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The EFL League One Playoffs: A Preview

It is the time of year where four clubs enter the playoffs for a chance to reach the next level of English football. This year, Blackpool, Sunderland, Lincoln and Oxford will face off for a place in the Championship next season. I will take an objective look at each club and try to make predictions on how the playoffs will go.

Fixtures:

Oxford v Blackpool
Lincoln v Sunderland

Oxford are arguably the form team in this year's playoffs - they have won six of their last seven games, and snatched the final playoff place from Portsmouth on the final day of the season. They are the third highest scorers in the league, outscored only by the two promoted teams. Top scorer Matty Taylor has 18 league goals this season, with on-loan QPR winger Olamide Shodipo joining him in double figures. Their defence will be a concern; their total of 56 goals conceded is the highest of the playoff teams, and no team above Gillingham in 10th have conceded more.

Blackpool finished third, with 80 points, and have won their last 4 league games without conceding. This run included an impressive away win at fellow playoff contenders Sunderland. Their defensive record is excellent, conceding a league-low 37 goals, and keeper Chris Maxwell has kept a league high 21 clean sheets. They also have a lethal striker in Jerry Yates, who has scored 20 league goals this season. However, his goal return represents a third of Blackpool's entire league tally; no other player has reached double figures, and 60 goals is the third-lowest total in the top half of the league.

Lincoln were top of the league for almost two months this season; from Boxing Day until 23rd February. Unfortunately for them, they did not maintain this standard and couldn't force their way back into the automatic promotion spots. Three players reached double figures for the Imps this season (top scorer was Jorge Grant - 15) and Alex Palmer has kept 19 clean sheets in the league - second only to Blackpool's Chris Maxwell. They lost 4-0 at home to next opponents Sunderland in December, but gained a credible point at the Stadium of Light in March.

Sunderland will be hoping for a better playoff outing than they had two seasons ago; the last minute goal from Charlton's Patrick Bauer was a dagger to their hopes of returning to the Championship at the first attempt. Their Wembley hoodoo was well known throughout the footballing world - they hadn't won at the national stadium since the famous 1973 FA Cup final against Leeds. However, they finally ended that streak earlier on this year, with victory in the EFL Trophy final against Tranmere. They have a potent weapon in Charlie Wyke; 25 league goals scored, second only to the division's top scorer (Jonson Clarke-Harris - 31). No other Sunderland player has got more than 7. They were in with a strong chance of automatic promotion until a bad run of form in April allowed the top two to pull away.

Verdict:

Oxford v Blackpool could be billed as an irresistible force going up against an immovable object. 6 wins in 7, against 4 wins in a row without conceding. Both sides are more than capable of winning this tie; I think that Oxford will prevail, but they must take advantage of their home leg.

Oxford 2-0 Blackpool
Blackpool 2-1 Oxford

If Lincoln can take a lead into the second leg with Sunderland, they will have every chance of reaching Wembley. However, I don't think Sunderland will be denied - in particular Charlie Wyke, who could relish the occasion.

Lincoln 1-1 Sunderland
Sunderland 2-0 Lincoln

The final will not be easy to call, whoever reaches it. I think Sunderland may right the wrong they suffered two years ago, but they will face stiff opposition to do it.

Oxford 2-2 Sunderland (Sunderland win on penalties)

Good luck to all teams involved, and thank you for reading.

Comments

  1. Unknown17 May 2021 at 07:11

    You forgot to mention lincolns bad form was through international call ups covid and injury now for first time in 6 months we have full squad available

    ReplyDelete

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