Good morning hoddlers -
Today marks the beginning of some very exciting football matches. Tottenham don’t play again until Monday, which means there is a lot of lower-league football to watch.
The Championship, League One and League Two all begin their playoffs this weekend, while the National League hosts its playoff final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Let’s take a quick look at all the action —
EFL Championship
(6) Hull vs (3) Millwall, 8 and 11 May: Either Hull City or Millwall will be playing at Wembley for a chance to gain promotion to the Premier League. That’s insane, especially if you thought Hull would be closer to the relegation zone this season. Millwall enter the playoffs with some pretty good form (3-2-0) and a good disparity in goal-scorers. They have been so solid that it’s difficult to see how they might stumble, especially with Alex Neil in charge. Here’s the strange thing, though: Hull were 4-0-2 against the other three playoff teams during the regular season.
Fitzie’s prediction: Millwall advance
(5) Middlesbrough vs (4) Southampton, 9 and 12 May: Southampton come into the playoffs in roaring form, while Boro have maintained their top-six status even after Rob Edwards dumped them for Wolves.
Fitzie’s prediction: Southampton advance
League One:
(6) Stevenage vs (3) Stockport, 9 and 13 May: Wouldn’t it be fun to see Stevenage in the Championship next season? I don’t know much about either club to make any sort of prediction but I’m goingto do it anyway.
Fitzie’s prediction: Stockport advance
(5) Bolton vs (4) Bradford City, 9 and 14 May: Just as much as I want to see Stevenage gain promotion to the next level, I want that more for Bradford City, which I feel a strangely placed admiration for. What concerns me is their inconsistency this season,which doesn’t give me a tonne of faith that they can pull enough strong results together.
Fitzie’s prediction: Bolton advance
League Two:
(7) Grimsby Town vs (4) Salford City, 10 and 15 May: It feels like Salford should be a stronger league than they are in right now. Perhaps that’s because of all the investment talk these last few years. They barely missed out on the automatics and enter this as the favourites.
Fitzie’s prediction: Salford advance
(6) Chesterfield vs (5) Notts County, 10 and 15 May: Going off the league table alone, Chesterfield have the advantage.
Fitzie’s prediction: Chesterfield advance
National League:
(2) Rochdale vs (4) Boreham Wood, 10 May: The playoff final to join League football next season. It’s cruel that Rochdale didn’t get the one automatic spot, and they held their nerve against Scunthorpe in the semifinal. Wembley is a different beast. Can they hold their nerve?
Fitzie’s prediction: Rochdale win promotion
Fitzie’s track of the day: Twin Stars of Thence, by Sun Ra
And now for your links:
The Athletic ($$): “The Roberto De Zerbi tweaks that have given Spurs a lifeline in their relegation battle”
The Guardian: “De Zerbi dismisses claim that Spurs’ victory was down to weakened Villa side”
PA via ESPN: “Middlesbrough complain over unauthorized Southampton filming”
BBC: “From wild card to underdog - who will win Championship play-offs?”
The Telegraph: “Real Madrid in chaos after Valverde suffers ‘brain injury’ during training-ground row”