Championship playoff and relegation battle goes to the wire after surprise Easter Monday results

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield said to BBC Three Counties Radio:

“It’s possibly the best result and performance since I’ve been here.

“It was edgy in the first-half but we stayed calm with it at half-time and spoke to the players about a couple of tactical things we wanted to adjust.

“It’s a big result – I’ve felt we’ve been due a big home win because we’ve had some good performances and not got the rewards I’ve thought we should have so I’m really pleased we’ve managed to do that.

“We’ve got to focus on our own work – we’d all like results elsewhere (today) to be different but games are running out and we have to make sure we focus on ourselves and facing Coventry on Saturday.”

Bristol City boss Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol:

“There’s an element of frustration because it feels more on us than them.

“You could sense in the second half they’re fighting for their lives but you have make the game look like you want it to.

“We shifted the momentum in their favour with an error, there were too many mistakes and we didn’t take our chances.

“We have to be disappointed with our performance but step back and it’s still in our hands – when you’re in a performance industry like the lads are you have to stay brave, stay focused and very much play the game and not the occasion.

“The more this goes on you just love the Championship.”

Cardiff caretaker manager Aaron Ramsey, per BBC Sport:

“It was really enjoyable, I really enjoyed that. The level of performance from the boys was superb. They did everything we asked of them over the last two days. A lot of work has gone in, a bit of information for them.

“We controlled the game really well, played with real intensity and intent. Sometimes football can be cruel, it can sometimes take a worldie from 35 yards, their only shot on target. These things can happen.

“We can be really proud of what we’ve done over the last 24 hours. To produce that sort of performance in that time, we can take a lot from.”

Oxford manager Gary Rowett:

“You’d think Oxford fans would have a few more mathematicians among them [singing “we are staying up”]! It certainly doesn’t feel we’re anywhere near safe. We felt one more big result would be enough but, of course, when everyone else around you wins it means another game.

“We knew that with a change in management the atmosphere would be different in the ground and we struggled to match their energy in the first half. The goal kicked us on.

“One wonder strike, one moment of brilliance from a player who has done that so many times for this club could have got us an incredibly important point in the grand scheme of things. We needed a moment like that because our performance wasn’t good.”

Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic told BBC Sport:

“I’m very proud to deliver this kind of performance, just two days after Middlesbrough.

“To step on the field today and perform like the lads performed I’m very proud – we knew the calibre of the opponent they’re flying with 15 wins from 20 games

“We had a fantastic match plan, great discipline and the heart and desire to execute it.

“We did our job today and I think we did it in an excellent way.

“We want to win the next one because the last home game against Leeds, we have a final, and that’s what we’re aiming for.”

Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard told BBC Sport:

“This was a game that was completely dominated by the types of goals that they score against you.

“We were going to have a lot of the ball and it was mistakes that led to transitions and set pieces.

“If you are short on those on the day against a team that are a team of giants, big boys, you know what’s coming. Every goal kick, every throw in, every set piece is coming in – and you have to deal with that and you have to be more dynamic to break the low block, and we were not at that level today.

“The third goal comes along and makes it even more difficult; they have something more to protect.”

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield:

“Congratulations to my team, to my players; outstanding job, outstanding energy level, a lot of good things they did today.

“I said this 20 minutes before the end to my coaches, we deserve more than just one point and then the goal was coming. My players should take all the flowers today because they deserved it.

“Today we found a fantastic balance between keeping the ball and attacking the last line. I saw a lot of clips of how we could attack them, especially behind the full-backs and my players did a fantastic job.

“You need this player and also in this division, you need momentum, and I think everybody in the stadium felt today that the momentum could be on our side – and we played really nice football.”

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick speaking to BBC Radio Tees:

“In the end, it hasn’t changed a lot of what the next two games are going to bring but certainly today, we could have won the game and everyone else could have won their games and we’d be in the same situation.

“If we won the game, we’d be in a better situation. I’m not denying that.

“For our mindset, we’ve got to learn about managing our games better in the thick of it and managing the space on the pitch and being more compact as a team.

“Disappointed with today but the season is still alive.”

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio WM:

“Obviously, it’s a tough period for us. I haven’t seen anything since I’ve been here like the goals we conceded today from the set-plays.

“It’s so unlike us. Two set-play goals from a hard-working, honest team. I thought we lacked courage today, didn’t play enough forward passes, weren’t brave enough on the ball.

“When your team’s in situations like we’re in, I’ve had a difficult few weeks, people have to stand up and we can’t do the job, play forward passes, run forward and be brave and we lacked a bit of that today.”

Derby County boss John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:

“It was an amazing performance, I thought the lads were outstanding – we limited a really good footballing team to next to nothing really.

“We’ve conceded some sloppy goals this season and the one we conceded was sloppy again but we have to remember (Sondre) Langas is playing with a knee injury and will need some big surgery in the summer so just to get him in the team at the moment is great.

“We want to make this club special again and make the fans know whoever puts on the shirt will sweat blood for this club – as long as we keep fighting we’ll give ourselves the best chance we can.”

Millwall manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio London:

“Regardless of the other results I think it was a brilliant performance. I’d probably say it’s up there as one of the best performances I’ve had since I’ve been here.

“I thought we were really aggressive, we created so many chances in the game. We scored three but we probably could have scored more.

“I thought defensively we were sound throughout the match. We’ve got a debutant at left back, a young goalkeeper and I thought both of them were excellent as well.

“All in all, a great day at The Den if you take into consideration the results. I don’t think we could’ve hoped for much more.”

Norwich City player Josh Sargent told BBC Radio Norfolk:

“(It’s) Embarrassing. That’s it. I don’t have much more to say. The fans deservedly are very upset.

“There were so many out here, supporting us and travelling today and it’s just nowhere near good enough from us.

“I’m not going to say we didn’t work hard because there are guys working hard but [we’re not] just doing the basics right, simple passes, tracking back.”

QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes, per BBC Sport:

“Definitely a difficult game. I think for 60-65 minutes, we were not good, far from the level we expected.

“But I think Swansea were excellent in those minutes. They pressed really high, with a lot of energy and a lot of intensity. They showed why they are in the trend they are and they have quality players.

“But after that, despite being disappointed, I think the players showed the mentality, the resilience and we tried to fight to get something from the game.

“This team has been pushing a lot over the last weeks – mentally, emotionally and physically – and it is not easy to keep that level of intensity throughout all the games.”

Swansea caretaker head coach Alan Sheehan:

“I thought for the first 70 minutes of the game we were very strong. I thought there was only one team in the ascendancy.

“We were 2-0 up, going for the third and potentially got a bit too comfortable. Then they score and for the last 15-20 minutes we have to show our defensive structure.

“I wouldn’t say [it was] bodies on the line because I don’t think Vigs (Lawrence Vigouroux) had many saves to make. They were going for the equaliser but they didn’t get it and I think we very much deserved it.

“I think it would have been a travesty if we didn’t go out of here with three points after the first 70 minutes.”

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent:

“I thought we played so well in the first half and didn’t manage to put it to bed in the second.

“I think the boys had nerves with the severity of the occasion and how important it was to pick up the three points.

“It’s a brilliant achievement but it’s the next building block for where we need to go as a football club. We need to establish ourselves here now; we will go again and improve from where we have been this season.

“Survival hasn’t quite sunk in for me yet because of the emotion of the game. I will definitely have a beer tonight though!”

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Leeds:

“To deliver such an emphatic performance is really amazing and all the credit goes to the boys for the way they have handled the situation and the spirit they have shown in recent weeks.

“It’s the fate of a striker that sometimes you have a dry period or a dip in form. Joel had this but he has worked so hard and got himself out of it.

“In the last few weeks his performances were better but the ball didn’t want to go in the net. It’s a bit like shaking a bottle of ketchup, all of a sudden everything comes out and that was a bit the case today.

(On Harry Gray’s debut) “I couldn’t paint a better day for it to be honest. He wasn’t just on the pitch because his name is Gray. I don’t like to praise a young lad too early or too much but we believe in his potential. It was not a gift today, he has earned his position in the squad.”

Stoke City boss Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke:

“We didn’t compete. You can lose against anyone and especially to teams at the top of the league who will be in the Premier League next season but we gave them the freedom of the stadium. We didn’t lay a glove on them.

“We made mistakes without trying to do something right. We looked fearful to take part in a game that we looked like we didn’t belong in.

“I’m not going to over-react. You don’t get too high or too low. I don’t have the luxury of dwelling on it, I have to make sure we are back on it on Friday.

“Anyone who thought we were home and dry, that is a kick in the teeth. The performance wasn’t befitting of anyone from any team let alone anyone from my Stoke City team.”

Hull City boss Ruben Selles told BBC Radio Humberside:

“I know in this part of the season things become so tight and emotional that every moment and action is crucial. At the end it was a fantastic feeling.

“In the second half we showed what we want to be. We showed a lot of character.

“I’m happy for the boys because they have been working hard to get the points and we didn’t get as many as we wanted or as we deserved but it doesn’t matter right now because the attitude has always been good.

“The three points today is simply massive to keep us with the two-point advantage and gives us the belief and feeling that we have been trying to find.”

Preston North End assistant manager Stuart McCall told BBC Radio Lancashire:

“The performance was ok to a point in that we controlled parts of the game and got a goal.

“I’m not biased, I’ll be honest when I see things, I spoke to John Egan before the game today and they got a penalty given against them on Friday that was scandalous when the ball hit his face. Today we have had one given against us that is nowhere near a penalty kick.

“I think he gets the second one right but the big decision is the first one because it gave them the momentum.”

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle:

“The energy was largely positive, the way we played. Disappointing result, positive performance.

“The opponent had a specific plan; only two shots and one goal. They were efficient and it wasn’t the case for us.

“It is now a question of mindset, energy, ambition and desire.

“Even with seven changes, the team was fluid. But it is more in the head than tactics.

“We weren’t smooth in the final third. This part of the pitch is the most difficult to get right.”

Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire:

“It was two games in one game. The first half we competed well and scored and played some good football.

“In the second half, with the tiredness, we were more solid.

“We defended well. We needed more transition in the second half to get more relief, but we controlled everything. It was a forceful performance from the boys; great attitude, great mentality.

“We had consistency with a strong performance. We need to focus again for Saturday in the last home game. We want to finish strong.”