The race for promotion to the Premier League has been steadily intensifying in recent weeks, with second-placed Bournemouth stuttering and leaving the door ajar to a couple of chasers for that final automatic route to the top flight. Huddersfield Town will, however, likely have to settle for a play-off spot despite a late win away at Coventry City this weekend.

Levi Colwill started at the back for the Terriers, making his first appearance in three games, while Tino Anjorin came off the bench for the final 25 minutes and grabbed the decisive goal from the penalty spot, beating the goalkeeper with a precise effort right into the bottom corner for his first goal in English league football.

Jake Clarke-Salter and Ian Maatsen were both missing for the Sky Blues. The win leaves Huddersfield on 79 points, level with third-placed Nottingham Forest and just three behind Bournemouth, though with those two sides facing off on Tuesday, Carlos Corberan’s men are now unable to leapfrog them both due to a significantly inferior goal difference.

Elsewhere in the Championship, Danny Drinkwater and Baba Rahman played throughout as already-safe Reading were beaten 1-0 at home by West Bromwich Albion, while Nathan Baxter was in goal as Hull City lost 5-0 at Bristol City.

Canaries’ fate sealed

In the Premier League, Conor Gallagher registered back-to-back 90 minutes for Crystal Palace, firstly in a goalless draw against Leeds United last Monday night and then in a 2-1 victory at St Mary’s against Southampton.

The midfielder went close to opening the scoring at Selhurst Park against the Whites but narrowly fired over the bar late on, before helping Patrick Vieira’s men win a game from behind in the league for the first time this season on the South Coast.

Armando Broja was a 65th-minute substitute for the Saints, who are now a point and three places behind the Eagles with a few weeks of the campaign remaining. Only James Ward-Prowse has more goals than the Albanian striker for Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side in all competitions this season.

Norwich City’s 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa sealed their relegation at the end of a difficult nine months. Billy Gilmour featured throughout in midfield for the Canaries, making his 21st league appearance of the campaign, but the young midfielder was unable to prevent them falling to a third straight defeat.

Cumming for the play-offs

Jamie Cumming and MK Dons will feature in the League One play-offs after missing out on a top-two finish. The young goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in a 5-0 victory away at Plymouth Argyle to ensure the Dons finish in third and so will face Wycombe Wanderers, with the first leg away this Thursday 5 May and the return at home three days later.

The Pilgrims had former Chelsea Academy midfielder Jordan Houghton sent off just before the break and, with the visitors already three goals to the good by that stage, it ensured a comfortable second period for Cumming and his team-mates.

Emerson inspires late hope for Lyon

Lyon’s faltering prospects of European football next season were handed a boost with a 3-0 win against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome. Emerson Palmieri was up against some tricky forwards in the form of Dimitri Payet, Cengiz Under and Arkadiusz Milik but the Italian international and his defensive colleagues held firm.

Down the other end, it was the left-back’s free-kick that fell nicely into the path of Castello Lukeba for the opener, with Moussa Dembele and Karl Toko Ekambi adding further strikes in the final 15 minutes. Lyon move to within five points of a Europa Conference League qualification place, with three games of the campaign remaining.

In Italy, Ethan Ampadu was in midfield once again for Venezia as they were beaten 2-1 in Turin by Juventus courtesy of a brace from Leonardo Bonucci. The Lagunari are bottom of Serie A, six points from safety with four games left to play, including two against opponents also in the bottom four. They parted ways with manager Paolo Zanetti earlier in the week.

Michy Batshuayi started up front twice this week for Besiktas in a 3-0 home defeat by Kasimpasa and a 3-2 win at Kayserispor. The Black Eagles are currently sixth, outside a European qualification berth, as the Turkish Super Lig campaign draws to a close.

Friendly goal and cup final disappointment

Teenage striker Bryan Fiabema was on target for Rosenborg as they beat Stjordals-Blink in a friendly. The 19-year-old has been a late substitute in two of the first four games of the new season for the Norwegian side.

Back in England, in the London Senior Cup final, Ethan Wady was in goal for Hendon as they battled hard against Brentford’s B team, holding the Premier League youngsters to a 1-1 draw before a penalty shoot-out finished 3-0 to the Bees.