Scunthorpe United suffered relegation on Saturday afternoon, but it was the dramatic events at the top of the table which will grab all the headlines.
Promotion – Doncaster Rovers and Bournemouth
Bournemouth started the day in pole position to pick up the League One title, but a goalless draw at Tranmere Rovers means they have to settle for promotion via a second-place finish. This is after a sensational finale involving the other two sides gunning for the trophy, Brentford and Doncaster Rovers. The two sides met at Griffin Park and with this also heading for a 0-0, the Bees were awarded a penalty on 94 minutes. Had Marcello Trotta scored, Uwe Rosler’s side would have gone up as champions, but the on-loan Fulham striker rattled the crossbar. This allowed the visitors to break through Billy Paynter, who fed the ball to James Coppinger to score and clinch not just promotion, but also the title.
Playoffs – Brentford, Yeovil Town, Sheffield United and Swindon Town
Due to that dramatic finale, Brentford will have to negotiate the playoffs if they are to climb into the Championship. Can they recover from such a heartbreaking ordeal? The other three places had already been settled, and the Bees will take on Swindon Town in the semi-finals, with Yeovil Town (fourth) taking on Sheffield United (fifth) in the other.
Relegation – Hartlepool United, Bury, Portsmouth and Scunthorpe United
Hartlepool United, Bury and Portsmouth had already been demoted to League Two before the last game of the season, and they will be joined by Scunthorpe United. Despite Brian Laws’ team winning 3-1 at home to Swindon, Colchester United’s 2-0 win at Carlisle United means the Iron have now suffered relegation twice in three years.
