By Holly Wright
The EFL season is set for a dramatic conclusion, with promotion races, play-off battles and relegation fights still unresolved across the Championship, League One and League Two after another gripping weekend of football.
Victory for Middlesbrough kept the race for second place in the second tier tight as Millwall and Ipswich Town both dropped points.
Defeats for Hull City and Wrexham were costly in the Championship play-off race, whilst Milton Keynes Dons secured their place in League One for next season.
Holly Wright rounds up the key results from the weekend of action just gone and where that leaves us heading into the final day.
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Championship
The promotion race could go to the wire after Boro rediscover their spark
The Championship promotion battle remains finely balanced, with multiple clubs still in contention for the automatic places.
Middlesbrough delivered the most emphatic result of the weekend, thrashing Watford 5-1.
Morgan Whittaker again impressed as Boro closed the gap on the top two and kept their automatic promotion hopes alive.
At the summit, Ipswich reclaimed second place after a goalless draw at West Bromwich Albion, where goalkeeper Christian Walton produced several key saves to secure a valuable point.
Millwall briefly climbed into the automatic places but were denied late on in a 1-1 draw with already-relegated Leicester City, as a stoppage-time equaliser from Macaulay Langstaff ensured the Lions remain firmly in the hunt.
With Southampton still in the mix and Middlesbrough returning to winning ways, the race for the top two could be heading for a tense and unpredictable conclusion should Ipswich fail to beat the Saints tonight.
PICTURE: Alamy
Fine margins define play-off race as Addicks stay up
The battle for the Championship play-offs remains just as intense, with several clubs still mathematically alive.
Derby County kept their hopes alive with a dramatic 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers, sealed by a late winner from Jaydon Banel.
Wrexham missed the chance to seize pole position in the race for sixth after defeat away to champions Coventry City.
Elsewhere, Charlton Athletic secured their Championship status with a 2-1 win over Hull City, a result that also dented the Tigers’ own play-off hopes.
Just one point separates Derby from Hull and Wrexham, with the latter sides level on points as Phil Parkinson’s side remains just ahead on goal difference. going into the final day.
PICTURE: Alamy
League One
Play-offs wide open as Brewers secure safety
The League One play-off race remains finely poised heading into the final day.
Bolton Wanderers confirmed their play-off place with a 1-1 draw at Bradford City, who are not mathematically there yet but sit on the brink with a three-point cushion over Luton Town in seventh.
Stockport County, also three points clear of Luton, strengthened their push with a 3-1 win over Peterborough United, inspired by a hat-trick from Louie Barry.
Luton kept themselves firmly in the hunt with a 2-1 victory against Barnsley, sealed by a late strike from Kasey Palmer.
Plymouth Argyle maintained outside hopes with a 2-1 win over Port Vale despite playing much of the game with ten men, while Doncaster Rovers were held to a 1-1 draw by Stevenage, with veteran striker Billy Sharp scoring on his emotional final home appearance.
That result sees Boro just a point ahead of Luton in sixth place heading into the final day.
At the bottom, Burton Albion secured survival with a 1-1 draw against Exeter City, who head into the final day still needing a result to guarantee their League One status.
League Two
Promotion race tightens as Dons return to the third tier
League Two delivered perhaps the most unpredictable action of the weekend, with the promotion race shifting again at the top.
MK Dons secured promotion with a commanding 3-0 win over Tranmere Rovers.
Goals from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Alex Gilbey and Callum Paterson confirmed their return to League One and sent them top of the table.
Salford City boosted their automatic promotion places with a 2-0 win over champions Bromley, while Cambridge United joined them after a dominant 3-0 victory over Barrow.
The U’s remain just a point ahead of Salford and two clear of Notts County ahead of the final round of fixtures, who remain firmly in the promotion hunt after a 1-0 win over Colchester United at the weekend.
Play-off chaos
The play-off picture is equally tight.
Barnet produced the standout scoreline of the weekend, thrashing Gillingham 6-2, with Callum Stead scoring five goals in a remarkable individual display.
Grimsby Town boosted their hopes with a 4-0 win over Swindon Town, where Jaze Kabia scored a hat-trick.
Chesterfield also moved into the top seven after a 2-0 win over Crewe Alexandra, with a brace from Lee Bonis.
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