This weekend the four teams who finished in the play-off positions in the Championship go head to head to play for the final place in the Premier League. The rewards on offer for the winner are phenomenal. Alongside the £30million+ they can expect to earn by playing in the Premier League they will also get the opportunity to face world class opposition week in, week out.
On Friday May 8 Preston face Sheffield United at Deepdale in what should prove to be a mouth watering affair. The Blades are unquestionably the better side in terms of quality and have plenty of players who have played at the top-level before but Preston are in a rich vein of form. The Lancashire side won their last three games in a row to nick the last play-off spot on the last day of the season. Preston also have the best home record in the league, winning 16 of their 23 fixtures at Deepdale this season. However, Sheffield United are no pushovers away from Bramall Lane and both sides will fancy their chances.
The second-leg between these two takes place on May 11 and should be just as exciting, if not more so. Preston don’t travel well and have only won five games on the road this season. However, they won two of those five in their last four games and even picked up a result at second-placed Birmingham City so they’re definitely the form side going into the play-offs. As I said earlier, I believe the Blades to be the better side but because of Preston’s current form I think they might just edge the tie and upset the football odds in the process.
The other two sides involved are Burnley and Reading, with the first leg taking place at Burnley’s Turf Moor stadium on May 9. For me Reading have the best squad in the Championship and looked a safe football bet for automatic promotion for the majority of the season. However, their form dipped and they missed out on a place in the top two and now have to contend with the lottery of the play-offs.
Under manager Owen Coyle Burnley have become a decent side and have played some slick attacking football this season. They went on impressive FA Cup and League Cup runs this season and knocked Chelsea out of the latter competition this season. As a player Coyle enjoyed play-off success with Bolton Wanderers and will know exactly what it takes to be successful in the play-offs. This tie is a little harder for me to call, but due to Reading’s form I’m going to side with Burnley and suggest we’ll see a North-West derby for the play-off final itself.
Whatever happens one thing is for certain, the play-offs always produce some thrilling ties and are well worth tuning in for. With the stakes so high we are bound to see some enthralling encounters as the players play for the right to ply their trade in the Premier League.
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