L1 round-up: Rams return to Championship

Derby County kept their cool to record a composed final-day victory against already-relegated Carlisle United to seal promotion from League One. 

At a bouncing Pride Park, the Rams started the game knowing that a draw would be enough to bag the second automatic promotion spot in the third tier behind champions Portsmouth.

📊Fewest goals conceded in the #EFL this season:

3⃣7⃣: 🐏DERBY COUNTY🐏
3⃣9⃣: Leicester
4⃣0⃣: Lincoln
4⃣1⃣: Portsmouth, Leeds

Congratulations @dcfcofficial 🎉🥳#DCFC pic.twitter.com/MlJwLMvwG8

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) April 27, 2024

The hosts got off to the perfect start when Max Bird fired home after just five minutes with a swerving shot from outside the box.

A second-half strike from forward James Collins gave Paul Warne's side a two-goal cushion and Derby saw the game out to return to the second tier, from which they were relegated while in administration back in 2022. 

Derby's promotion is another feather in the cap of their 50-year-old manager Warne, who has now guided four sides out League One, his three previous successes coming with Rotherham. 

Every full season* 😉#DCFC #dcfcfans https://t.co/eN1pzNNpEK

— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) April 27, 2024

In the other final-day games, Peterborough and Bolton played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at the Weston Homes Stadium - the Trotters having started the day knowing they needed to beat Posh, and Derby needed to lose, for them to finish runners-up in the division. 

Ian Evatt's Bolton were two goals up inside 10 minutes thanks to a Kyle Dempsey strike and a penalty from Dion Charles, but Posh roared back in the second-half to lead 3-2 thanks to two Malik Mothersille goals either side of Joel Randall's well-taken effort. Cameron Jerome netted in the 84th minute, however, to earn Bolton a point and ensure the visitors finished third in the table, three points ahead of Posh. 

Oxford and Barnsley will join Bolton and Peterborough in the play-offs; the U's recorded a 2-1 win at Exeter in their final game of the regular season, while the Tykes drew 1-1 at home to Northampton. 

Lincoln City, however, missed their chance to bag the final play-off spot, as the Imps lost 2-0 at home to champions Portsmouth to finish two points shy of sixth place. 

At the other end of the table, Cheltenham blew their chance to pull off a miraculous final day escape from relegation. The Robins needed Burton to lose at Fleetwood and the Brewers duly obliged, but Darell Clarke's side were unable to capitalise: Cheltenham's 2-1 loss to Stevenage sealing their demotion to League Two. 

League One final scores (Matchweek 46)

Barnsley 1-1 Northampton    
Derby 2-0 Carlisle    
Exeter 1-2 Oxford Utd    
Fleetwood 3-0 Burton    
Lincoln City 0-2 Portsmouth    
Peterborough 3-3 Bolton    
Port Vale 0-0 Cambridge    
Reading 3-2 Blackpool    
Shrewsbury 1-3 Leyton Orient    
Stevenage 2-1 Cheltenham    
Wigan 2-0 Bristol Rovers    
Wycombe 1-0 Charlton

Full time at the Lamex Stadium. Defeat in Hertfordshire ends our three year stay in the third tier.#ctfc♦️ pic.twitter.com/F7N2ybUviB

— Cheltenham Town (@CTFCofficial) April 27, 2024