League One Playoff Final Doncaster v Leeds

[fuzz]

For anyone interested, the Leeds-Doncaster playoff final will now be shown on Fox3 on delayed telecast from 2.30a.m. CST on Monday morning. Although this is yet to be officially confirmed, I think the programming depatment has been bombarded by Leeds fans requesting the game be shown. Hopefully they televise the League two final aswell.

[MightyEagles]

Leeds should have been top of the League, but lost 15 points because of money problems I believe.

[heater31]

Leeds should have been top of the League, but lost 15 points because of money problems I believe.

they would have finished about second I think without their penalty and it was for unfairly exploiting a loop hole in the bankruptcy rules of English Football????

[johntheclaret]

What about Hull v Bristol City and Rochdale v Stockport. are they on as well over there. Hull v Bristol City today and Stockport v Rochdale is on bank holiday Monday.

I think Stockport will win, but what an achievement if Dale get up. I can't ever recall them playing above 4th division.

[johntheclaret]

1970 - 1973 plpayed in the old 3rd division. But that's it. the rest of their history has been spent in the basement.

[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

[Pidge]

Go Leeds!!! I hope they win.

[johntheclaret]

Sorry michael. i'm afraid it's Doncaster Rovers after a 1- 0 win.

Geez that's exciting, something to look forward to at Turf Moor next year. Donny's with their 50 away fans

[Pidge]

Oh Well. There is always next season i guess. Where was Tore Andre Flo? We could have done with some quality like him on the field.

Next season Leicester V Leeds in League 1. Who would have thought that a few years ago. That will draw a crowd bigger than most championship matches

[Texas Rattlesnake]

What about Hull v Bristol City and Rochdale v Stockport. are they on as well over there. Hull v Bristol City today and Stockport v Rochdale is on bank holiday Monday.

I think Stockport will win, but what an achievement if Dale get up. I can't ever recall them playing above 4th division.

Stockport have been promoted - won 3-2