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…

Newcastle United pip Brighton to the Championship title

Rafael Benitez has delivered what Newcastle United set out to achieve, having not only guided the Magpies to an immediate return to the Premier League, but claiming the league title outright.

The Tyneside outfit put three past Barnsley in front of their expectant home faithful of St James’ Park, which saw them pip Brighton and Hove Albion by a solitary point, after the Seagulls were held at Aston Villa.

Goals from Ayoze Perez, Chancel Mbemba and Dwight Gayle sent Newcastle on their way to a third straight win, which ultimately wrapped up the title.

Blackburn relegated to League One after a tense final day

At the other end of the second tier, there was heartbreak for Blackburn Rovers, who were relegated to League One on goal difference despite a 3-1 away victory at Brentford.

Tony Mowbray’s men were two up with 16 minutes played at Griffin Park, with Charlie Mulgrew’s free-kick and Danny Guthrie’s strike giving them a dream start in West London.

Lasse Vibe pulled one back for Brentford after the interval, before Craig Conway smashed home a late penalty, but it was all in vain, following wins for Mark Warburton’s Nottingham Forest and Harry Redknapp’s Birmingham City on what was a tense afternoon.

The East Lancastrian club will compete in the third tier for the first time since 1980, 22 years after their Premier League winning-season.

Portsmouth take the spoils in League Two’s intriguing automatic promotion race

Having started the day sitting third, Portsmouth capped off a fine promotion-winning campaign by going onto claim the League Two title, hitting six past Cheltenham Town.

Pompey needed to win, and hope Doncaster Rovers and Plymouth Argyle dropped points in order to climb from third position to the summit of the standings.

In front of a Fratton Park crowd in jubilant mood, Paul Cook’s side ran riot.

Daniel O’Shaughnessy’s early own goal put Portsmouth into the driving seat, prior to a second half goal spree, with efforts from Kyle Bennett, Kal Naismith’s brace, Jamal Lowe and Gareth Evans’ late penalty securing an emphatic victory.

Newport County achieve the “great escape”

Back in March, Newport County were 11 points adrift at the foot of League Two.

On Saturday, following an improbable upturn in fortune under the management of local lad Mike Flynn, the Exiles achieved a memorable survival to avoid relegation by defeating Notts County 2-1 at Rodney Parade.

The South Wales have won seven out of Flynn’s 12 league games at the helm to retain their survival, at the expense of Hartlepool United.

When Mark O’Brien chested the ball down to arrow a volley into bottom corner, Flynn’s survival mission was complete in the most dramatic of circumstances.