Round-up: Cardiff's 'unfinished business' puts the pressure on Norwich

Michael Butler
Sunday 01 May 2011 19:00 EDT
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Dave Jones suffered disappointment in the play-off final with Cardiff last season
Dave Jones suffered disappointment in the play-off final with Cardiff last season (GETTY IMAGES)

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Dave Jones, the Cardiff manager, believes his side have "unfinished business" ahead of their crucial game today at home to Middlesbrough. Cardiff narrowly missed out on promotion last year, losing the play-off final to Blackpool, but are just one point behind Norwich as the two teams vie for the final automatic promotion spot. "I'm proud of what I've done here" said Jones, "but would be even prouder of taking the club into the Premier League."

If Cardiff lose and Norwich later beat Portsmouth at Fratton Park in an evening kick-off, the East Anglia side will seal back-to-back promotion. Their rivals have little to play for in mid-table, but the Norwich captain Grant Holt, insists that they will not be complacent. "In this division, anyone can beat anyone. There could be players out of contract who are trying to prove a point." Holt will partner Simeon Jackson up front but at the back manager Paul Lambert will wait on Zak Whitbread's late fitness test.

Nottingham Forest have all but sealed their play-off spot after a 5-1 home win over Scunthorpe on Saturday, a result that also confirmed the visitors' relegation. The Scunthorpe manager, Alan Knill, again bemoaned his side's lack of firepower: "There has to be an end product. That's what we have to try and work hard in the summer on getting." In contrast, Forest's cutting edge was all to evident as a penalty and a fine free-kick from on-loan forward Kris Boyd added to Wes Anderson's strike and two Luke Chambers headers.

At the top of League One, Huddersfield kept the pressure on Southampton with a late 3-2 away win at champions Brighton, but Bristol Rovers have effectively been relegated after a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

In League Two, Stockport County have lost their Football League status after a 2-0 loss at Crewe, Clayton Donaldson adding to an Alan Goodall own goal.

Weekend ups and downs

Championship
* Promotion Queen's Park Rangers are champions.
* Play-offs Reading have secured a play-off berth.
* Relegation Sheffield United and Scunthorpe are relegated after both failed to win on Saturday.

League One
* Play-offs MK Dons and Bournemouth both secured the final two spots after seventh-placed Leyton Orient lost.

League Two
* Play-offs Accrington Stanley have guaranteed fifth place.
* Relegation Stockport County's relegation was confirmed by their 2-0 defeat at Crewe.

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