With the league season now complete, many teams and supporters can sit back and enjoy the summer. For four teams, the season is far from over. Sunderland, Portsmouth, Charlton Athletic and Doncaster Rovers are set to do battle in this weekend’s League One play-off semi-finals.
Expect excitement, drama, tension and for those involved, along with a huge amount of stress. These four teams just missed out on automatic promotion in a race that lasted until the final week of the season. Can they pick themselves up and achieve their goal of promotion?
League One Play-Off Semi-Final Preview
Sunderland v Portsmouth: 11th May 7:30 pm
Both clubs fell short in the closing stages of the season due to several disappointing results. Sunderland finished their season in fifth place on 85 points with Portsmouth finishing one place higher on 88 points. The sides have already met three times this season: twice in the league and also in the EFL Trophy Final. Sunderland are yet to defeat Portsmouth.
Any thoughts of disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion must be put to one side. This is a huge game for both sides. The Black Cats will be desperate to take a lead into the second leg, while Pompey will want to avoid defeat ahead of their home game.
Sunderland boss Jack Ross is hoping to have Aiden McGeady, Lee Cattermole, George Honeyman and Lewis Morgan available for selection. The quartet missed the last game of the season through injury. McGeady missed the last two games in an attempt to recover from a broken foot. Luke O’Nien and Bryan Oviedo are expected to return to the starting lineup.
Portsmouth are expected to welcome back top scorer Jamal Lowe. Pompey’s 17-goal top scorer was rested for the final league game of the season. Boss Kenny Jackett believed the player needed a rest having looked jaded in recent games. Jackett will be hoping his star winger is refreshed and ready to go at the Stadium of Light.
Doncaster v Charlton: 12th May 12:15pm
Charlton capitalised on the stuttering form of Sunderland and Portsmouth to finish the season in third place. Their prize was a play-off game against Doncaster Rovers and the often crucial second leg at home. The Addicks finished on 88 points while Rovers finished on 73 points.
Rovers left it until the final game of the season to secure a League One play-off place. Their victory over Coventry City meant they clinched sixth place by just one point. Doncaster will be seen as the underdogs for the play-offs but in these situations, final league position can mean very little.
Rovers manager Grant McCann will have the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from. Long term absentees Ian Lawlor and Joe Wright are both back in full training. The team that secured their play-off place all came through the game with no problems.
Charlton Athletic are the form team heading into the play-offs. The Addicks have taken 25 points from their last ten matches. Should they stay in this form, they could be a very difficult team to beat. Manager Lee Bowyer has several injury concerns. Igor Vetokele missed their game but could feature. Jonny Williams is suffering with an ankle injury and is in a race to be fit. Krystian Bielik, Lyle Taylor and Joe Aribo are also fitness concerns.
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