4 things we learned from a frantic and enthralling EFL weekend

As the curtain came down on the regular EFL season, the focus was firmly on the Championship and League Two, with the weekend’s action providing drama aplenty in both divisions.

Newcastle United bounced back to the Premier League in style after being crowned Championship title-winners. Rafael Benitez’s men beat Barnsley 3-0 at St James’ Park on Sunday, courtesy of goals from Ayoze Perez, Chancel Mbemba and Dwight Gayle, which saw them go up as champions.

The Magpies were all set to finish as runners-up to Brighton and Hove Albion, but Jack Grealish’s 89th minute equaliser for Aston Villa earned a 1-1 draw at home to the Seagulls, meaning the title headed to the North East.

However, the Championship relegation battle took centre stage, as three teams, Blackburn Rovers, Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City, were all involved in a final day scrap to remain in the second-tier.

Despite winning 3-1 at Brentford, Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn were relegated into League One on goal difference, joining Rotherham United and Wigan Athletic in dropping down to England’s third division next term.

Results went against Rovers, with victories for Nottingham Forest, who dispatched Ipswich Town 3-0 at The City Ground, coupled with Birmingham City’s narrow triumph at Bristol City, sealing Blackburn’s fate.

On Saturday in League Two, a topsy-turvy title-race concluded in Portsmouth claiming the honours after thrashing Cheltenham Town 6-1 at Fratton Park, which included a brace for Kal Naismith.

Plymouth Argyle ended the campaign as runners-up to their south-coast rivals, drawing 1-1 on their travels to Blundell Park against Grimsby.

Doncaster Rovers could have also won the league title on the final day, but two Devante Rodney strikes late in the second-half earned maximum points for Hartlepool United at Victoria Park. The 2-1 win for the Pools was not enough to preserve their status in the division, as they dropped out of the fourth-tier.

Hartlepool joined Leyton Orient in being relegated to the National League after Newport County completed the great escape against Notts County at Rodney Parade, with a last-gasp Mark O’Brien goal seeing the Welsh side prevail 2-1 on home soil.

So, following the final round of fixtures, here are FOUR things Shoot! learned from the EFL weekend…