Accrington boss John Coleman admitted his side “haven’t been good enough” this season after relegation was confirmed despite a 2-1 win at Oxford.
Stanley needed to win and overturn an improbable 16-goal difference to have a chance of staying up but Cambridge’s victory over Forest Green sealed their fate in any case.
Billy Bodin put the U’s ahead after eight minutes but Stanley hit back in the second half through substitute Korede Adedoyin and Aaron Pressley.
Coleman said: “We were all over the place in the first half. But we’ve given our all and we thoroughly deserved to win.
“Yes they had far better chances than us but that’s when your goalkeeper and your defenders need to make a good save or make blocks and we haven’t had enough of that this season.
“But we scored two good goals. The sickening thing is if we’d have won last week, we’d have stayed up. Over the course of the season we haven’t been good enough and we have to accept that.
“We have to do it the right way and get ourselves back on an even keel, steady the ship and go again for next season. It’s going to be a tough league and we’re going to have to be prepared for a battle.
“We have given away too many chances all season.
“We’ve got to focus our efforts on restructuring the squad, get players in who can compete and produce on a regular basis in League Two, and make sure we don’t go down a slippery pole.
“We won’t get kidded by the result today – we’ve just got to sign the right players.
“I won’t rush into making decisions about who goes out. I need to get the right decisions so that we find ourselves in a healthier shape than we have this season.”
Oxford head coach Liam Manning reflected on a poor finish and poor finishing.
He said: “It was very disappointing to lose the game, especially after the number of chances we had. It’s the story of the season for us really.
“But in the bigger picture there’s huge credit to the players for getting it done when they did, getting over the line to stay up.
“We’re missing composure. We create so many chances and we just have to convert them.
“We have to learn from this season. It’s such a difficult division, so competitive, if you don’t have the right culture and the players aren’t all in you can find yourself really up against it.
“We have to make sure we evaluate all of that and put it right for next season.
“I’ve had meetings about the building here already. We’ve got a lot of work to do to get the right culture.
“Some players will need to move on – but that’s the same at any club. I will have to make some tough decisions.
“Yes, we need a striker or a number nine who scores goals but it’s not just a number nine, we need players all over the park who can score goals from multiple positions.
“When I came in I had to prioritise key areas because they were playing the game slightly differently to the way I see the game or how I like so it was about altering the shape and the organisation and not giving away goals.
“I always felt that we needed to be harder to beat and not keep giving away three or four goals a game.
“We’ll have a look at the squad and then come back in the summer to make sure we do the things we need to get ourselves in the right half of the table next season.”
MK Dons head coach Mark Jackson said it was “heartbreaking” to experience relegation from Sky Bet League One.
His side threw everything at hosts Burton but could not grab a winner in a tense final day contest that finished 0-0, meaning his side were relegated.
Jackson said: “It’s really raw and emotional right now. Heartbreaking. Words can’t describe how we feel and how we feel for the supporters and the club.”
Dons dominated but were kept out by a resilient Burton defence and also the woodwork, substitute Dawson Devoy going closest with a shot that cannoned back off the post.
Jackson continued: “We knew we had to come here and win the game. From minute one we went after the game, created opportunities and chances.
“They (Burton) had to defend for their lives and make blocks on the line. We took the game to them and the only thing we couldn’t do today was put the ball in the back of the net.”
Jackson’s team only lost two of their final eight games but six draws in that run ultimately cost them dearly in a season of fine margins at the bottom of the table.
The Dons boss reflected: “There is a lot of work to do and take stock of. Reflection is a big part of football.
“There were crucial moments over that run, drawing at Cheltenham and at home to Barnsley last week but we knew we had to come here today and win to secure our survival and the boys left everything out on the pitch.
“They did everything we asked of them. You can look at today’s game but we are in the position we are in not due to one game but over the whole of the season.”
Burton boss Dino Maamria was relieved that his side had been safe with three games to go and reflected on a big turnaround that saw the Brewers remain in League One for another season.
“It has been an unbelievable six months,” Maamria said. “We have stuck together as a group and as a club. It has been a massive turnaround.”
Maamria saw his side have a big influence on relegation in the final week of the season and had some sympathies with Jackson’s side.
He explained: “It has been a tough two games against Cambridge and MK Dons this week. Both well-run clubs and we have had to show honest performances in both games.
“I felt we deserved to beat Cambridge on Wednesday but I thought MK Dons were very unlucky today. We defended really well, led by John Brayford who was immense again.
Burton at one point had looked certainties to be relegated themselves but Maamria’s transformation means they can look ahead to next season with optimism.
He added: “We are always in games now. Teams have to work really hard to beat us now.
“That comes from the confidence we have put into the players and all the hard work we have done with them. We have a big rebuilding job now for next season.”
Ipswich missed out on the League One title but manager Kieran McKenna hailed his team’s “incredible” season after a final-game 2-2 draw at Fleetwood.
Substitutes Freddie Ladapo and Marcus Harness took runners-up Town’s final league goal tally to 101 and a 19th game unbeaten.
But a second-half double from one-time Ipswich academy product Jack Marriott denied the visitors a chance to rack up a century of points.
Ladapo and Harness scored either side of Marriott’s brace while Town finished with 10 men after Harry Clarke’s stoppage-time dismissal for his second booking.
“It wasn’t our best performance and we didn’t hit the levels we did across the large majority of the season,” said McKenna.
“We finished at home with a 6-0 (win over Exeter) which was such a wonderful day, probably the best day in a lot of the players’ lives.
“We wanted to hit those levels again but the players are only human.
“They and the staff work so hard and train to levels of intensity and professionalism that are really high.
“That is why performances have been at the consistent levels they have been.
“We didn’t have that same edge and intensity this week for obvious reasons.
“When we don’t we aren’t such a good team. It was a little reminder for everyone going into next season that what separates us is the intensity and focus that we work with day to day.
“That’s what we need to do many times over next year. But I have great pride in the season.
“We wanted to finish it off with a win but there is still an awful lot to be pleased about.
“It has been an incredible season in so many ways on and off the pitch. Everyone can take the next week to enjoy that.
“But after that we will be already starting to refocus for next season to be as ready as we can be.”
Fleetwood’s point saw them finish 13th, drawing both games with promoted Town.
“We need to make sure we push towards the play-offs (next season),” said manager Scott Brown. “Or as far up the league as we possibly can.
“Our budget won’t be anywhere near some of the teams in this league. But the chairman has ambition so I think we all must dream high.
“Over the two games against Ipswich we competed really well against a team who has been promoted.
“We knew they would come here expecting to win. But we didn’t worry about them and our performance typified our season.
“There was no pressure on us so we could go and show our talent and compete.”
Lincoln secured an 11th-placed finish in League One with Matty Virtue’s 73rd-minute strike giving them a hard-fought 1-0 win over Shrewsbury.
The visitors started the better and Luke Leahy’s 15-yard effort after seven minutes deflected against the angle of crossbar and post.
From the resulting corner, Imps goalkeeper Carl Rushworth saved well from Chey Dunkley’s downward header.
Ryan Bowman shinned one wide before City finally had an effort at goal, Paudie O’Connor heading well off target.
The second half was just over a minute old when Rob Street powerfully headed Taylor Moore’s cross against the City bar before Rushworth stood strong to chest away Jordan Shipley’s strike.
Lincoln finally called Shrewsbury’s keeper into action after 70 minutes when Virtue’s stinging effort from the edge of the box was pushed out by the diving Marko Marosi.
Virtue wasn’t to be denied three minutes later, though, when Sean Roughan’s long throw into the box fell to the midfielder who buried a shot into the bottom corner.
The same player had a taste for goal and curled another effort just over as City finally found their rhythm.
Imps striker Ben House then had a shot cleared off the line after great work from sub Jovon Makama and then Max Sanders fired straight at Marosi.
City should have doubled their lead at the death after House was dragged down by Dunkley just inside the area, with the defender shown a straight red card, but Sanders’ penalty was superbly saved by Marosi.
Morecambe were relegated from League One after Jay Stansfield signed off from his loan spell at Exeter with a brilliant hat-trick to seal a 3-1 win at St James Park.
Derek Adams’ side had to better the result of MK Dons to stand a chance of staying up, but they drop back into League Two after two years in the third tier.
However, the day belonged to Stansfield, whose loan back at his boyhood club from Fulham ended in the best possible way.
After a dire first half, where chances were few and far between, Exeter went in front after 49 minutes when Sam Nombe laid the ball off to Stansfield, his first touch took him past a defender and he drilled the ball beyond Connor Ripley in the Shrimps goal.
However, the equaliser came almost immediately with a calamitous mix-up in the Exeter penalty box between Will Aimson and goalkeeper Jamal Blackman allowed Cole Stockton to nod the ball into an empty net.
Exeter were back in front again after 57 minutes when a cross into the box bounced around and Stansfield lashed the ball into the net from 10 yards.
It was written in the stars for the young striker to sign off with a hat-trick and that is exactly what happened when, in the 70th minute, Josh Key laid the ball on a plate and he scuffed the ball into the corner before pointing to the name on the stand that bears his late father’s name.
That was to be Stansfield’s final contribution as he was taken off to the most emotional of standing ovations.
Plucky Morecambe fought to the end, and Stockton smashed home his second during 14 minutes of stoppage time, but it was not enough as they dropped into League Two.
Paddy Lane’s first goal for Portsmouth helped seal eighth place in League One after a 2-2 draw with Wycombe at Fratton Park.
After Marlon Pack had equalised following Garath McCleary’s opener, Lane cancelled out Lewis Wing’s stunning long-range strike to earn Pompey the point they needed to finish above their visitors.
In an entertaining final game of the season, Pompey were the dominant side in the first half, yet it was Wycombe who opened the scoring in the 31st minute.
A dreadful pass out from Josh Oluwayemi went straight to the feet of McCleary, who swept forward to power the ball under the goalkeeper’s body.
Pompey fought back and deservedly got the equaliser after 44 minutes as a second corner in as many minutes saw a Michael Jacobs cross headed in by Pack.
The second half continued to entertain and Wing, with nowhere to go in the 54th minute, hammered home from 50 yards to put Wycombe ahead.
But Pompey hit back with 18 minutes remaining when Lane fired in the leveller.
Bolton warmed up for the Sky Bet League One play-offs with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.
On-loan Manchester United striker Shola Shoretire put Bolton in front in the 24th minute, tapping in a goalbound effort from Gethin Jones – who soon limped off.
Things went from bad to worse four minutes later for Bolton as Luca Hoole nodded in the equaliser after Sam Finley’s cross cannoned off the woodwork and then Josh Coburn’s header crashed off the crossbar.
Wanderers boss Ian Evatt’s injury worries deepened after the break as Shoretire hobbled off but replacement Daniel Nlundulu eased those concerns as the Southampton loanee restored the visitors’ lead with 20 minutes remaining with a 20-yard strike.
Aaron Morley doubled Bolton’s advantage in the 78th minute with a long-range effort before Rovers substitute John Marquis slotted home from close range with five minutes remaining.
It set up a tense finale and the hosts came close to earning a point when Scott Sinclair’s stoppage-time strike hit the bar.
Accrington’s relegation to League Two was mathematically confirmed despite a 2-1 comeback victory at Oxford.
John Coleman’s team needed to win and overturn an improbable 16-goal difference to have a chance of staying up but Cambridge’s win over Forest Green sealed their fate in any case.
Oxford went ahead in the eighth minute when Billy Bodin received Tyler Goodrham’s pass, burst through the inside left channel and hammered a shot past goalkeeper Lukas Jensen.
Korede Adedoyin equalised for Stanley with a brilliant individual goal in the 64th minute, ghosting past two opponents in midfield and firing home from 25 yards, moments after coming on as a sub.
Aaron Pressley headed in Shaun Whalley’s right-wing cross five minutes from time for Accrington’s winner.
The U’s, who only secured their safety last week, cut through the visitors’ defence several times only to be let down by poor finishing.
Marcus Browne could not beat Jensen, who also turned away Kyle Joseph’s drive, while Elliott Moore directed a free header over at a corner and Joseph blazed over.
A goalless draw at Burton was not enough for MK Dons as they suffered final day heartbreak and relegation to Sky Bet League Two.
Winless in seven games prior to the final day of the League One campaign, the Dons knew that victory would be enough to keep them up.
However, the 0-0 draw – combined with Cambridge’s home win over Forest Green – was not enough to save them.
It was not for the want of trying as Mark Jackson’s side peppered the Burton goal throughout but a lack of composure and an inspired display from keeper Craig MacGillivray kept them out.
The visitors had the better early chances in a nervy first half. Several efforts went wastefully high or wide, with Paris Maghoma and Conor Grant failing to hit the target.
Jonathan Leko finally got an effort on goal but was denied by the outstretched leg of MacGillivray, who then pulled off an excellent save to keep out Sullay Kaikai’s curling effort.
John Brayford and Mark Helm both fired straight at goalkeeper Jamie Cumming as the hosts sought the breakthrough.
In a tense second half Zac Ashworth made a crucial block to deny Leko as time ticked away for the Dons, before substitute Dawson Devoy saw his shot thump the post.
The visitors threw everything at Burton late on and came close in a goalmouth scramble near the end.
However, they could not find a way through a resilient back line and drop to League Two.
Cambridge beat Forest Green 2-0 on the final day of the League One season to complete a remarkable escape from relegation.
The U’s were seven points from safety going into the final nine games of the campaign but their win over Rovers, coupled with MK Dons and Morecambe dropping points, means Mark Bonner’s side stay up.
They had fallen into the drop zone on January 14 and climbed out of it only on the final day thanks to goals from Harrison Dunk and Sam Smith.
Both goals came in the first half, with Cambridge taking the lead after 25 minutes when Conor McGrandles’ corner was scrambled home by Dunk, and it was 2-0 eight minutes before half-time.
Jack Lankester helped the ball on to Smith, who fired a superb volley in off the far post.
Rock-bottom Forest Green did threaten, with Dominic Bernard heading against the bar from close range, and Lankester almost headed a corner into his own net soon after the break.
The remainder of the game petered out into a non-event, with attentions turned to the outcome of scores elsewhere as Cambridge secured a third season in the third tier.
Freddie Ladapo scored Ipswich’s 100th goal in League One this season but a double from ex-Tractor Boys youngster Jack Marriott saw Fleetwood hold the already-promoted visitors to a 2-2 draw.
The result coupled with Plymouth’s victory at Port Vale ensured the West Country side denied their Suffolk rivals for the third-tier title.
Ladapo’s 21st goal of the campaign gave Kieran McKenna’s men a 50th-minute lead with a stunning right-foot shot which went in via the crossbar.
Ipswich, who finished the season unbeaten in 19 league games, had previously only conceded twice in 15 games.
But Marriott, having began a much-travelled career at Portman Road, breached the mean defence twice in 12 minutes to put the undefeated record in danger.
Ipswich trailed for just four minutes until substitute Marcus Harness rifled in an equaliser to beat the club’s total of 100 achieved in 1960/61 under Sir Alf Ramsey.
But a frustrating afternoon saw Town reduced to 10 men for the final four minutes of stoppage time with substitute Harry Clarke booked twice in seven minutes late on.
Derby missed out on a League One play-off place following a crushing 1-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.
Captain Curtis Davies’ 41st-minute red card that led to Michael Smith’s match-winning penalty meant the Rams were dislodged from sixth place by Peterborough, who beat Barnsley 2-0.
The Owls, who were already guaranteed to finish third in the table and will meet Posh in the play-offs, ended the regular season unbeaten in 23 home games – the club’s longest sequence since January 1981.
Following a cagey start to the contest David McGoldrick’s fierce 20-yard drive was turned behind by Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson.
The hosts did not threaten until midway through the first period and, even then, skipper Barry Bannan’s ambitious long-range effort sailed over former Hillsborough team-mate Joe Wildsmith’s crossbar.
But Derby went on to press the self-destruct button on the stroke of half-time. Davies under-hit a back pass to Wildsmith and the keeper could only clear as far as Johnson, who Davies fouled to give away a penalty and earn a red card.
Smith confidently went on to claim his 20th goal of the season by sending Wildsmith the wrong way from the spot.
A frantic end to the first half might have seen McGoldrick level when his deft chip was clawed over the crossbar by Dawson.
Will Vaulks went close to doubling the lead in the second half when he smashed an edge-of-the-box strike against the bar before his follow-up was blocked by Craig Forsyth.
Bannan also fired narrowly wide from distance but the 10 men went close to equalising just before the hour mark when Max Bird’s scuffed shot beat Dawson but was kicked off the line by Aden Flint.
McGoldrick warmed Dawson’s hands from long range late on, but Paul Warne’s men could not force the equaliser that would have secured a top-six spot.
Goals from Jonson Clarke-Harris and Jack Taylor helped Peterborough clinch the final play-off position with a 2-0 Sky Bet League One win at Barnsley.
Darren Ferguson’s side will face Sheffield Wednesday in the play-off semi-finals, with Barnsley facing Bolton.
Posh took the lead inside six minutes at Oakwell through main man Clarke-Harris. Ephron Mason-Clark’s ball from the left found the club’s top scorer, who fired home from inside the box.
James Norwood thought he had equalised in the 15th minute but the linesman had raised his flag for offside.
The Reds came close again on the hour mark when Luca Connell’s corner was headed narrowly wide by Liam Kitching.
Peterborough’s Taylor had a brace of chances five minutes later to double his side’s lead but could not get the better of goalkeeper Harry Isted.
Visiting keeper Will Norris was called into action in the 69th minute when Josh Benson’s cross found the head of substitute Slobodan Tedic, whose effort was tipped around the post.
Peterborough doubled their lead in the 76th minute when Taylor headed home from Harrison Burrows’ corner – and when news of Derby’s loss at Hillsborough was confirmed, the away fans at Oakwell could look forward to play-off action.
Alfie May’s late strike earned Cheltenham a 2-2 home draw against Charlton in an entertaining season finale.
The Addicks led through Scott Fraser’s first-half strike, but Aidan Keena levelled for the Robins early in the second period.
Charlton re-took the lead when substitute Jack Payne struck with seven minutes left, but May’s 20th League One goal of the season sealed a point for the Robins.
Cheltenham started well, but Charlton created the better openings in the first half.
Mandela Egbo was denied by Luke Southwood’s near-post save and Tyreece Campbell headed wide from a good position.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi then saw an effort blocked by Caleb Taylor as Charlton continued to press, and they eventually found the breakthrough in the 34th minute.
Campbell’s strike was deflected into the path of Fraser, who rounded Southwood and tapped into the empty net.
Rak-Sakyi nearly made it 2-0 before half-time, but Southwood managed to smother at his feet.
Cheltenham levelled four minutes into the second half when May’s drive was parried by Ashley Maynard-Brewer and Keena followed up to score.
Southwood saved well from Campbell and Fraser as Charlton looked to reclaim the lead before Ryan Broom and May went close for Cheltenham.
Payne capitalised on a defensive error to make it 2-1 to the visitors in the 83rd minute, but May buried a left-footed shot inside the bottom-right corner to deny Charlton a first win over Cheltenham.
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