The Championship Play-Offs always offer unprecedented drama. Late goals, controversial decisions and Derby always bottling it, you name it, the play-offs has it. Last year's winners were Fulham, beating Aston Villa 1-0 at Wembley (shame about their Premier League season) and Villa are in this season's play-offs again, along with West Brom, Leeds United and Derby County. Read below for a preview of the matches and see who I think will progress to the final.
ASTON VILLA vs WEST BROM
The first semi-final offers us a West Midlands derby! It is often said that the most in form team, regardless of position, normally wins promotion. If that is the case, Aston Villa will be promoted. Villa were unbeaten in their last 13 games before losing to champions Norwich City last time out. West Brom lost 3-1 out to Derby in their last game but if they had taken their chances earlier in the match, West Brom may have won the game and moved up to 3rd. The head-to-head over the season saw West Brom win 4-2, but that was before Villa had gained any form. Jack Grealish will have a big say in the tie and will surely be playing Premier League football, regardless of whether Villa get promoted or not.
VERDICT - Aston Villa
DERBY COUNTY vs LEEDS UNITED
Derby secured their play-off position by beating West Brom 3-1 but Leeds continued to falter as they lost to already relegated Ipswich 3-2. The energy and intensity that Bielsa orders his teams to play with is now having a great effect on his players. Despite insisting they are not tired, I think we all know that the Leeds players are. Derby have been involved in 3 of the last 5 play-offs, never being promoted. The one slight change between those other campaigns is that Derby have normally been near the top of the table and slowly fell as the season progressed but this year, Derby just snuck into the play-offs. The head-to-head over the season suggests Leeds should easily win, running out 6-1 winners on aggregate. Times have changed and Leeds have just lost to the team bottom of the table are have not won in four games. Derby are unbeaten in six and will also be looking for revenge as this is a rematch of the infamous 'Spy Gate'.
VERDICT - Derby County
Those are my predictions. Villa look to reach back-to-back play-off finals will Derby hope to finally gain promotion back to the Premier League after 11 years away. But as I said at the start, this is the Championship play-offs, so nothing is certain.
ASTON VILLA vs WEST BROM
The first semi-final offers us a West Midlands derby! It is often said that the most in form team, regardless of position, normally wins promotion. If that is the case, Aston Villa will be promoted. Villa were unbeaten in their last 13 games before losing to champions Norwich City last time out. West Brom lost 3-1 out to Derby in their last game but if they had taken their chances earlier in the match, West Brom may have won the game and moved up to 3rd. The head-to-head over the season saw West Brom win 4-2, but that was before Villa had gained any form. Jack Grealish will have a big say in the tie and will surely be playing Premier League football, regardless of whether Villa get promoted or not.
VERDICT - Aston Villa
DERBY COUNTY vs LEEDS UNITED
Derby secured their play-off position by beating West Brom 3-1 but Leeds continued to falter as they lost to already relegated Ipswich 3-2. The energy and intensity that Bielsa orders his teams to play with is now having a great effect on his players. Despite insisting they are not tired, I think we all know that the Leeds players are. Derby have been involved in 3 of the last 5 play-offs, never being promoted. The one slight change between those other campaigns is that Derby have normally been near the top of the table and slowly fell as the season progressed but this year, Derby just snuck into the play-offs. The head-to-head over the season suggests Leeds should easily win, running out 6-1 winners on aggregate. Times have changed and Leeds have just lost to the team bottom of the table are have not won in four games. Derby are unbeaten in six and will also be looking for revenge as this is a rematch of the infamous 'Spy Gate'.
VERDICT - Derby County
Those are my predictions. Villa look to reach back-to-back play-off finals will Derby hope to finally gain promotion back to the Premier League after 11 years away. But as I said at the start, this is the Championship play-offs, so nothing is certain.
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