Reading signed off their all-conquering season in style after making it a record 106 points for the campaign following a 2-1 home victory against QPR. Dave Kitson fired the Royals in front five minutes before the break, but veteran striker Paul Furlong levelled for the Hoops on 72 minutes before Reading full back Graeme Murty grabbed the winner with a penalty six minutes from time.
Delighted Reading boss Steve Coppell said: "You spend your life in football working for moments like this. It's true we fell short of achieving 100 goals for the season but that's not really going to spoil my break when I'm sitting on a beach and sinking a few beers. What I will reflect on is collecting the trophy on the pitch in front of the home fans. That really topped the season off."
Skipper Murty scored the winner with his first goal of the season. His spot kick earned the Royals their 31st win of a record-breaking campaign and Murty said: "You dream of days like this. It's the pinnacle for a footballer to lift a trophy and pick up a medal in front of your home crowd. When I joined Reading from York the Madejski Stadium wasn't even finished and the only medal I had won was the Pontin's Northern League reserve section. This is just a million miles away.
"People keep saying I couldn't have written this script myself. It's in the realms of fantasy and you couldn't make it up. I've known for a month that I was going to take the penalties but I had to pull rank to get this one off a few of the lads."
Watford's goalless draw against Hull at Vicarage Road guaranteed the Hornets pole position in the play-offs and Adrian Boothroyd's men will now face Crystal Palace in the end-of-season knockout after the Eagles were beaten 1-0 by Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
However, Boothroyd insisted Iain Dowie's men would start out as favourites to reach Cardiff, despite Watford's superior league finish. "Crystal Palace are definitely the favourites, they have a top manager, a big talented squad, and have beaten us twice this season. I'm not too worried about our results against earlier in the season because we have improved since then," he said.
The promoted Blades ended the season on a high thanks to a late goal from skipper Chris Morgan and after the match manager Neil Warnock tipped Palace to come out on top in the play-offs.
"It's going to be close but I think Palace have got the best team. They would be my selection if they've got all their players fit, but all the sides have got plusses and you could toss a coin between all four of them. But I do like Palace, they are a smashing club and look strong at the moment," said Warnock.
Preston finished fourth after goals from Brian Stock and Brett Ormerod gave the Lilywhites a 2-0 victory against play-off opponents Leeds at Deepdale. The result gives Billy Davies' side home advantage for the second leg of their semi final on May 8, with the first leg to be played at Elland Road three days earlier.
Davies said: "We are delighted to finish with three points here, with the clean sheet record for the season and with six defeats out of 46. I really can't explain how it feels to be in the play-offs again. To have that ticket again, and look at some of the teams who have not made it, makes me feel very proud."
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell added: "I put out a team to be competitive and it was, so I'm pleased with what I got out of it. The occasion (the play-offs) will have to be dealt with in a separate way. Training becomes a lot more specific so I'm pleased this is out of the way."
Elsewhere, Stoke boss Johan Boskamp confirmed he would leaving the Britannia Stadium this summer despite his team's 5-1 victory at relegated Brighton, with Adam Rooney bagging a hat-trick for the visitors.
Boskamp said: "I'm now available to talk to other clubs and will probably end up in Holland or Belgium. Now it's time to speak to other teams – it's over for me at Stoke. I'm not sad, but disappointed to be leaving but football goes on and I think Stoke has a great future."
Wolves pipped Norwich for seventh spot after goals from Denes Rosa and Mark Kennedy saw Glenn Hoddle's side beat the Canaries 2-1 at Molineux, while Micky Evans marked his final game for Plymouth with the winner in the Pilgrims' 2-1 victory against Ipswich at Home Park.
Coventry gave their fans a happy send-off with a 3-1 win against Cardiff at the Ricoh Arena, while at Turf Moor, Kyle Lafferty earned Burnley a share of the spoils with the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Luton.
First half goals from Ricardo Fuller and Andrew Surman gave Southampton a 2-0 win against Leicester and it was the same scoreline at Pride Park, where Sheffield Wednesday made it four games unbeaten thanks to strikes from Marcus Tudgay and Leon Best.
Finally, Crewe ended a miserable campaign on a positive note after a 4-2 victory against fellow relegated side Millwall at Gresty Road. Eddie Johnson, Nicky Maynard, Luke Varney and Steve Jones were the men on target for the Railwaymen and manager Dario Gradi admitted he is already started planning for a swift return to the Championship in 12 months' time.
"We need beefing up. I'm hoping some of these players will improve and do better than they did here. There's a lot of work to be done. Maybe just three players will make the difference, but it's a question of whether we can get them," he said.
