory will seal the title. Anything else opens the door for Boro or Brighton.
Marney is passed fit to start for the visitors, while there is one change for Charlton.
Charlton: Pope, Fanni, Diarra, Teixeira, Fox, Kashi, Cousins, Harriott, Gudmundsson, Lookman, Vetokele
Subs: Mitov, Sarr, Suk-Young, Motta, Ba, Jackson, Makienok
Burnley Heaton, Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward, Boyd, Marney, Barton, Arfield, Vokes, Gray
Subs: Robinson, Tarkowski, Dyer, Taylor, Duff, Jones, Barnes
DERBY VS. IPSWICH: Derby are assured of a playoff place, but fourth spot is still to be decided between them and Hull. Ipswich looked like playoff contenders for much of the season, but their season has petered out the last couple of months. They can still finish seventh today.
Jeff Hendrick is back on the bench for Derby after recovering from a long-term injury, while Adam McDonnell makes his league debut for the Tractor Boys.
Derby: Carson, Christie, Bryson, Keogh, Martin, Russell, Shackell, Hughes, Ince, Olsson, Thorne
Subs: Mitchell, Buxton, Hendrick, Bent, Butterfield, Blackman, Weimann
Ipswich: Bialkowski, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Kenlock, Skuse, McDonnell, Bishop, Feeney, Sears, McGoldrick
Subs: Gerken, Digby, Hyam, Foley, Douglas, Varney, Pitman
FULHAM VS. BOLTON: Rockbottom Bolton go to
Fulham, who are safe but sit just outside the bottom three after a disappointing campaign.
Fulham forward Moussa Dembele sits out the final match of the season due to a calf injury.
Fulham: Bettinelli, Fredericks, Hutchinson, Burn, Ream, Christensen, Parker, Cairney, Tunnicliffe, McCormack, Smith
Subs: Lonergan, Garbutt, Stearman, Ince, Hyndman, O'Hara, Woodrow
Bolton: Amos, Wilson, Wheater, Threlkeld, Garratt, Derik, Danns, Pratley, Davies, Heskey, Clough
Subs: Rachubka, Moxey, Dobbie, Woolery, Finney, Walker, Newell
HUDDERSFIELD VS. BRENTFORD: The Terriers have achieved Championship safety again, while the Bees have failed to emulate the highs of last season's playoff run.
Huddersfield: Steer, Smith, Whitehead, Hudson, Scannell, Paterson, Matmour, Cranie, Huws, Van La Parra, Lynch
Subs: Allinson, Davidson, Hogg, Bunn, Lolley, Dempsey, Billing
Brentford: Button, Colin, Bidwell, Dean, Saunders, Hogan, Woods, Kerschbaumer, Yennaris, Barbet, Canos
Subs: Bonham, Hofmann, Swift, Vibe, O'Connell, Gogia, Clarke
HULL VS. ROTHERHAM: Steve Bruce's Tigers will guarantee fourth spot with a win, but it won't be easy against a Rotherham side who have done so well to stay up under the stewardship of Neil Warnock.
Hull: McGregor, Odubajo, Davies, Dawson, Robertson, Huddlestone, Livermore, Elmohamady, Snodgrass, Diame, Hernandez
Subs: Jakupovic, Bruce, Maguire, Maloney, Clucas, Akpom, Aluko
Rotherham: Camp; Kelly, Broadfoot, Wood, Richardson; Halford: G Ward, Smallwood, Frecklington, D Ward, Clarke-Harris
Subs: Kenny, Best, Green, Mattock, Belaid, Bailey-King, Facey
MK DONS VS. FOREST: Forest are down in 17th, but they have not been able to sign any new players for the last three transfer windows, something that will change this summer after their embargo was finally lifted. The Dons are down having lasted just one season back in the second tier.
Dons: Burns; Spence, Long, Walsh, Lewington; Potter, Carruthers; Baker, Bowditch, Murphy; Maynard
Subs: McFadzean, Jackson, Kasumu, Powell, Furlong, Reeves, Revell
Forest: De Vries, Lichaj, Mills, Fox, Jokic, O.Burke, Cohen, Tesche, Gardner, Osborn, O'Grady
Subs: J.Wright, Mancienne, Assombalonga, Mendes, Macheda, Vaughan, Grant
PRESTON VS. LEEDS: 11th vs. 12th at Deepdale. Both sides have had decent campaigns and will be eyeing a run at the playoffs next term.
Preston: Kirkland, Vermijl, Wright, Huntington, Woods, Browne, Johnson, Gallagher, Reach, Beckford, Garner
Subs: Hudson, Pearson, Welsh, Robinson,Humphrey, Hugill, Doyle
Leeds: Silvestri, Coyle, Bamba, Cooper, Taylor, Diagouraga, Murphy, Cook, Mowatt, Dallas, Wood
Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Wootton, Phillips, Vieira, Botaka, Antenucci, Doukara
QPR VS. BRISTOL CITY Mid-table QPR take on a Robins side who have improved loads since Lee Johnson came in as manager.
QPR: Ingram, Onuoha, Hall, Hill, Kpekawa, Henry, Faurlin, Gladwin, Chery, El Khayati, Washington
Subs: Lumley, Hoilett, Perch, Polter, Petrasso, Prohouly, Greco-Cox
City: O'Donnell, Ayling, Pearce, Baker, Golbourne, Pack, Reid, Bryan, Tomlin, Wilbraham, Kodjia
Subs: O'Leary, Vyner, Little, Dowling, Freeman, Williams, Agard
WOLVES VS. SHEFF WEDS: Wednesday are guaranteed to finish in the final playoff place and they'll be up against whoever ends up third of Boro and Brighton. Wolves start the day 14th.
Wolves: Ikeme; Iorfa, Batth, Hause, Doherty; Price, Coady, Saville; Henry, Wallace, Mason
Subs: Martinez, Deslandes, Edwards, Byrne, Hunte, Le Fondre, Enobakhare
Wednesday: Wildsmith, Palmer, Turner, Semedo, Mathias, Nuhiu, McGugan, Helan, Sasso, Joao, McGeady
Subs: Price, Loovens, Hooper, Lopez, Stobbs, Hunt, Bannan
KICKOFF! We're underway at the Riverside and up and down the country. Bright start from Brighton!
GOAL! Huddersfield 0-1 Brentford (Sergi Canos)
First goal of the day comes at the John Smith's Stadium as Sergi Canos gives
Brentford the lead.
At the Riverside, Boro just won a very dubious free kick after their first spell of pressure. Brighton would have been fuming if it had come of anything, but they deal with the danger.
GOAL! Wolves 1-0 Sheff Weds (Michael Turner, OG.)
GOAL! Blackburn 1-0 Reading (Elliott Bennett)
Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal knows that his side can only finish sixth and he's made 10 changes today, so not too surprising that Wovles are in front there.
GOAL! MK Dons 0-1 Forest (Chris Cohen)
By the way, you should have
this page open in a new tab to see the live table as it stands. Boro still there is second at the moment.
GOAL! Cardiff 0-1 Birmingham (David Cotterill)
GOAL! Blackburn 2-0 Reading (Danny Graham)
This has been a good start by Brighton in the big one. Knockaert just floated in a dangerous cross that Konstantopoulos collected well.
GOAL! Hull 0-1 Rotherham (Lee Frecklington)
Just in case you were wondering why the times down the left hand side are a bit muddled, they are the times in the games in question.
GOAL! BORO 1-0 BRIGHTON (CRISTHIAN STUANI)
Breakthrough at the Riverside! Ramirez with a fantastic curling cross and Nugent does superbly to cut the ball back for Stuani to tap in. What a mountain to climb for Brighton now.
Brighton have to change this to go up!
GOAL! Charlton 0-1 Burnley (Sam Vokes)
Burnley take the lead at The Valley. Surely they will finish as champions given how poor Charlton have been this season.
GOAL! MK Dons 1-1 Forest (Nicky Maynard)
Brighton cannot lose their heads here. Knockaert has just been booked for a rash challenge and Stuani was a goalline clearance away from making it two just then!
GOAL! Hull 1-1 Rotherham (Robert Snodgrass)
GOAL! Hull 2-1 Rotherham (Abel Hernandez)
Two quick goals for Hull so they are on course to secure fourth place and the second leg of their playoff semi-final against Derby at home.
GOAL! Cardiff 1-1 Birmingham (Anthony Pilkington)
GOAL! Blackburn 2-1 Reading (Yann Kermorgant)
Almost two for Boro as Ramirez pounces on a weak Goldson header, lifting the ball over the keeper but onto the roof of the net. Brighotn have not done well since going behind.
GOAL! Derby 0-1 Ipswich (David McGoldrick, pen.)
Another chance for
Middlesbrough as Adomah gets away down the left but can't find Nugent in the box. A waste, but Boro are playing with so much confidence at the moment.
GOAL! Wolves 2-0 Sheff Weds (George Saville)
OFF! Danny Fox for Forest against MK Dons
GOAL! Hull 3-1 Rotherham (Jake Livermore)
GOAL! Hull 4-1 Rotherham (Mo Diame)
So it's definitely going to be Hull vs. Derby and Boro/Brighton vs. Sheff Weds in that order in the playoffs. Derby might have fancied sneaking into fourth, but they are losing and Hull are now three up.
Just the one minute of added time at the Riverside. Perfect half for Boro so far.
HALF-TIME: BORO 1-0 BRIGHTON
HALF-TIME SCORES! Here's how it all stands with 45 minutes of the Championship season remaining:
Blackburn 2-1 Reading
Cardiff 1-1 Birmingham
Charlton 0-1 Burnley
Derby 0-1 Ipswich
Fulham 0-0 Bolton
Huddersfield 0-1 Brentford
Hull 4-1 Rotherham
Boro 1-0 Brighton
MK Dons 1-1 Forest
Preston 0-0 Leeds
QPR 0-0 Bristol City
Wolves 2-0 Sheff Weds
Not too many goals about then, but surely that'll change in the second half. This is the Championship after all!
AS IT STANDS: Here's how it all stands then. Burnley on course to be champions and Boro primed for the other automatic-promotion spot.
BRIGHTON SUB: Change in attack for the Seagulls as James Wilson comes on for Sam Baldock.
KICKOFF! Boro get us back underway. Nothing to lose for Brighton, they have to throw everything at the home side.
GOAL! CHARLTON 0-2 BURNLEY (GEORGE BOYD)
That'll do it for Burnley, surely? They won't be presented with the trophy today as they are away from home, but they are going to be confirmed as champions.
GOAL! CHARLTON 0-3 BURNLEY (ANDRE GRAY)
The league's top scorer makes it three. Well done to Burnley!
GOAL! BORO 1-1 BRIGHTON (DALE STEPHENS)
GAME ON! It's an almost identical goal from Brighton as a deep left-footed inswinger is headed into the net by Stephens at the back post.
Moments later Boro have a great chance to go back in front, but Nugent is twice denied by the Seagulls' backline.
GOAL! Huddersfield 1-1 Brentford (Jamie Paterson)
OFF! BRIGHTON GOALSCORER STEPHENS SENT OFF!
Huge call from Mike Dean as he sends off Stephens for a studs-up tackle on Ramirez. Stephens got the ball and was high, but I still think a red is very harsh.
GOAL! Huddersfield 1-2 Brentford (Scott Hogan)
The thing is, Dean appeared to have a yellow card out and then seemed to change his mind when he saw the nasty gash in Ramirez's leg. I think it's unlucky that it has ended up this way – the Uruguayan is still receiving treatment – but you see 50-50 tackles like that all the time when the ball is in the air. Stephens won the ball and Ramirez's leg then went into his studs if anything.
GOAL! Hull 5-1 Rotherham (Jake Livermore)
GOAL! QPR 1-0 Bristol City (Karl Henry)
By the way, Boro brought on Downing for the injured Ramirez. Sidwell replaces Murphy for Brighotn as well.
GOAL! Huddersfield 1-3 Brentford (Scott Hogan)
GOAL! Huddersfield 1-4 Brentford (Lasse Vibe)
Fifteen minutes of normal time remaining at the Riverside, but there will be loads of added time after that red card incident. Brighton just need one.
GOAL! Fulham 1-0 Bolton (Tom Cairney)
GOAL! MK Dons 1-2 Forest (Britt Assombalonga)
GOAL! Preston 0-1 Leeds (Chris Wood)
Adomah misses a golden chance for Boro, but the flag was up anyway. Surely Brighton are going to have one more chance?
GOAL! Blackburn 3-1 Reading (Grant Hanley)
EIGHT MINUTES ADDED ON AT THE RIVERSIDE!
FULL-TIME: CHARLTON 0-3 BURNLEY! BURNLEY ARE CHAMPIONS!
Five of the eight minutes have been played and Boro fans are getting ready to invade the pitch.
We'll bring you all the full-time scores soon, but for now we're focussing on the Riverside.
FULL-TIME: BORO 1-1 BRIGHTON! MIDDLESBROUGH ARE PROMOTED TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE!
They've done it! Boro hold on for a point which sees them go up to the Premier League by finishing ahead of Brighton on goal difference.
It's not over for Brighton, who will now face
Sheffield Wednesday in the playoffs.
Worrying news from the pitch as some Brighton players reportedly had punches thrown at them by some Boro fans. Awful to hear that.
FULL-TIME SCORESBlackburn 3-1 Reading
Cardiff 1-1 Birmingham
Charlton 0-3 Burnley - Burnley are champions
Derby 0-1 Ipswich
Fulham 1-0 Bolton
Huddersfield 1-5 Brentford
Hull 5-1 Rotherham
Middlesbrough 1-1 Brighton - Boro are promoted
MK Dons 1-2 Notts Forest
Preston 1-1 Leeds
QPR 1-0 Bristol City
Wolves 2-1 Sheff Weds
FINAL TABLE: After a long, 46-game slog this is how it all looks in the Championship. Burnley and Boro go up, with Brighton, Hull, Derby and Wednesday in the playoffs. Charlton, MK Dons and Bolton down.
Anyway, that's all we've got time for today. Thanks a lot for joining SM this afternoon, why not head back to the homepage for some live Premier League games?
