Get Newsletter
Notification products, updates
×
×
Notification products, updates
May 7, 2024
The decisive moment has arrived in lower-league football as fans eagerly anticipate the English Football League playoffs across the Championship, League One, and League Two. While Arsenal and Manchester City continue to battle In one of the most exciting Premier League championship contests in recent memory, the lower tiers are preparing for their own high-stakes post-season drama, where promotion dreams will be made or broken.
The regular Championship season concluded this past weekend, with Leicester City clinching the title by a narrow one-point margin over second-placed Ipswich Town. Enzo Maresca’s side secured an immediate return to the Premier League alongside Ipswich, who last played in the top flight at the start of the 21st century.
One final promotion spot remains, and four teams—ranked third to sixth in the Championship—will now battle in the playoffs for a chance to join Leicester and Ipswich in the Premier League. The road to Wembley begins with the semi-final first legs on May 12, with Norwich City facing Leeds United in the first tie, followed by West Bromwich Albion taking on Southampton later that day.
The semi-final second legs will follow shortly after, with matches scheduled for May 16 and 17 before the winners meet at Wembley Stadium for the final on Sunday, May 26.
As we shift focus to League One, Portsmouth and Derby County have secured automatic promotion to the Championship after stellar regular seasons. One more team—Bolton Wanderers, Peterborough United, Oxford United, or Barnsley—will join them in England’s second tier through the playoffs.
Bolton narrowly missed out on automatic promotion, finishing five points behind second place, but took a significant step towards the final with a 3-1 victory over sixth-placed Barnsley in their semi-final first leg. Meanwhile, Oxford United edged past Peterborough in their first leg, positioning themselves just one win away from a potential showdown with Bolton.
The top three teams secured automatic promotion to England’s third tier in League Two. Stockport County finished as champions, while Wrexham claimed second place in their first Football League season in 15 years, with Mansfield Town taking third.
However, playoff scheduling has hit a snag. The first semi-final between Crawley Town and Milton Keynes Dons, initially set for Monday, May 6, has been rescheduled because of a soggy pitch. As a result, the second leg at MK Dons will also be delayed, creating scheduling complications ahead of the planned playoff final on May 19.
The victor of this tie-break will face the victor of the other semi-final between Doncaster Rovers and Crewe Alexandra. This semi-final remains on schedule, with Doncaster hosting the first leg at the Eco-Power Stadium on Monday, followed by the second leg at Crewe’s Gresty Road on Friday.
Show your favorite team some love! Visit our site to let them know you’re cheering them on.
Football News Today | La Liga 2 | Saudi Pro League | Major League Soccer | J League | EFL Championship | Brazilian Serie A
Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
Stay Tuned With Updates