The Football League play-offs are one of the most exciting periods of the season – and provide some of the highest levels of drama in all of the English football calendar.
Once the regular EFL season ends, the teams in the play-offs are confirmed and teams play two-legged semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals will then head to Wembley for the finals over three days:
- Saturday, May 27, 2023: Championship final (4.45pm)
- Sunday, May 28, 2023: League Two final (1.30pm)
- Monday, May 29, 2023: League One final (3pm)
So, how have the play-offs gone so far? Read on to find out!
Championship play-offs – the story so far…
There was plenty of drama on the last day of the season, as Sunderland won 3-0 against Preston North End to confirm themselves as the fourth and final team in the play-offs.
Tony Mowbray’s side went on to host Luton Town in the first leg of the first semi-final. The Hatters took the lead through Elijah Adebayo, before Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo scored a scorching equaliser for Sunderland in an entertaining opening 45 minutes.
STOP SCROLLING AND WATCH THIS FROM AMAD DIALLO! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/itCOHhFtjh
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 13, 2023
The Black Cats looked to put one foot in the final as defender Trai Hume scored the winner at the Stadium of Light. So, will Sunderland prevail? We’ll find out on Tuesday, May 16 in the second leg at Kenilworth Road.
Coventry hosted Middlesbrough in the second semi-final on Sunday lunchtime – and that game was nowhere near as entertaining as the other and ended in a 0-0 draw.
It’s all to play for at the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday evening, where the Championship play-off final line-up will be confirmed.
The League One play-offs – the story so far…
In possibly one of the biggest shocks in League One play-off history, favourites for promotion Sheffield Wednesday were thumped 4-0 by outsiders Peterborough. Posh only managed to sneak into the play-offs on the final day of the season, making for an utterly shocking result.
Wednesday had a strong season in League One and finished two points off the automatic spots.
Jack Taylor, Joe Ward, Kwame Poku and Jonson Clarke-Harris were on the score sheet as Darren Ferguson’s side swept past the odds-on favourites for the play-offs.
Peterborough are running riot and what a finish from Kwame Poku! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/mHe6z0rip8
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 12, 2023
In the other fixture, Bolton and Barnsley played out a closely-contested affair in a 1-1 draw at the University of Bolton Stadium. Nick Cadden opened the scoring for the Tykes, meanwhile the Trotters equalised just four minutes later through Dion Charles.
The second legs will get underway later this week, on Thursday and Friday.
The League Two play-offs – the story so far…
As for the fourth tier, games were played on Saturday and Sunday.
In the first of the two, Salford City – who finished just inside the play-offs in seventh place – dispatched favourites Stockport County in an impressive 1-0 win as Matt Smith scored the winner for The Ammies.
The second semi-final finished in similar fashion, as Bradford City beat Carlisle United 1-0, with the only goal of the game coming on the 18th minute as Jamie Walker scored with a cool finish.
Valley Parade goes wild! 🔊
A brilliant finish from Jamie Walker! đź’Ą pic.twitter.com/p8GyBWkOw4
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 14, 2023
Both second legs in League Two will take place next Saturday (May 20).
