Stunning finale in Championship play-off race

Luke O'Nien and Sunderland squeezed into the play-off places on Monday, but Millwall missed out after throwing away a 3-1 lead

Promotion and relegation matters may have already been settled heading into the final day of the Championship season, but the battle for two play-off spots provided plenty of twists and turns.

Coventry travelled to fourth-placed Middlesbrough and Millwall entertained Blackburn in the last round of fixtures, while Sunderland faced a trip to Preston and West Brom went to Swansea.

With the ultimate reward of a trip to Wembley on Saturday, 27 May and promotion to the Premier League at stake, the pressure appeared to do different things to different teams...

• Monday's EFL action and reaction

Lions sweep into two-goal lead at break

Millwall knew a win would do and made the perfect start in front of a raucous crowd at The Den, with Duncan Watmore's eighth-minute opener off the underside of the crossbar giving them control of their destiny.

The Lions soon had a second disallowed for offside and, after Coventry took the lead at Middlesbrough, the first big twist of the afternoon came midway through the first half.

Blackburn equalised against Millwall in London and West Brom, who were winning 1-0 at Swansea through Okay Yokuslu, were suddenly heading above Millwall and up into sixth place on goals scored.

Swansea swiftly equalised to put the Lions back into a precarious sixth place - yet a second from Watmore and an Oliver Burke strike had Millwall in firm control at 3-1 - and Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson bemoaning "stupid goals".

Those two efforts, coupled with Cameron Archer's goal to make it 1-1 at the Riverside between Boro and Coventry, actually saw the Lions go up to fifth place and the Sky Blues in sixth at half-time.

Sunderland, meanwhile, were three points off the play-offs after a "basketball game" of a first 45 minutes at Preston, which somehow ended goalless.

It was looking like Luton v Coventry and Middlesbrough v Millwall in the play-offs after the first half of Monday's Championship games

Sunderland hold nerve as Millwall crumble

The second halves brought unexpected drama, as Blackburn - who had gone eight games without a win - mounted a comeback for the ages, and Sunderland suddenly stirred into action at Deepdale.

Joe Rankin-Costello pulled one back for Rovers to make it 3-2 against Millwall in the 51st minute, and three minutes later Amad Diallo curled in an absolute peach to give the Black Cats a 1-0 lead against Preston.

"A goal was always going to change the feeling in the stadium and among the players," Millwall manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio London.

"The key for me is we went chasing and losing our shape and running out of position - and at that point you need to have a bit of calmness and solidity."

Alex Pritchard doubled Sunderland's advantage and then proceedings notched up a level in south-east London.

Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz fired in from the edge of the area to make it 3-3 - with his goal having big repercussions.

Coventry suddenly regained fifth spot as Millwall dropped to seventh, to be replaced in sixth place by a Sunderland side who swiftly went 3-0 up.

All attention was now on The Den, where Millwall - having thrown away a two-goal lead - had to score to salvage their season.

But the Lions had little control on the contest as Brereton Diaz rattled an upright before seeing a header cleared off the underside of the bar.

And, as Millwall continued to pour forward in the closing five minutes, Blackburn finally broke the hearts of the home support.

Rovers keeper Aynsley Pears kept out a Tyler Burey effort and the visitors swiftly counter attacked, with Sammie Szmodics sending in a low cross for Chile international Brereton Diaz to tap in unmarked at the back post.

Ben Brereton Diaz, making his last appearance for Blackburn, inspired Rovers to an improbable second-half comeback

From 3-1 up at the break to 4-3 behind, Millwall had seemingly thrown away a play-off place after an inspired second half showing from Rovers.

With just four minutes plus stoppages remaining Sunderland were firmly in the driving seat, with Blackburn behind them on goal difference and Millwall now needing two goals to dislodge the Wearsiders.

The stunned Lions could not even manage to get one back, with disappointment and long faces the order of the day in Bermondsey at the full-time whistle.

"When you've worked so hard for so long, it feels like such a terrible way to end the season," Rowett said.

"I'd have rather lose 1-0 than be 3-1 up and be pegged back 4-3. It shows the pressure on these games and how it affects people in different ways.

"The lads have given everything but we just need to play with more composure and professionalism when you are 3-1 up. That is what killed us."

Despite their incredible comeback, Blackburn missed out on the top six on goal difference

Up at Deepdale Sunderland could celebrate after seeing out a 3-0 victory, and the Black Cats now have the first leg of their semi-final against Luton Town to look forward to on Saturday,

Boss Tony Mowbray was "delighted" for their supporters, who could yet witness back-to-back promotions through the play-offs.

"It's an incredible scenario to see the people of Sunderland enjoying their football so much and coming in their huge numbers," he added.

"It's been a tough few years for Sunderland fans, with a team who have been in the Premier League in the not-too-distant past. It was a long, long fall but I feel we are on the road back."

Coventry boss Mark Robins, meanwhile, toasted a "phenomenal achievement" amid off-pitch ownership and stadium issues which have bubbled in the background this season.

"It was an outstanding and brilliant achievement considering all the rubbish we have had to put up with," he told BBC CWR.

"The new ownership, Doug [King], must be thanking his lucky stars. Hopefully we are three games away from something really, really special."

The Sky Blues will face Middlesbrough for a place at Wembley, with the first leg on Sunday.

The play-offs have provided plenty of drama since their inception in 1986-87, but have plenty to live up to after an unforgettable last day of the regular Championship campaign.