Play off Finals Preview

The EFL play-off finals will take place over the bank holiday weekend and there are some exciting clashes to look forward to.

Championship Play-Off Final 27.05.23 16:45

Coventry City v Luton Town (90 minutes)

To be promoted

Tip: Luton to win in extra time. 9/1 William Hill

Odds correct as of 22.05.23, 16:00. Odds subject to change

The Championship play off final will be an intriguing clash between two clubs who were established top flight teams in the 1980s, winning domestic cups in the process when 1987 FA Cup winners Coventry City meet 1988 League cup winners Luton Town.

Since then both Coventry and Luton have endured hard times, with the Sky Blues suffering relegation to League 2 and the Hatters dropping out of the football league into the fifth tier. Both, however, have undergone a resurgence in recent times and face off in a huge match which carries great importance in terms of status and finance.

Coventry enjoyed a 34 year stay in the top flight, however, were relegated from the Premier League in 2001 and have been in the lower divisions ever since. Luton were relegated in 1992, the year before England’s top division was rebranded as the Premier League.

Luton finished third in the regular season before beating Sunderland over two legs to reach the final. They lost manager Nathan Jones to Southampton in November; however, his replacement Rob Edwards has guided them to the brink of the Premier League.

Coventry endured a difficult start to the season, failing to win any of their first seven matches. Coventry were 15^th in the league as late as January 21, but Mark Robins’ side lost only two of their final 19 matches of the regular season to earn a fifth place finish.

They narrowly beat Middlesbrough, in their play-off semi-final. Gustavo Hamer scored the only goal of the tie in the second leg at the Riverside Stadium.

It is an extremely difficult game to call, and it will represent a fairytale ending for whichever side emerges victorious.

League 2 Play-Off Final 28.05.22 13.30

Carlisle United v Stockport County (90 minutes)

To be promoted

Carlisle United and Stockport County face-off at Wembley this weekend  in the League 2 play-off final in a bid to grab the final promotion place.

Carlisle beat Bradford City 3-2 on aggregate in the League Two play-off semi-finals to give themselves a chance to get back into League One for the first time since 2014.

Stockport are looking for back-to-back promotions. County spent 11 years out of the football league but returned via the National League play-offs last season. A penalty shootout win over Salford City saw them win their semi-final and they are now within touching distance of League 1.

Tip: Draw after 90 minutes, both teams to score. 10/3 Betfred

Odds correct as of 23.05.23, 13:00. Odds subject to change

League 1 Play-Off Final 29.05.23 15:00

 Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday (90 minutes)

To be promoted

After their astonishing comeback against Peterborough, Sheffield Wednesday will face fellow Yorkshire side Barnsley at Wembley for the prize of a place in the Championship.

Trailing 4-0 after the first leg, Wednesday beat the Posh 5-1 on the night and then won the tie on penalties. The Owls now go into the League One play-off final as favourites. Darren Moore’s side will hope to  to seal a return to the Championship after a two-year absence.

Their opponents, Barnsley, finished ten points behind Wednesday in League One. The Tykes defeated Bolton Wanderers 2-1 on aggregate and will be hoping to cause an upset.

Tip: Sheffield Wednesday to win/both teams to score. 7/2 Betfred

Odds correct as of 23.05.23, 13:00. Odds subject to change