Wrexham suffered a damaging 3-1 defeat to Championship winners Coventry on Sunday, dealing a blow to the Welsh side’s hopes of securing a playoff spot.

Phil Parkinson’s team fell behind in the 19th minute at the CBS Arena, when Brandon Thomas-Asante finished from close range. However, Wrexham responded quickly, with Oliver Rathbone levelling the score just six minutes later with a composed effort.

The game remained finely balanced for much of the contest, but Coventry took control late on. Victor Torp restored the hosts’ lead with a free-kick in the 80th minute, before Ephron Mason-Clark added a third in stoppage time to wrap up their 27th victory in 45 league matches this season.

Despite the loss, Wrexham remain sixth in the table, holding onto the final playoff position. They are level on points with seventh-placed Hull, who were beaten by Charlton on Saturday, with Wrexham maintaining a narrow goal difference advantage of +4 compared to Hull’s +3.

Derby, now eighth after their win over QPR on Saturday, remain firmly in the playoff race, sitting just one point behind both Wrexham and Hull.

The final round of fixtures will be decisive. Wrexham host Middlesbrough on May 2, while Hull face Norwich at home, and Derby take on Sheffield United at Pride Park.

Millwall, Middlesbrough and Southampton have already secured their playoff places.

Coventry’s promotion was confirmed last week, and they sealed the Championship title in style with a commanding win over Portsmouth on Tuesday.

Managed by Frank Lampard, Coventry will return to the Premier League next season, ending a 25-year absence from the top flight.

Ipswich currently occupy the second automatic promotion spot, sitting above Millwall on goal difference.

Kieran McKenna’s side are on course for an immediate return to the Premier League and will secure promotion if they collect four points from their final two matches against Southampton and QPR.