The dates and times for the highly anticipated EFL play-offs have now been confirmed, along with the schedule for the final day of the season.
Sides in the Championship will kick off at the earlier time of 12:30 on Saturday, 2nd May, while League One and League Two remain at 15:00.
All games in the respective divisions will get underway at the same time.
What Could The Final Day Have In Store?
The first match in the second tier immediately screams out as eye-catching, with a potential relegation shootout between Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City. Four points separate the sides at current, with Rovers on the right side of the dreaded dotted line. Elsewhere, the battle for second looks likely to go down to the final day. Ipswich Town host Queens Park Rangers, while Middlesbrough travel to a Wrexham side who may require points in their quest for a play-off place.
The top two sides in League One, Lincoln City and Cardiff City, will hope to have long secured promotion to the Championship by the final day. There are four clashes between teams in the bottom five and play-off chasers: Exeter City vs Bradford City, Northampton Town vs Plymouth Argyle, Reading vs Blackpool and Wycombe Wanderers vs Rotherham United.
Barrow against Newport County is the fixture that immediately jumps out in League Two, with both sides hoping to remain in the EFL. Crewe Alexandra versus Cambridge United could affect the play-off and promotion race, as could Swindon Town vs Chesterfield. Out-of-form Crawley Town and Tranmere Rovers have been dragged into the relegation battle, facing promotion hopefuls Salford City and Grimsby Town, respectively.
What About The Play-Offs?
This season will be the last of the play-offs in their current format, as the Championship prepares for the expanded six-team format next year. The second tier kicks things off, with a Friday night and Saturday lunchtime slot for the sides finishing in 6th and 5th. It’s then a quick turnaround, with the return legs scheduled for the following Monday and Tuesday evening.
League One sees the traditional Saturday 3 pm slot on 9th May for 6th vs 3rd, while the team in 5th position will host an evening game on the same day. There is slightly more rest, though, for that reverse tie, playing on Thursday, 14th May, while the team finishing highest in the play-offs will play 24 hours earlier.
Both sets of League Two ties take place on the same day. It’s Sunday, 10th, for the first legs, while all four teams battle it out on Friday, 15th, in the second legs. All dates remain subject to confirmation when the regular season reaches its conclusion. As previously announced, the play-off finals take place over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May, starting with the Championship and working down the divisions.
