A Closer Look At The Play-Offs

Although the first match of the Championship play-offs has now been played, there is still a long way to go before we know, either from a fan or football betting point of view, which teams will end the season with a promotion.

Wigan vs. QPR

The battle between Wigan and QPR in the Championship should be really close. Only one place separated fourth placed QPR from Wigan in fifth at the end of the season, and – in Charlie Austin and Grant Holt respectively – they both have strikers to make a difference. QPR are in better form for this game, at 7.45 pm on the 9^th of May at the DW Stadium, and have also had slightly the better of the previous clashes, winning narrowly at home and drawing at Wigan. That may seem to point to them, but QPR have also been inconsistent this season and a likely outcome would be Wigan to win the home leg, but QPR to win through narrowly in the second leg at Loftus Road on 12^th of May at 7.45 pm.

Prediction: Narrow QPR win 1-2

Current Odds: Wigan (11/5), Draw (23/10), QPR (11/4)* - Full Odds List

Football Championship Play-Off Schedule

May 8^th – Brighton 1 – 2 Derby

May 9^th – Wigan vs QPR

May 11^th – Derby vs Brighton

May 12^th – QPR vs Wigan

May 24^th – Final (TBD)

Peterborough vs. Leyton Orient

The next play-off scheduled is the 12.15 pm League On clash between sixth placed Peterborough and third placed Leyton Orient on the 10^th of May, at London Road Stadium. Peterborough are the form team here, having enjoyed a fine April, whereas Orient rather tailed off following a great start to the season. However, Orient won 3-1 at Posh during that period and with strikers Kevin Lisbie and David Mooney having 39 goals between them, they will be confident of breaching Peterborough’s leaky defence (58 goals conceded) again. The latter will need all their play-off experience to win through, but Orient have the firepower to blast their way to a win, especially as the second leg at Brisbane Road on the 13^th at 7.45 pm.

Prediction: Narrow Leyton Orient win 0-1

Current Odds: Peterborough (13/10), Draw (5/2), Leyton Orient (12/5)* - Full Odds List

Football League 1 Play-Off Schedule

May 10^th – Peterborough United vs Leyton Orient

May 10^th – Preston North End vs Rotherham United

May 13^th – Leyton Orient vs Peterborough United

May 15^th – Rotherham United vs Preston North End

*Odds taken from Bookmakers.co.uk are correct as of 09/05/2014