SOCCER:A LATE equaliser from Hull's on-loan forward David Amoo and an even later winner for Norwich spoiled QPR's promotion party at Loftus Road but there was relegation misery for Preston.

A 1-1 draw for Rangers looked like being enough to secure a return to the Premier League – pending a Football Association ruling regarding the third-party ownership of Alejandro Faurlin – for the first time since 1996 as Norwich were being held 2-2 by Derby.

Winger Wayne Routledge had given the hosts a ninth-minute lead but Amoo, on loan from Liverpool, struck in the 81st minute. However, Simeon Jackson completed his hat-trick in the sixth minute of added time to beat Derby 3-2 and delay celebrations for Neil Warnock’s table-toppers.

But there was despair at the other end of the table as Preston were relegated to League One as a result of Crystal Palace’s win at home to Leeds. Neil Danns’ second-minute goal at Selhurst Park, coupled with Preston’s defeat by the same margin after Peter Whittingham’s early strike for Cardiff, sent Phil Brown’s side down. The goal for Danns – who was sent off late on for a second bookable offence – also made it likely the Eagles will be safe for another season as both Sheffield United and Scunthorpe are six points adrift, both with inferior goal difference, with two matches remaining.

The Blades appear to at least be going down fighting as they battled back from 2-0 down to beat Reading 3-2. Noel Hunt and Hal Robson-Kanu had put the hosts into a comfortable lead but Darius Henderson scored twice – his first goals of the season – either side of Lee Williamson’s strike to give them victory.

Scunthorpe’s 2-1 defeat at home to Millwall also all-but confirmed their relegation as Michael O’Connor’s late penalty was academic after two from John Marquis either side of half-time.

Swansea secured their play-off place with a 4-1 win over Ipswich as Fabio Borini scored twice with other goals from Luke Moore and Scott Sinclair, Colin Healy replying for the visitors.

Nottingham Forest kept themselves in the final play-off spot having thrown away a 2-0 lead at Bristol City. Kris Boyd scored twice before half-time, the second a penalty, but Marvin Elliott and Jon Stead equalised for the hosts, only for Luke Chambers to rescue Forest with a 72nd-minute winner to keep them above Millwall.

Doncaster secured an important point after their 2-2 South Yorkshire derby draw at Barnsley.