Rotherham relegation confirmed

ROTHERHAM had relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship confirmed last night after losing 4-3 to promotion hopefuls Ipswich at Portman Road.

Needing a win to prolong their status, the Millers were behind after six minutes when Ian Westlake struck. Darren Bent doubled Ipswich’s lead after 25 minutes.

Tony Thorpe gave the visitors hope by grabbing a goal, but Bent added another and a drive from Jim Magilton sealed the win for Joe Royle’s side. Martin Butler and Martin McIntosh pulled further goals back for the Millers.

Cardiff’s 3-1 win against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium actually put the final nail in the coffin for Alan Knill’s side. The Bluebirds’ three points also gave their own survival hopes a boost, with Cameron Jerome twice finishing coolly past Potter’s keeper Steve Simonsen.

Clint Hill had scored for the hosts but Peter Thorne’s spot-kick sealed the win for Lennie Lawrence’s side.

Gillingham’s hopes of avoiding the drop were boosted with a hard-fought point against Queen’s Park Rangers at Loftus Road. The visitors went ahead just before the break when Michael Flynn finished well. But the scores were levelled when Paul Furlong struck for the hosts in the 54th minute and it remained 1-1.

Brighton slipped into the bottom three after a 3-0 defeat to Preston at Deepdale. Graham Alexander opened the scoring from the spot on the half-hour after Brighton’s Gary Holt was sent off. Richard Cresswell volleyed in the second and David Nugent wrapped up the win.

Derby maintained their promotion bid by recording an impressive away win by beating Crewe 2-1 at Gresty Road. Grzegorz Rasiak headed in from Inigo Idiakez’s corner for the 16th-minute opener, and Tommy Smith made the most of a David Vaughan blunder to seal the win and leave Dario Gradi’s side in relegation trouble.

Sheffield United kept within range of the play-off places after a rout over Yorkshire rivals Leeds. Danny Webber set the tone after two minutes with a fine individual run and finish, and Nick Montgomerie pounced for the second after 30 minutes.

Andy Gray’s double in the second half wrapped up a 4-0 win, his second after a mistake from goalkeeper Neil Sullivan. Draw specialists Leicester and Wolves predictably played out a 1-1 draw at the Walkers Stadium.

Alan Maybury scored to give Leicester the lead, cutting inside from the left and finishing past Michael Oakes. But Joleon Lescott struck with two minutes left by thumping into the roof of the net.

Reading came from behind to beat Millwall at the Madejski Stadium. Danny Dichio gave the visitors the lead but Dave Kitson and Nicky Forster struck in the second half to ensure the Royals kept on track for a play-off place.

Akos Buzsaky scored an early goal as Plymouth beat Watford 1-0 at Home Park. The midfielder, on loan from Porto, pounced after 10 minutes after a quick free-kick was crossed by Tony Capaldi.