Milton Keynes Dons 4-4 Sutton United: U's relegated from League Two after draw
Sutton United were relegated from League Two as they drew 4-4 with MK Dons on the final day of the season.
The U's needed to beat Dons and hope Colchester lost to Crewe to have any chance of avoiding relegation and were seemingly heading down with a whimper as they trailed 2-0 at half-time through goals from Jack Payne and Alex Gilbey.
The U's rallied in the second half as Stephen Duke-McKenna pulled one back before Emre Tezgel restored the Dons' two-goal advantage.
Charlie Lakin fired into the top corner to get Sutton back into the game, and Duke-McKenna netted his second shortly after Ellis Harrison scored the hosts' fourth.
Harry Smith grabbed an added time equaliser for Sutton but it was never going to be enough to save the London club, as they return to the National League after three seasons in the English Football League.
MK Dons will face Crawley in the play-off semi-finals having gone into the game already being assured of a fourth-place finish.
Sutton's Football League adventure ends in Milton Keynes
The U's were promoted to the EFL for the first time in their history in 2020-21 under Matt Gray.
He led the club to eighth in their first season in League Two, one point off the play-off places, and to the EFL Trophy final, where they lost 4-2 to Rotherham after extra time at Wembley.
They then finished 14th last season but struggled this term, with Gray sacked in December 2023 after an 8-0 thrashing at Stockport left the south London club bottom of the table.
Steve Morison was hired as his replacement in January and revived the club's season, winning four games in a row in March and April to lift the club out of the relegation zone for the first time since August.
However, three draws from their final four games was not enough to save Sutton and the U's will join already relegated Forest Green Rovers in the National League next season.
MK Dons boss Mike Williamson speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio:
"It was one of those games where you don't really know what to expect, it was a long shot for them [to stay up] relying on other results but we knew they were going to come with that professionalism and belief [that they could do it].
"We're going into a very tough semi-final against Crawley, who play good football, and it's going to be an exciting challenge."
Sutton boss Steve Morison told BBC Radio London:
"I couldn't be prouder of all of the players, we've left some points out there since I've come in which is disappointing as I've always felt like we could do it [stay up].
"We can use today's performance as ammo for next season. I'm not going anywhere, why would I?
"I love coming to work, love this group of players and the people who work here.
"It's a really disappointing day for the club but what I think we've shown is there are some really good players in that dressing room and we've got a good chance of doing something special next year."
