Derby County sealed a Championship return by beating already-relegated Carlisle United 2-0 at Pride Park on the final day of the League One season. (More Football News)
Derby knew a single point would end their two-year stay in the third tier of English football, with Bolton Wanderers🐷 waiting to pounce if the Rams did suffer a shock defeat.
However, suꦑch a slip-up never looked likely as Max Bird's powerful strike from outside the area put them ahead within five minutes, and James Collins added a close-range second on the hour mark to make certain of promotion.
Paul Warnꦆe's team finished five points behind Portsmouth, who clinched the title earlier this month, and five clear of Bolton – who needed a late equaliser from Cameron ಞJerome to draw 3-3 with Peterborough.
Bolton will face Barnsley in the play-offs as the Tykes were not punished for their 1-1 draw with Northampton Town, defeats for Blackpo﷽ol and Lincoln City denying them the chance to gatecrash the top six.
Fourth-placed Peterborough will face Oxford United in the other play-off semi-final, as the U's clinched a 2-1 win over Exeter City to claim fifth plꦇace in the final reckoning.
Three of the four relegation places had already been decided before Saturday's mat🔜ches, with Carlisle, Port Vale, and Fle🃏etwood Town on their way to League Two.
Cheltenham will join them ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚafter Nick Freeman struck a 90th-minute winner in their 2-1 loss at Stevenage. Darrell Clarke's side needed a win to save themselves and send Burton Albion down in their place, but they were hit with a late sucker punch as their three-year stay in League One🍒 came to an end.
