That time of year has come up once again. The moment that fans dream of. Drama, entertainment, and excitement: it’s time for the EFL play-offs.<\/p>\n
Bournemouth<\/a> head into the EFL play-offs seeking an immediate return to the Premier League. Their semi-final opponents, Brentford<\/a>, hope to finally secure a place in the top flight.<\/p>\n The Bees have been well deserving of promotion this season and Thomas Frank will be eager to cross the line into the Premier League.<\/p>\n Barnsley<\/a> have been the surprise package of the season and there will likely be a lot of impartial fans cheering them to success in these Championship play-off games.<\/p>\n Despite fighting at the wrong end of the league last season, they\u2019ve done incredibly well to bag a play-off spot this time around.<\/p>\n Having been an early-season automatic promotion contender, Swansea City must navigate their way through the Play-Offs if they want to reach the Premier League.<\/p>\n The Welsh side has been a high-level Championship<\/a> team for a short while now and just needs something to finally take them to the next level and back to the Premier League.<\/p>\n Swansea City have done the double over Barnsley in the regular season; however, that could be all the motivation that the Tykes need to stop it from being third-time lucky. Add in the fact that Swansea\u2019s form has been patchy heading into the play-offs and Barnsley could go another step towards sealing a surprise promotion.<\/p>\n Bournemouth could seize upon Brentford’s poor fortune in previous play-off campaigns. The Bees have, however, won both of their meetings with Brentford this season and – with an attractive, attacking style of play – this could be enough to carry them through to Wembley.<\/p>\n AFC Bournemouth v Brentford – Monday, May 17, 6:00 pm KO<\/p>\n Barnsley v Swansea City – Monday, May 17, 8:15 pm KO<\/p>\n Brentford v AFC Bournemouth – Saturday, May 22, 12:30 pm KO<\/p>\n Swansea City v Barnsley – Saturday, May 22, 6:30 pm KO<\/p>\n Lincoln City<\/a>, Sunderland, Blackpool and Oxford United are to go head-to-head for a spot in the Championship next season.<\/p>\n Just one of the quartet will join Hull City and Peterborough United in the second tier, but plenty of the sides competing will think they have a genuine chance of winning promotion.<\/p>\n Sunderland<\/a> will be desperate to return to the Championship for the first time since 2018, but they take on a Lincoln City side who have, for much of the season, looked contenders for automatic promotion.<\/p>\n Having failed to achieve promotion last term, Oxford United<\/a> will be making a second consecutive attempt to depart League One. The U’s, however, take on a Blackpool<\/a> side looking to return to the Championship for the first time since 2015.<\/p>\n With Oxford United to be without boss Karl Robinson throughout the EFL play-offs due to a four-match touchline ban, the U’s may struggle for motivation from the touchline. The 40-year-old was dealt the ban by the FA following an altercation during the U’s clash with Sunderland in April.<\/p>\n Oxford were without Robinson for their 4-0 dismantling of Burton Albion, but the challenge of Blackpool – who are unbeaten in four league outings, managing not to concede as they did so – could prove one step too difficult.<\/p>\n Lincoln City have spent most of their season in the top two and so having had their hopes of automatic promotion dashed could have a lasting effect. The Imps managed just one win in ten as they concluded the season, putting the breaks firmly on their charge.<\/p>\n Sunderland, meanwhile, have found it difficult to pick up momentum but have a number of key players in their squad. Lee Johnson’s side should have enough within them to get past Michael Appleton’s Lincoln City.<\/p>\n Oxford United v Blackpool – Tuesday, May 18, 6:00 pm KO<\/p>\n Lincoln City v Sunderland – Wednesday, May 19, 6:00 pm KO<\/p>\n Blackpool v Oxford United – Friday, May 21, 7:45 pm KO<\/p>\n Sunderland v Lincoln City – Saturday, May 22, 3:30 pm KO<\/p>\n Cheltenham Town<\/a>, Cambridge United and Bolton Wanderers were the three sides to win automatic promotion to League One<\/a>: Newport County, Tranmere Rovers, Forest Green Rovers and Morecambe will be looking to join them.<\/p>\n Morecambe missed out on automatic promotion by just a single point, picking up 19 points from a possible 30. Derek Adams’ side will now face Tranmere Rovers in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n Forest Green Rovers – now managed by caretaker manager Jimmy Ball after Mark Cooper’s sacking – will take on Newport County. The Welsh side have, however, forfeited home advantage in the second leg, opting to host the first leg instead due to pre-booked renovations on their pitch.<\/p>\n The meeting between Tranmere Rovers and Morecambe is one hard for punters to call. The Shrimps could still be suffering the heartache of missing out on automatic promotion by just a point; Tranmere Rovers, meanwhile, enter the play-offs with a caretaker manager at the reins after Keith Hill left just over a week ago.<\/p>\n Rovers could, therefore, be buoyed by the cliched ‘new manager bounce’ and use the change to positive use in order to pass a deflated Morecambe side.<\/p>\n Forest Green Rovers have the advantage over Newport County heading into the play-offs (W1 D1), but Jamille Matt – who has scored 16 goals this season and netted in both fixtures – is now out injured.<\/p>\n County’s impressive end of season form (one defeat in nine games, including six clean sheets) – and Matt being absent – should give the Exiles enough to reach Wembley.<\/p>\n Newport County v Forest Green Rovers – Tuesday, May 18, 8:15 pm KO<\/p>\n Tranmere Rovers v Morecambe – Thursday, May 20, 6:00 pm KO<\/p>\n Morecambe v Tranmere Rovers – Sunday, May 23, 12.30 pm KO<\/p>\n Forest Green Rovers v Newport County – Sunday, May 23, 6:30 pm KO<\/p>\n Main Photo<\/p>\nPrediction<\/h4>\n
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First Legs<\/h5>\n
Second Legs<\/h5>\n
League One<\/h3>\n
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TV Schedule<\/h4>\n
First Legs<\/h5>\n
Second Legs<\/h5>\n
League Two.<\/h3>\n
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TV Schedule<\/h4>\n
First Legs<\/h5>\n
Second Legs<\/h5>\n