English Playoff Finals CCC, League 1, League 2

[johntheclaret]

Bristol City v Hull
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF FINAL
Venue: Wembley Date: Saturday, 24 May Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Sport website plus full commentary on BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Somerset and BBC Radio Humberside.
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Bristol City manager Gary Johnson has a fully-fit squad to choose from for the Championship play-off final against Hull and could field an unchanged side.
Midfielder Lee Johnson has recovered from a heel injury, but is preparing himself to feature as a substitute.
Hull also have no injury worries going into the match at Wembley, with Dean Marney fit again after a knee injury.
However, manager Phil Brown could also keep faith with the XI that saw his side beat Watford in the semi-final.

BIG-MATCH FACTS
Bristol City and Hull City contest a £60million winner-takes-all showdown for a place in the Premier League, in the richest club game in world football.
This is a tale of two cities, neither of which have ever hosted Premier League football.
It's 28 years since Bristol City were last one of the elite; Hull have never played at the highest level in their 104-year history. Hull is thought to be the largest city in Europe not to have hosted top-flight football.
The East Yorkshire club have also never played at Wembley; the west country concern were last there eight years ago.
Bristol City qualified for this final by beating Crystal Palace 4-2 on aggregate in the semi-final. Spectacular efforts from Lee Trundle and Michael McIndoe in extra time at Ashton Gate, settled the issue.
Home-town boy Nick Barmby scored in both legs of the semi-final, as Hull ended Watford's season with a 6-1 aggregate victory.

The Table
Hull ended the regular campaign in third place on 75 points, four points outside the top two - matching their highest finish of 1909-10. It was a dramatic improvement on last season, when they concluded the campaign one place and seven points above the drop-zone. Hull were in danger of going out of business in the early 80's when the receivers were brought in. In 2003-04 they were competing in the fourth level, but under Peter Taylor they experienced back-to-back automatic promotions to League One and then the Championship.
Bristol City ended the normal season in fourth on 74 points, five points outside the top two. They were one of five clubs to lead the Championship table during the season, and were top as recently as the first week in April. City were last promoted to the top-flight in 1976 and spent four seasons there. Their highest placing in those four years was 13th in 1978-79. But in 1906-07, the Robins achieved the club best of league runners-up.

BRISTOL CITY
Current form
Won the last three.
Ended the regular league season with a 3-0 home win over Preston, following a sequence of one victory in 10 games.

Play-Off history
This is Bristol City's first play-off appearance at this level and fifth in all. They're yet to gain promotion through them. They failed to reach the second tier in 1988. Joe Jordan's side finished level on aggregate with Walsall in the two-legged final, but lost the replay 4-0. Again they tried to gain promotion to the second level in 1997, but John Ward's team were defeated by Brentford in the semi-finals. It was the same story in 2003 for Danny Wilson's outfit, when Cardiff ended their interest. A year later, Wilson's side went one stage further, defeating Hartlepool in the semi-finals before succumbing to Brighton 1-0 at the Millennium Stadium.

The Manager
This is Gary Johnson's first experience of the play-offs as a manager. Five years ago he was in non-league management with Yeovil - now he has opportunity to take a club into the Premier League.
After winning promotion as League One runners-up, Johnson guided Bristol City into the Championship's top six where they stayed all season, and only fell out of the automatic promotion spots in the last month, when just four points from a possible 15 were garnered.

Play-Off fact
The club finishing fourth has only been promoted to the top-flight three times in the last 19 years of play-off competition.

Wembley appearances
Bristol City lost 1-2 to Stoke in the final of the Auto Windscreens Shield on their last appearance at Wembley Stadium on 16 April 2000. It was their third Wembley final in the competition, or one of its' predecessors. They beat Bolton 3-0 on 24 May 1986 to win the Freight Rover Trophy. The following year they again reached the final and drew 1-1 with Mansfield after extra time, before losing 5-4 on penalties.
The Robins have played in one FA Cup final, but their 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in 1909 was played at Crystal Palace.

HULL CITY
Current form
Won the last two, and eight of the last 11.
Missed out on an automatic promotion place with two defeats in the last three games, having shot up from 14th on 8 December to second on 15 April.

Play-Off history
The Tigers have only once featured in the play-offs. They lost to Leyton Orient over two legs in the semi-finals of the Third Division competition in 2001.

The Manager
This semi-final is Phil Brown's first experience of the Football League play-offs as a manager, although he has been involved as a coach and a player.

Play-Off fact
The club finishing third in the second tier has been the most successful in the play-offs in the last 19 years, winning promotion on six occasions, including the last two (Watford and Derby).

HEAD to HEAD (All competitions)

These clubs have met over 70 times since 1905. Bristol City have had the better of the exchanges of late. They are unbeaten in nine (all league games), winning seven and drawing two since the Tigers' 2-1 victory at Boothferry Park on New Years Day 1985 in the old Third Division.
This season, these clubs drew 0-0 at the KC Stadium on 27 November, despite City playing the whole of the second half with 10 men, after defender Jamie McAllister was sent off for two bookable offences. The Robins won 2-1 at Ashton Gate on 1 March with a goal in each half from Dele Adebola and Jamie McCombe. Hull's score was an own goal from Liam Fontaine in first half stoppage time.

[johntheclaret]

Doncaster v Leeds
LEAGUE ONE PLAY-OFF FINAL
Venue: Wembley Date: Sunday, 25 May Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Sport website
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Doncaster Rovers hope midfielder Richie Wellens will be passed fit for the League One play-off final. Wellens has been struggling with a double hernia, while defender Gareth Roberts has a hamstring strain and could miss the game at Wembley.
Leeds United manager Gary McAllister must choose between Alan Sheehan and Bradley Johnson at left-back. Sheehan is available again after serving a suspension but Johnson has impressed in his absence.

BIG-MATCH FACTS
Leeds and Doncaster meet in the first ever all-Yorkshire play-off final, with a place in the Championship awaiting the winners.
Leeds are returning to Wembley for the first time in 12 years; Doncaster have never been involved in a major final there.
Leeds, who were Champions League semi-finalists seven years ago, have not been promoted since Howard Wilkinson's side climbed into the top-flight in 1990. Victory here will ensure their first ever experience of third tier football was only a one-season affair.
Rovers are hoping to become the first club to rise from the Conference to the second tier of English football in five years.
Leeds are one of a handful of clubs to have lost the home leg of their play-off semi-final and still reach the final. They were trailing 0-2 to Carlisle at Elland Road before Dougie Freedman scored in the 96th minute. The tie was then turned around at Brunton Park with a brace from 19 year old Johnny Howson.
The first leg of Doncaster's semi-final with Southend was goalless at Roots Hall, but Rovers ran riot at the Keepmoat Stadium, winning 5-1, with a hat-trick from James Coppinger.

The Table
Doncaster finished in third place with 80 points, two points outside the top two.
Leeds ended the regular season in fifth place with 76 points, six points below the automatic promotion spots, despite winning as many matches as champions Swansea (27). Had they been given back the 15 points deducted at the start of the season, the Elland Road club would have been runners-up, one point behind Swansea, and 11 ahead of Doncaster. They won four more matches and scored seven more goals than Rovers.

LEEDS UNITED
Current form
Won seven of the last nine.
Won five of six away from home, including the last three.

Play-Off history
Participated in the first ever play-offs in 1987, when Billy Bremner's side eventually lost to Charlton in a replay of the two-legged final, which meant the Addicks maintained their top-flight status. There was disappointment again in the season before last, after Kevin Blackwell's team defeated Preston in the Championship semi-final, and then surprisingly lost 0-3 to Watford, at the Millennium Stadium.

The Manager
This is the first time Gary McAllister has taken a side into the Football League play-offs. The managerial team of McAllister, former Carlisle boss Neil McDonald and ex-Republic of Ireland coach Steve Staunton have lost only four of 19 matches in charge of the Elland Road outfit since 29 January.
As a player, McAllister won the 1991-92 league championship with Leeds, and captained the side that lost the League Cup final in 1996, on their last visit to Wembley.

Play-Off fact
The team finishing fifth in the third tier has gone on to reach the play-off final in seven of the last 19 years, and of those just four have won it (Huddersfield in 1995, Stoke in 2002, Sheffield Wednesday in 2005 and Barnsley in 2006).

Wembley appearances
Not played at Wembley since losing 3-0 to Aston Villa in the final of the Coca-Cola Cup on 24 March 1996. It was their second appearance in a League Cup final. In 1968, they beat Arsenal 1-0 at the Theatre of Legends. There have also been four appearances in the FA Cup final. They were not victorious in three (1965, 1970 and 1973), but in 1972 Leeds beat Arsenal 1-0, through Allan Clarke's 53rd minute winner. It was the game in which Mick Jones dislocated his elbow and was taken off on a stretcher after collecting his medal from the Queen.


DONCASTER ROVERS
Current form
Won four of the last 12.
Not won away from home in six; drawn three and lost three since winning 0-1 against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium on 4 March.

Play-Off history
Doncaster are hoping to replicate their achievement five years ago, when they last won a play-off final. On that occasion, Dave Penney's side beat Dagenham 3-2 in the Conference final at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke on 10 May 2003.

The Manager
This has been Sean O'Driscoll's first full season in charge of Doncaster, having left Bournemouth in favour of the South Yorkshire club in September 2006. In six years with the Cherries, O'Driscoll won the League Two play-offs in 2002-03.

Play-Off fact
The club finishing third in the third tier has won promotion via the play-offs in six of the last 19 years.


HEAD to HEAD (All competitions)
Doncaster has won only three of their 16 previous meetings with Leeds, which have all been league matches. The defeat was 0-1 this season on 19 January, when Brian Stock scored a stunning free-kick to earn Doncaster all three points in their first league match at Elland Road in 52 years. Leeds won 0-1 in the reverse fixture on 1 April, when the game was again decided by a superb free-kick, scored by Alan Sheehan.
United have won five of the last six meetings with Rovers since 1954

[johntheclaret]

Stockport v Rochdale
LEAGUE TWO PLAY-OFF FINAL
Venue: Wembley Date: Monday, 26 May Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Sport website
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Team News
Stockport defender Matty McNeil could be handed a surprise recall for the League Two play-off final after six months out with a knee injury.
Gareth Owen can wear a mask to protect a broken cheekbone and Dominic Blizzard has recovered from a calf injury, but Michael Raynes (hamstring) misses out.

Rochdale midfielder David Perkins will miss the game through suspension.
His team are also without striker Lee Thorpe, who has a leg injury and recently broke his arm.

BIG-MATCH FACTS
Stockport County and Rochdale contest the last of this season's Football League Play-offs in a north-west derby to determine which club will be playing League One football next season.
County have made four unsuccessful visits to Wembley previously; Rochdale are gracing the hallowed turf for the first time.
Stockport are aiming to return to the third tier, after an absence of three seasons. Danny Bergara was in charge when the Cheshire club were last promoted from the basement in 1991. He also guided them to those four unproductive trips to the twin towers in the three following seasons; twice in the play-off finals and twice in the final of the Autoglass Trophy; all by a single goal margin. How fitting it would be if Stockport could gain promotion, ten months after the sad passing of their former Uruguayan-born boss.
Rochdale have only gained promotion once in their history - that being 39 years ago when current manager Keith Hill was born. They have completed 34 successive seasons at this level, longer than any other club. It would be equally fitting for them to go up in their centenary season.
Stockport drew the first leg of their semi-final 1-1, away to Wycombe, and sealed their place in the final with an early goal from Liam Dickinson in the second leg at Edgeley Park. Rochdale lost 2-1 at Darlington, and won 2-1 at Spotland; a 78th minute effort from David Perkins took them into extra time, when Perkins was sent off. A penalty shoot-out ensued. The first eight kicks were all converted, until the effort from Darlington's Jason Kennedy was saved by Tommy Lee. Ben Muirhead then slotted home to send 'Dale on their march to the arch.

The Table
Stockport ended the regular campaign in fourth, on 82 points, six points behind third placed Hereford, who were promoted automatically. It's their highest points total since the 1996-97 campaign when they went up automatically from the third tier on 82 points.
Rochdale finished in fifth with a club record total of 80 points, eight points outside the automatic promotion places.

Stockpot County
Current form
Unbeaten in four; won two and drawn two since losing 2-1, away to Barnet on 26 April.
Not won away from home since a 0-1 triumph over Peterborough at London Road on 12 April; drawn two and lost one of the three subsequent fixtures away from Edgeley Park.

Play-Off history
Never been promoted through the play-offs, but made the final in two of the four occasions in which they've qualified. Danny Bergara was in charge for all four participations; the semi-finals of the Fourth Division play-offs in 1990, the 2-1 defeat to Peterborough in the Third Division final at Wembley in 1992, the Second Division semi-finals a year later, and for the 2-1 loss to Burnley in the Second Division final at Wembley on 29 May 1994.

The Manager
Under Jim Gannon, Stockport last season set a new Football League record of nine successive wins without conceding a single goal. They also failed to qualify for the play-offs on goal difference, missing out in the last four minutes of that campaign.
Gannon had a distinguished playing career with Stockport. The 39 year old Southwark-born, former Dundalk centre-half, made 479 appearances over 10-years at Edgeley Park, scoring 65 goals. He would dearly love to steer his side to victory in his first attempt as a manager, having been a member of the side of each of the four occasions they previous lost at Wembley.

Play-Off fact
History is on Stockport's side having finished immediately below the automatic promotion spots. The highest placed of the four play-off participants in the fourth tier has gone on to win the final and gain promotion in 12 of the last 17 years.


ROCHDALE
Current form
Won one of four.
Were in the lower half of the table in early December, but finished the regular season on a 10-match unbeaten run of seven wins and three draws. Their 77 League Two goals was the highest total outside the top two.

Play-Off history
Only been involved in the play-offs once previously. Rushden defeated Steve Parkin's team in the 2001-02 semi-finals.

The Manager
Keith Hill took over in a caretaker capacity at Spotland four days before Christmas 2006, and was installed permanently on 3 January 2007.
As a player with Blackburn, Hill missed out on an appearance in a play-off final. David May was preferred by manager Kenny Dalglish for the 1-0 Wembley win in 1992 that ensured Rovers played in the inaugural Premier League season.

Play-Off fact
The club finishing fifth at this level have only gone on to gain promotion via the play-offs twice since 1989.

HEAD to HEAD (All competitions)

Stockport are vying for a 50th league and cup victory over Rochdale.

County have prevailed in five of the last six meetings, including the league double this season. They won 1-2 at Spotland on 6 November, and the 2-0 on home soil on 11 March. All four of their goals were scored by Liam Dickinson.

Rochdale's only victory over their north-west rivals since October 2005, was 2-7 at Edgeley Park on 24 March 2007, when Glenn Murray and Ben Muirhead helped themselves to a brace a piece.

[Dirko]

Sen BLOODY sational preview there John...

C'mon Hull (the Tigers ), Stockport & Doncaster !!

[johntheclaret]

Just thought it might help SJABC.

[smithy]

Stockpot County........LOL !

[Dirko]

Sen BLOODY sational preview there John...

C'mon Hull (the Tigers ), Stockport & Doncaster !!

All Right !! Should've put some $$$ down