- The final day of the EFL Championship took place on Saturday lunchtime
- West Ham’s fiercest rival, Millwall, had their Premier League future decided
- The Hammers and the Lions haven’t been in the same league since the 2011–12 season
It was an enthralling final day in the EFL Championship, with decisive moments at the top of the table to decide the promotion race.
Of course, champions Coventry City sealed their Premier League spot ahead of Saturday’s finale, but the teams below them were all in contention to join them in some fashion. West Ham United’s fiercest rival, Millwall, were battling with Ipswich Town for the final automatic spot, whilst a cluster of teams from fourth-place Southampton to Hull in 8th had a fight on for the remaining play-off spots.
Entering the day, Millwall started on 80 points with Ipswich just ahead on 81, with the former needing to better the result at Portman Road to receive promotion into the Premier League for the first time ever.
Millwall finish third, enter playoffs for Premier League spot
Despite beating already-relegated Oxford United 2-0 at The Den, Millwall will have to earn an illustrious spot in England’s first division via the playoffs.
Given the permutations, Ipswich’s fast-scoring start in Suffolk, which saw them go up by two within the first ten minutes against Queens Park Rangers, meant they would secure the final automatic promotion spot regardless of the outcome in South East London if they maintained their lead, which they extended in the final minutes.
Millwall’s win would be spearheaded by standout starlet Femi Azeez. The English winger scored in either half, with his first finishing off a swift transition move and his back-post effort coming two minutes after the break.
The Lions will now enter the postseason playoffs, which begin Friday, May 8, 8PM BST.
14 years since last West Ham and Millwall league clash
It has been 14 seasons since West Ham and Millwall last contested a match, let alone in league play. That was during the 2011–12 Football League season when Sam Allardyce’s Hammers returned to the Premier League at the first time of asking through the playoff final.
As of the time of writing, West Ham is two points ahead of the drop zone, with fellow London club Tottenham Hotspur occupying 18th with four games to go.
