Championship roundup: Sunderland grab playoff spot with win at Preston

Sunderland snatched a place in the Championship playoffs at Millwall’s expense with victory at Preston on a dramatic final day.

Tony Mowbray’s side were outside the top six at half-time with their game at Deepdale goalless. In the second half Amad Diallo, Alex Pritchard and Jack Clarke all netted to put Sunderland in control, and Millwall’s collapse at home to Blackburn saw the Black Cats creep into sixth place.

Roared on by a huge contingent of away fans, Sunderland took the lead through Manchester United loanee Diallo, who perfectly placed the ball into the top left-hand corner with 54 minutes on the clock. Preston forced a goal-line clearance from a corner, before Sunderland doubled their lead through Alex Pritchard.

The midfielder picked up the ball on the edge of the box and he made no mistake in finding the back of the net, leaving Sunderland on course for the playoffs if Coventry or Millwall conceded. Jack Clarke then slotted home for the visitors to complete a three-goal salvo inside 11 minutes.

News of Blackburn’s second-half comeback at Millwall sent the away end into a frenzy, Rovers turning a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 victory – but losing out to Sunderland, who will face Luton in the semi-finals, on goal difference.

Coventry got the point they needed to secure their top-six spot with a 1-1 draw at fourth-placed Middlesbrough, meaning the teams will meet again in the playoffs. Luton, already confirmed as finishing third, drew 0-0 at home against Hull City.

West Brom were the other team starting the day with a chance of making the top six but they suffered a 3-2 defeat at Swansea, for whom Joel Piroe scored a stoppage-time winner. Albion had led twice, with efforts from Okay Yokuslu and Semi Ajayi being cancelled