Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl said his side will keep working to close the gap after they claimed a vital 2-1 win over Bristol City at Hillsborough.
Two Ike Ugbo goals either side of a Jason Knight header gave the Owls another massively important three-point haul in their quest to stay in the Sky Bet Championship next season, despite Di’Shon Bernard being sent off in the second half.
Rohl said: “It was a very good performance from the team today. Bristol City are a strong team with a good manager but we focused more on ourselves in preparation for the game.
“Ike is an impact player. He has been really good for us since he joined; he is scoring goals and helping the team. He has worked really hard and we trust him.
“In the second half we had some big chances to finish the game but we didn’t quite get the final part right. We are creating a lot more chances.
“I think we are doing so much better compared to how we have played in the past. We are always in games and we know what we have to do.
“Bristol came more into the game and it became difficult for us after the red card but the boys dug in and defended well. We are getting really good at breaking the rhythm of our opponents.
“For me, this is a big step forward. It’s crunch time – we have 12 games to go and we will keep working every day; this is our job. Every match is an opportunity to close the gap.
“We are happy with the win but we have to keep on going. It’s another big game for us against Rotherham next Saturday.”
Bristol City boss Liam Manning said his side will have some regrets following the defeat.
Manning said: “I thought in the first 10 minutes we started well. We then faced some adversity and pressure and that’s when we have to step up and be counted.
“We engaged higher in the second half and I thought we were better. It was more an issue of quality rather than behaviour, which we lacked in the first half.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve lacked quality in the final third. That’s now two games in a row we’ve not been at the level we need to be.
“Before we even go into the tactical stuff we weren’t doing the basics right. The first goal can’t happen in the way it did.
“If you don’t dominate in the duels, you’re always going to be up against it. We’ve got to look at ourselves across the board.
“We have to drive a real high standard and we have to have that edge to us. The only way to improve is by learning and this group has a willingness to do so.
“We got control of the game in the second half but we showed a lack of care and detail in our execution. We didn’t step up as a collective and we have to use this as an experience to be more resilient.
“We have to be a little bit better than that overall. We’ll get back in on Monday and look at how we can correct it.”
Howe taking plenty of positives despite frustrating Newcastle campaign
Eddie Howe was keen to look at the positives after Newcastle United secured seventh place in the Premier League on Sunday.
Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes were among the goalscorers as Newcastle won 4-2 at Brentford to finish their Premier League campaign.
The victory ensured a seventh-place finish, and a Manchester City victory over Manchester United in next Saturday's FA Cup final will confirm Newcastle's place in next season's Europa Conference League.
While this season did not quite live up to the heroics of last term, which saw the Magpies finish in the Champions League spots, Howe still feels it has been a successful campaign.
"It summed up our season," Howe told BBC Sport. "We weren't totally secure at the back, but great credit to the players. They've done their job - now we wait and see.
"We anticipated after losing against Manchester United that our control of the [European] situation had gone. It's never a nice situation, but whatever happens, happens.
"We have issues to solve defensively. If we can do that, next season could be another season of really strong performances. This was a season that could have been better, but a good season overall.
"We're a really united club. I think we're still moving forward, so there's a lot to be positive about."
Postecoglou will not settle until Tottenham hit his 'lofty ambitions'
Ange Postecoglou warned Tottenham he will not settle until the club hits the "lofty ambitions" targeted in his mind.
Spurs were 3-0 victors over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday, ending their Premier League season with a convincing win to finish fifth in the table.
Postecoglou voiced his frustrations after Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City ended their hopes of Champions League football next term.
The Spurs head coach was far more relaxed after his side performed well in Sheffield, with Dejan Kulusevski twice on target, along with a goal for Pedro Porro against the relegated Blades.
Yet Postecoglou insisted his ambitions remain high as the Australian attempts to take Tottenham to the next level.
"Contrary to my general demeanour, I have loved every minute of it," former Celtic boss Postecoglou said of his first season in charge of Tottenham.
"It is a great challenge in the Premier League and taking over a big club that didn't have a great year last year. You understand it is not going to run smoothly, but I have enjoyed the whole season.
"I have got some lofty ambitions for the football club and until we reach that point I am not going to be smiling too much.
"As I said, all any manager wants is maximum effort and I have got that from everyone involved. I have enjoyed it and looking forward to pushing on from here."
Asked to summarise his first campaign in England's top league, Postecoglou continued: "It's been good, it's been eventful, it's had a bit of everything.
"I am obviously not delighted with the way we finished the season but in fairness to the players and staff we have been in the top five all season, in a year where there was a fair bit of upheaval.
"We finished eighth last year, player turnover, different football, different way of training, it is not easy to maintain a level when you are trying to do that.
"Even in our tough periods this year we have still been competitive for the most part."
Kulusevski scored his seventh and eighth Premier League goals of the season (36 outings), more than he managed in his first two league campaigns with Tottenham combined (seven across 48 games).
Only in the 2019-20 season with Parma has the Sweden winger scored more times in a league season (10 in Serie A), and Postecoglou hailed Kulusevski's returns.
He added: "I thought Deki was good. He's worked awfully hard this year without a lot of reward in the front third.
"We thought playing him through middle today would help us with his mobility and ability to run in behind. He did well.
"He always works hard but it's that sort of final third where we need him to get rewards and he got them today so he did well."
Southampton 3-1 West Brom (3-1 agg): Saints set up play-off final with Leeds United
Southampton saw off West Brom 3-1 at St Mary's on Friday to set up a Championship play-off final showdown with Leeds United.
Leeds thumped Norwich City 4-0 at Elland Road 24 hours earlier to book their place at Wembley, where Southampton now await on May 26.
The first leg between the Saints and West Brom finished goalless - just like the other semi-final - but the home side's quality told in the end.
Russell Martin's side dominated the first-half possession, with David Brooks going closest to scoring with a shot that hit the outside of the post.
Southampton made the breakthrough via a powerful Will Smallbone finish four minutes into the second half after Gray Diangana lost possession.
Darnell Furlong had a shot helped over by Alex McCarthy, while David Brooks - who assisted the opener - had a strong penalty appeal rejected.
Southampton remained in control, though, and Adam Armstrong scored a second with a shot through Furlong's legs and past Alex Palmer.
Armstrong's second goal arrived from the penalty spot in the 86th minute after Tom Fellows fouled Ryan Manning in the box, rendering Cedric Kipre's late header a mere consolation.
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