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Loan watch: Play-offs confirmed for Norton-Cuffy

Norton-Cuffy makes play-offs

It was the final weekend of the season in the EFL, which saw five of our loanees involved in the heart of the action as relegation, promotion, and play-off spots were decided. 

Brooke Norton-Cuffy played the entire game as Coventry City booked their place in the Championship play-offs with a draw on the final day of the season. All The Sky Blues had to do was get a point and that's exactly what they did against a Middlesbrough side who they will now face next weekend to fight for a spot in the Wembley final. 

The final day of the season brought the curtain down on many of our players' temporary switches as they said farewell to their clubs. Having been named Birmingham City's Player of the Season last week, Auston Trusty played his 65 minutes for Birmingham City's 2-1 loss to promoted Sheffield United, which was his 44th league game from a possible 46.

Charlie Patino completed the whole game for already-relegated Blackpool in their 1-0 win over a Norwich City side that didn't feature Marquinhos. That was Charlie's 37th appearance for the Tangerines, during which he scored three times. Also heading to League One are Wigan Athletic, ending Omar Rekik and Miguel Azeez's time at the Latics. Omar featured for 88 minutes of their goalless draw against Rotherham United, which was his 11th appearance since his January arrival.

In League One, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji played 65 minutes in Accrington Stanley's win in what was his 11th game for the club, whose relegation fate had virtually been decided prior to the weekend. They drop down to League Two, where Tom Smith made his sixth and final appearance for Colchester United in their 2-0 loss against Mansfield Town, 

Meanwhile, there's still plenty to play for for many of our other loanees, In the Premier League, Maitland-Niles' Southampton saw their hopes of remaining in the Premier League take a huge blow as they lost 4-3 to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest. Ainsley played the full 90 minutes at the City Ground with the result meaning the Saints could be relegated this weekend.

Over to France, Nuno Tavares played the full game as Marseille saw their title ambitions severely dented as they lost 2-1 to Lens, who leapfrogged them into second spot and leaves l'OM eight points behind leaders PSG with just four games remaining. Over at Reims, Folarin Balogun helped them return to winning ways after a four-game wait with a 1-0 win against Lille.  

Elsewhere in Europe, goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was involved in Sturm Graz's 2-1 win against Austria Vienna to stay within three points of leaders Red Bull Salzburg. Ovie Ejeheri was denied a clean sheet for SJK Seinajoki after a last-minute goal in their 2-1 win against FC Inter, but the three points keep them in second place in the Finnish Veikkausliiga. 

It was a worse night for another of our shot-stoppers though as Alex Runarsson only played 35 minutes for Alanyaspor before an injury ended his night early on Saturday, while there was also a scare for Pablo Mari who was also forced off after six minutes in Monza's 1-1 draw with Torino, but a hip issue is likely to only keep him out for a couple of weeks. 

Nikolaj Moller also played the full 90 of Den Bosch's 0-0 draw at Utrecht U21s, and for the first time in a month, Ryan Alebiosu made an appearance for Kilmarnock as he came off the bench during their 2-0 defeat to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership. With four games to go, Killie occupy a relegation play-off place, but are just one point from safety.

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