Jakirovic, Parkinson, Eustace and Ryan Reynolds react after Hull snatch final playoff place

Sergej Jakirovic, Phil Parkinson, John Eustace and Ryan Reynolds react after Hull snatch the final Championship playoff place./strong>

Incredibly, all three sides occupied that final play-off place at some point throughout Saturday afternoon, the day started with Wrexham in it. Then as can be seen below, with the help of BBC Sport making sense of it all, it played out quite dramatically…

12:34pm – Middlesbrough 1-0 Wrexham – Hull into 6th

12:36pm – Derby 1-0 Sheffield United – Derby into 6th

12:58pm – Middlesbrough 1-1 Wrexham, Hull 1-1 Norwich – Derby still 6th

1:11pm – Middlesbrough 1-2 Wrexham – Wrexham into 6th

1:13pm – Middlesbrough 2-2 Wrexham, Derby back 6th

1:52pm – Derby 1-1 Sheffield United – Derby outside the playoffs, Wrexham back in 6th

2:01pm – Hull 2-1 Norwich, Derby 1-2 Sheffield United – Hull up to 6th (73 points), Wrexham 7th (71 points), Derby 8th (69 points)

Hull City and Millwall will face each other in the playoffs, which get underway on Friday night with Middlesbrough playing host to Southampton on Saturday lunchtime. More on the schedule and how the final day played out HERE.

HULL 2-1 NORWICH

Sergej Jakirovic said, per the club website: “Great feeling, especially after 96 minutes when we saw Wrexham hadn’t beaten Middlesbrough, so it was enough to win 2-1.

“It’s emotional also for us because we achieved something that Mr Chairman had dreamed about. For the lads, I am very proud of them. They showed a great mentality.

“Since we started the game, we didn’t play anything – we just kicked the ball around. That was not the plan.

“My first message in the dressing room at half-time was that we needed to be calm, be happy with the ball and try to play because we can create something.

‘We brought more energy, especially after substitutions. It was not easy to play this game because you know you need a win – this is the first target.

“First 10-15 minutes, we were eighth in the table. This is football – everything is possible. We gave everything to win this game and mission complete.

 “I’m very proud of all the people at the club. All the people around us have made it a good environment to work, where you feel happy and come with a smile to the training ground every morning.

“Every man is very important in our environment, that you are positive, optimistic and that we are together. Winning or losing, we are always together. That’s been the main thing all season.”

On Matt Crooks needing treatment during the warm-up before then being passed fit to start and then assisted McBurnie for the 67th minute winner…

“I was in shock. Somebody kicked a long ball diagonally and it hit ‘Crooksy’ directly in the head.

“He didn’t expect it, like a KO. He had a head test and we had already prepared (John) Lundstram, but ‘Crooksy’ said he was fine and would play.”

DERBY 1-2 SHEFFIELD UNITED

Derby’s John Eustace told RamsTV: “I’m disappointed we didn’t win the game, of course. When you look at the results, it obviously didn’t matter. But it’s been a fantastic season.

“I’m very, very proud of everyone connected with the football club. The progression that we’ve made has been very good. It’s really important now that we build on that.

“We’ve got that buzz about the city again, that the football club’s really rocking. Today’s atmosphere was top, top draw. You know, I thought our first half performance was excellent.

“It’s the standards that I expect, the levels that I want. And, unfortunately, we couldn’t continue that second half. But, you know, I think everyone connected with the football club should be very proud of the progress that we’ve made.

“I’m really excited about the future.”

On controlling his emotions: “It was about us winning the game. That’s all I was focused on. We couldn’t control what’s going on elsewhere.

“The most important thing is that we won the game. We didn’t win. And that’s what’s most disappointing for me.

“But, you know, the effort of the group, again, was top draw. I think we should be very proud of every single one of the players who have stepped up this season in the squad.

“We’ve got a lot to be positive about.”

On the contract between the end of last season and this season: “There has been a lot of hard work done behind the scenes. David Clowes, Stephen Pearce. We’ve built a fantastic squad of players.

“When we’ve had injuries, big injuries to really important players, whoever’s stepped up has always been 100% committed and done well.

“And that’s why on the last game of the season, we still had an opportunity to get in the top six.

“You have to remember that we’re competing against teams that have spent tens of millions of pounds to try and get into that top six – and they haven’t achieved that.

“We’re up against teams with a lot of parachute money as well. So, you know, the effort of the group has been excellent. And I couldn’t be any prouder of every one of those players.”

On planning for next season: “It starts straightaway. We’ve been thinking about it last week – and the week before that. You know, it’s important that we get that momentum going forward.

WREXHAM 2-2 MIDDLESBROUGH

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said, per the club website: “We’ve taken the fight to the wire, it just wasn’t to be on the day.

“I don’t think we can ask the lads for much more than they gave us, against a good side. Of course we’re disappointed, we’ve enjoyed the season so much, we didn’t want it to end.

“But overall, to finish seventh, on 71 points, is a real achievement in itself at this level.

“Our supporters have been amazing. They’ve got a great connection with the players, staff, and the Club in general. You could see that at the end of the game, they’d seen the team give everything today.

“The lads can be very proud of their achievements. And the supporters can be as well, because they’ve supported us in their numbers, home and away, and shown incredible passion and loyalty for their team.

“After going a goal down, to respond the way we did, I thought the lads were brilliant.

“In that period at 1-1, I was confident. I felt we looked in a really good place. And our second goal was brilliant from Sam. A great cross from Issa and a textbook header from Sam, which we’ve seen him do so many times.

“Their second goal is the one which hurt us, because it’s a soft one. But then we came out again second half and made changes when we knew what scores were happening elsewhere. We just couldn’t quite get that third goal to have taken us into the playoffs.

“Everybody is very disappointed. We were determined to get in that top six. However, I said to the lads all season, we’ve asked for the team to reflect how the team’s played over the last four or five years, and it has done that, there’s no question about that.

“It just wasn’t to be today. But in terms of what the lads have given us as a group, I don’t think we could have had much more.

“I think this squad, together as it stands, with a pre-season together, will be an even stronger unit next year.

“Of course, we’ll always look to try and add to that, to give ourselves an even better chance. We know where we’d like to strengthen and what we need to improve on.

“And we’ll do that, and we’ll make this squad as strong as we possibly can to mount a challenge next year.

“We’ll have a break now, then we’ll come back and go again.”

Ryan Reynolds tweeted: “I am completely gutted by today’s result but incredibly proud of our season. We’ve come a long way in five years and this was the best result in our 150+ year history. More to do. But for now, we have so much to be proud of, Reds.”

I am completely gutted by today’s result but incredibly proud of our season. We’ve come a long way in five years and this was the best result in our 150+ year history. More to do. But for now, we have so much to be proud of, Reds. pic.twitter.com/qPQywrC0mA

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) May 2, 2026