This week we have the first legs of the Championship promotion playoffs with four sides in with a chance of playing in the top flight of English football next season. The first we will look at is from Ashton Gate where Bristol City welcome Sheffield Utd for the first part of their battle. The two sides met here back on Fireworks night, Liam Manning’s side took the lead from the penalty spot on 75 minutes thanks to substitute Anis Mehmeti in what was a tight game of football but the scoring didn’t end there.
Sheffield Utd youngster Ryan One came off the bench to get his side level in the 86th minute scoring with his head from very close range, the homeside went down to ten men in the 95th minute after Rob Dickie was given a straight red. The red signalled 10 minutes of added on time and in the 98th minute Sheffield Utd’s Harrison Burrows scored with his left foot to give his side the three points (1-2).
There were 22 pts between the two sides at the close of the regular season so will that show here. Liam Manning’s side really need to put their three match winless run behind them and take an advantage back to Bramall Lane next week. The visitors’ form dropped off towards the end of the season after they lost hope of an automatic promotion place but we can expect Chris Wilder to have his team in a different frame of mind here.
The best odds for this fixture can be found at credit card betting sites here: Bristol City 7/4, Sheffield Utd 19/10 and the Draw 2/1. Kick off Thursday 20.00pm Live On Sky Sports Main Event.
The other play off match is from the Coventry Building Society Arena where Coventry host Sunderland for the first part of their contest. The two sides played here only a few weeks ago with Frank Lampard’s side coming off much the better in a 3-0 victory thanks to a hattrick from top goal scorer Haji Wright who’s scored 12 goals this season in the Championship. Some will argue that Sunderland didn’t have much to play for after their play off place being more or less guaranteed before that fixture.
The homeside finished in 5th with seven points separating them from 4th place Sunderland, Lampard’s side needed that victory at home to Middlesbrough on the last day of the season (2-0) to give them that play off place.
Regis Le Bris’s side will come into the playoff on the back of five consecutive defeats in the league. The bad run started with a home loss against Swansea (0-1), followed by an away defeat against Bristol City (2-1), then a home loss against Blackburn (0-1), an away defeat at Oxford (2-0) and on the last day of the season a defeat at home to QPR (0-1). Their fans will be hoping for a different approach now these matches deciding whether they will be joining Leeds and Burnley in the Premiership next season.
The best odds for this fixture can be found at American betting sites for UK here: Coventry 13/10, Sunderland 5/2 and the draw 21/10. Kick off 20.00pm Friday Live on Sky Sports Main Event.
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