8 EFL Championship games that left fans in tears | OneFootball

8 of the most tear-jerking matches in recent Championship history.

It's heading towards that time of year when the stakes are high in the EFL, as the season nears its dramatic conclusion. So we ranked eight of the most emotional matches in Championship history.

'It's only a game' is a phrase football fans are often consoled with when they feel down after a result which didn't go in their team's favour, and whilst this may be true on paper, the beautiful game evokes all different kinds of emotions in the heat of the moment.

Every year, fans endure pure ecstasy and agony whilst following their respective club up and down the country. It's all part and parcel of the game, sticking with your side through thick and thin, and relishing the good times when they come.

However, there are often tear-jerking moments that come with the dramatic nature of promotion and relegation. There are plenty of these moments in the Championship alone, which have created some truly unforgettable matches over the years.

With that in mind, Football League World decided to list eight Championship matches that would've almost certainly made all in attendance shed a tear.

Sheffield United 1-2 Sunderland

24 May 2025

Kicking off the list with one of the more recent entries, last season's play-off final between Sheffield United and Sunderland certainly would've seen some tears shed by both sets of supporters.

The Blades took the lead through Tyreese Campbell in the 25th minute, and had what could've been a decisive second goal from Harrison Burrows ruled out by VAR.

This allowed Sunderland a way back into the game, and after Eliezer Mayenda's equaliser 15 minutes from time, Black Cats academy graduate Tommy Watson stepped up with a stunning 95th-minute winner in his final appearance for the club.

The nature of the late goal was a sickener for Blades fans, but it was pure Mackem madness at Wembley, with a homegrown hero sending them back to the Premier League after eight long years away.

Undoubtedly, there would've been tears at both ends of Wembley Stadium that day, with Blades fans enduring a last-minute gut punch, whilst the Sunderland contingency finally got to lift the lid on eight years worth of pain and frustration.

Watford 3-1 Leicester City (3-2 agg)

12th May 2013

One of the most iconic moments in the EFL, Watford's last-gasp winner in the 2013 play-off semi-final second leg is still unlike anything we've seen since, as the Hornets snatched a spot at Wembley from the jaws of defeat.

Their opponents, Leicester City, had the chance to wrap up the tie in stoppage time and book their place in the play-off final from the spot, but Anthony Knockaert's penalty and follow-up was denied by a brilliant double save from Watford keeper Manuel Almunia.

The Bedfordshire side then broke away at the other end, with Jonathan Hogg teeing up Troy Deeney for a stunning last-gasp winner, which sent Vicarage Road wild, and produced one of the most memorable pieces of commentary in broadcast history.

Tears of joy would've been flooding in the home end, as Watford had just completed one of the greatest play-off triumphs ever, whilst it was total agony from a Leicester perspective, as they were one kick of the football away from a spot at Wembley.

Crystal Palace 3-2 Peterborough United

04 May 2013

This was one of the cruelest relegations possible, as Peterborough United were sent down to League One by a last-minute goal, with the highest points total of any relegated side in second tier history.

The Posh led twice at Selhurst Park, knowing a win would keep them in the second tier, but the Eagles responded both times. However, Barnsley's 2-2 draw with Huddersfield Town meant a draw would be enough to keep Darren Ferguson's side afloat.

Unfortunately, lady luck wasn't on Peterborough's side. Palace would snatch an 89th-minute winner via a Mile Jedinak header, which would condemn the Posh to relegation with 54 points, a record total that still stands to this day.

From the jubilation of leading twice to the utter heartbreak of conceding in the last minute to seal your fate, you can imagine there would've been lots of tears shed in the Selhurst Park away end that day.

Bristol City 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday

24th January 2026

The most recent entry on our list came this year, as the curtain came down on Sheffield Wednesday legend Barry Bannan's 10-year stint at the Yorkshire club, breaking the hearts of all Wednesdayites either present at the ground or watching on from home.

Whilst the match itself was pretty straightforward, the iconic midfielder had been rumoured to be leaving the Owls after the clash with Bristol City, and was given a standing ovation by the traveling fans when he was taken off, as well as after the final whistle.

Days later, Bannan joined Millwall, bringing to an end one of the most iconic partnerships in modern EFL history.

Through all the tough times Wednesday fans had been through under Dejphon Chansiri's stewardship, their skipper had always been one constant beam of positivity and optimism in a bleak time for the football club.

This was a heartbreaking moment for all Sheffield Wednesday supporters, tipifying the misery and pain that they've endured in the last few years. There wouldn't have been a dry eye in that away end at Ashton Gate.

Leeds United 2-4 Derby County (3-4 agg)

15 May 2019

The tensions between Derby County and Leeds United were already high back in 2019 following the infamous 'Spygate' saga, so it felt like the stars had aligned when the two clubs were pit against each other in the play-off semi-finals that year.

Marcelo Bielsa's Whites won the first leg at Pride Park 1-0, and with the backing of a packed-out Elland Road, many expected Frank Lampard's young Rams to bow to the pressure in the second leg.

What followed was one of the greatest play-off comebacks ever. Leeds doubled their advantage, before super-sub Jack Marriott gave his side a way back into the game. Derby then turned the tie on it's head, with goals from Harry Wilson and Mason Mount.

Stuart Dallas levelled the tie on aggregate for United, but a red card for defender Gaetano Berardi threw a spanner in the works for Leeds, and Marriott popped up again with what would be the winner for the Derbyshire-based side.

Rams supporters were in disbelief, as against the odds, their young side had overcome Leeds in their own home. As for the hosts, they had to endure a 16th-consecutive year outside the Premier League, which would've been a tear-jerking prospect for some.

Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday (1-3 agg)

16th May 2016

A second inclusion on our list for Sheffield Wednesday, but this time, they were on the right side of history. This particular match was a tear-jerker for Brighton fans, who had just dealt with missing out on automatic promotion on goal difference.

The Seagulls were pipped by Middlesbrough to second place, whose goal difference was two better than theirs. Both sides finished on an outstanding 89 points, but it was Chris Hughton's side who were condemned to contesting the play-offs.

Unfortunately for them, their stunning season came crashing down in the semi-finals, after they were beaten 2-0 at Hillsborough by Wednesday, and then held to a 1-1 draw at the AMEX Stadium, bringing a magnificent season to an underwhelming end.

For Brighton fans, this defeat to the Owls was gut-wrenching. To earn 89 points, a tally worthy of automatic promotion, miss out on goal difference, and then lose in the play-off semi-finals was a truly devastating outcome to an excellent campaign.

There certainly would've been some supporters reduced to tears when the final whistle blew in the second leg.

Derby County 0-1 Queens Park Rangers

24 May 2014

Derby have been involved in plenty of play-off drama over the years, but one that won't bring fond memories, unlike the Leeds game in 2019 is the 2014 Championship play-off final against Queens Park Rangers.

The Rams found themselves in the ascendancy, after Gary O'Neil was sent off for Harry Redknapp's R's just after the hour mark. QPR keeper Rob Green had to pull off several strong saves to keep his side in the contest.

The contest looked destined for extra time as the clock ticked over 90 minutes, but a late error from Derby defender Richard Keogh allowed R's talisman Bobby Zamora to slot home a stoppage time winner to send the London club back to the Premier League.

It was an agonising defeat for Derby supporters to swallow, as they failed to captialise on their numerical advantage, and cost themselves a place in the top flight with a costly error right at the death.

Stoke City 0-0 Leicester City

04 May 2008

The final entry on our list was one of contrasting emotions for both sets of fans, as one group saw their side clinch promotion to the Premier League after a 23-year wait, whilst the other watched their club fall into League One for the first time in their history.

The match in question was between Stoke City and Leicester, on the final day of the 2007/08 Championship season. The Foxes had to beat their promotion-chasing opponents, and hope results elsewhere went their way.

Unfortunately, neither of those things happened. A scoreless draw at the Bet365 Stadium coupled with a win for Southampton saw Leicester fall into the third tier for the first, and currently the only time in their existence.

It was a disheveling day for the travelling Foxes fans, who were both angry and upset following the full-time whistle. As for Stoke, the end of the 23-year wait to return to England's top flight would've likely brought some Potters fans to tears too.