Sheffield Wednesday condemned Brighton, Crewe and Millwall to life in League One next season by beating the Seagulls 2-0 at the Withdean Stadium.
The Owls were the only side who could still be potentially dragged into the bottom three at the start of the day, but their win ensured they survived their debut season back in the Championship.
Gary Hart unwittingly deflected the ball into his own net for Wednesday’s first in the eighth minute and Paul Sturrock’s men made sure when Burton O’Brien netted in the 69th minute.
Crewe are down despite extending their unbeaten run to four matches with a 1-1 draw at Cardiff.
David Vaughan’s long-range effort (58) put Alex in front but a superb curling strike from Jason Koumas brought the Bluebirds level.
Millwall suffered their 21st league defeat of the season in losing 2-0 at Southampton.
Kenwyne Jones scored the first with a penalty (13) after he was fouled in the box by Matt Lawrence and Saints secured the points deep in injury time through Ricardo Fuller.
At the top, champions Reading moved within three of Sunderland’s league record points total of 105 by beating Stoke 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium.
Steve Sidwell headed in Ivar Ingimarsson’s cross (25) and Kevin Doyle added his 19th of the season from the spot after 55 minutes. Adam Rooney halved the Royals’ advantage four minutes later but John Halls added Reading’s third in the 62nd minute.
Darius Henderson’s brace earned Watford three points at home to Ipswich.
He headed in Anthony McNamee’s 33rd-minute cross and repeated the trick from an Ashley Young ball 13 minutes from time after Nicky Forster drew the Tractor Boys level.
Preston moved above Leeds, who play Sheffield United on Tuesday night, into fourth by beating Wolves 2-0 at Deepdale thanks to goals from Lewis Neal (42) and Brett Ormerod (71).
Crystal Palace’s goalless draw at Burnley keeps them in sixth, with the play-off quartet already decided.
Honours were even in the midlands derby at the Ricoh Arena as Stern John’s 11th-minute header for Coventry quickly cancelled out Richard Stearman’s opener for Leicester.
Derby and Hull drew 1-1 at Pride Park, Tommy Smith’s 89th-minute penalty cancelling out Stuart Green’s spectacular volley.
The match of the day came at Carrow Road where Norwich came from 2-0 down with 12 minutes to go to win 3-2 against QPR.
Gareth Ainsworth (45) and Lee Cook put QPR in control but Darren Huckerby (78) gave the Canaries hope before Robert Earnshaw’s late brace completed the turnaround.
Luton also came back to win 2-1 at Plymouth, Rowan Vine (79) and Calvin Andrew (88) sealing the points after Akos Buzsaky put the Pilgrims in front.
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