Following a largely-unexpected victory at Premier League-chasing Leeds United on April 13, Blackburn Rovers were unable to make sure of their place in the Championship next season on Sunday, when Danny Rohl’s plucky Sheffield Wednesday side managed to collect three points at Ewood Park.
Unsurprisingly, Rovers dominated possession in Lancashire, but a pair of uncharacteristic mistakes from goalkeeper Aynsley Pears cost the hosts in the end, with Wednesday’s third goal doing the rounds on social media due to the comical nature of the 26-year-old’s miskick into his own net.
As has been the case throughout the course of this season, whilst his teammates struggled last time out Sammie Szmodics provided another goalscoring moment, with the 28-year-old netting 25 Championship strikes this season, meaning that the Irishman is highly likely to be recipient of the division’s Golden Boot.
Although a three point gap to 22nd-placed Birmingham City is comforting at this stage of the campaign in the midst of a relegation battle, John Eustace’s men will be desperate to avoid taking their survival mission to the final day, when they make the daunting trip to Leicester City’s King Power Stadium.
Despite the team’s inconsistencies of late, a midfield duo of Sondre Tronstad and Joe Rankin-Costello have performed admirably for Blackburn as the term approaches its closing act, with the Norwegian picking up the Signing of the Season accolade at the club’s awards evening on Tuesday.
Coventry’s hopes of recording back-to-back playoff finishes are essentially dead in the water following Wednesday night’s 3-2 loss at home to top-six chasers Hull City, who turned up in the East Midlands and took advantage of a side who were still recovering from their Wembley adventures.
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The Sky Blues managed to fight back twice in the contest courtesy of efforts from Bobby Thomas and Kasey Palmer, although the former’s defensive blunder in the 78th minute allowed substitute Noah Ohio to produce the game-winning moment for Hull, scoring his second goal of the Championship term.
Following the dramatic FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, it was clear to see that Mark Robins’s troops were not at their finest physically during the battle against Liam Rosenior’s Tigers, with a mixture of a thin squad and fixture congestion arguably costing Coventry a chance of reaching the top six.
On a more positive note, there are considerable causes for optimism heading into next season, most notably at the top end of the pitch, where summer arrivals Haji Wright and Ellis Simms have scored 28 Championship goals between them this term, collectively filling the boots of Viktor Gyokeres.
