The Football League Play-Offs take place following the conclusion of the regular season. They are typically held at the end of May, with all three divisions holding crucial matches across a two-week period.
Promotion to the higher level is the ultimate goal of many Football League sides, and the play-offs provide an opportunity for each of the four sides who have just missed out on automatic promotion.
Each division will stage two-legged semi-final games, with each team getting the opportunity to stage a match at their home stadium. The aggregate winner will then progress to the Play-Off final, which will be staged at Wembley Stadium in West London.
If the scores are tied at the end of the second semi-final game, extra time will be played. If the two sides can still not be separated, penalty kicks will follow. It is an extremely cruel way to end the season, but many of the sides in the play-offs are closely matched, and there is often very little between them. Away goals DO NOT COUNT in the Football League play-offs. They were abolished at the end of the 1999-2000 campaign.
The play-off format does have its critics, but it is a terrific way to end the season, and has been in existence since 1987. Blackpool are the most successful club in the history of the play-offs, and were last victorious in 2017. Their Lancashire neighbours Preston have featured ten times in the play-offs, but have lost on each occasion.
In the Championship and League One, the side who finishes third will face the team in sixth place, whilst fourth and fifth will also meet in the play-off semi-final. With three sides automatically promoted from League Two, fourth place will play seventh, whilst fifth and sixth will be paired together.
All of the play-off matches are televised in the UK, and they tend to attract football fans who wouldn’t ordinarily choose to watch lower-league football. It is often described as an “end-of-season lottery”, and it can evoke heartbreak and jubilation in equal measure.
When and Where?
The play-offs tend to be staged in the middle of May. The regular campaign tends to end on the first weekend of the month, with the semi-finals typically getting underway seven days later. All three of the play-off finals are played across the May Bank Holiday at the end of the month.
Why are the Play-Offs so Popular?
The play-offs are a very emotional experience for fans of the clubs involved, but they are a sensational way to end the season for neutrals. With promotion to the Premier League at stake, there is plenty to play for. £90m awaits the winner of the Championship play-off, whilst a chance to play in a higher division awaits the winner of the League One and League Two game.
The games are always played at a frenetic pace, and the play-offs provide plenty of entertainment throughout.
With the regular season all wrapped up, it is a chance to enjoy the last of the domestic football, and that helps with its popularity.
What Betting Opportunities are Available?
Loads. The Football League is extremely popular with bettors, and many punters enjoy having a bet ahead of the play-offs.
There are markets throughout the season involving promotion, but a separate market will appear once the four competitors have been confirmed. There is also the opportunity to wager on a match-by-match basis throughout the competition.
Key Betting Markets
Promotion (Season Long) – Ahead of the big kick-off in August, many punters will formulate their ante-post bets. One of the most popular markets is ‘to be promoted’, and this includes the option of going up via the play-offs. Those who have backed a side to be promoted will undoubtedly be following the progress of their chosen team carefully throughout May.
To Win the Play-Offs – This is a bet which can be struck ahead of the Football League play-offs. All four teams will be included in the market, with the higher-finishing sides usually assigned shorter odds. This is a four-team market, and with the competition deemed a ‘lottery’ by many pundits, it often results in a very open field. Your chosen side will need to be promoted in order for this bet to pay out.
To Win the Match (1X2) – This is a bet which can be struck on a match-by-match basis. Each game will be priced up a couple of days ahead of kick-off. Punters can predict which will come out on top, but the 1X2 market applies to 90 minutes ONLY.
To Qualify – This is similar to the above market, but it involves sides progressing to the final. These odds are typically shorter, and will cover extra-time and penalties. This bet can be struck ahead of the first leg or ahead of the second meeting. If a side are trailing after the first match, bigger odds will be available on them to make it through.
Total Goals – This market is available on a match-by-match basis. Punters will be able to predict how many goals will be scored in each game. The bar is typically set at Under/Over 2.5 Goals, although others are available. The play-offs often produce high-scoring games, and with plenty at stake, it is perfectly understandable.
Anytime/First/Last Goalscorer – Players have the opportunity to make themselves heroes during the end-of-season play-offs, and the goalscorer markets allow punters to predict the players who will have the biggest impact on the game. Backing a player who has enjoyed a successful end to the campaign, or is a penalty-taker is often the best way to go in these markets.
Penalties/Extra Time – There are often separate markets available during the each the second leg and the final for the match to last the distance. Punters can predict whether a game will be decided in a shoot-out or not. For those who fancy a more exotic price, it is possible to back ‘Team A to win on Penalties’ or ‘Team B to win in extra time’.
Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the Football League Play-Offs
Managerial Experience Can Make the Difference – Having the right manager in the dugout can make all the difference in the play-offs. Savvy operators will help guide a side through a tricky and busy period, and they can often be the key to a side going up. Many coaches have previously suffered heartache in the play-offs, and they will have undoubtedly learnt from their mistakes. They know what it takes to manage the game, and they often know how to prepare their players for the big occasion. Rookie managers can occasionally come out on top, although they are more liable to fall short. A manager who been to Wembley before in the end-of-season play-offs will know how to manage expectations.
Likewise, players with experience can often drag their side through. Look for experienced heads, particularly those who have been handed the captains armband.
Goalscorers are Key – It may sound really obvious, but having a prolific goalscorer is absolutely vital. Chances will come and go throughout the campaign, but sides will get the opportunity to make amends for missed opportunities, whereas in the play-offs, there is only a maximum of 180 minutes to oblige. If a side has a goalscorer in good form, he could make all the difference in the final third.
Cagey First Legs/Entertaining Second Legs – This isn’t a guarantee, but generally speaking, the first leg games tend to be fairly low-scoring as both sides size one another up. There is plenty at stake, and nerves are understandable, hence a typically slow start. As the games ebb and flow, sides will know their fate, and the second legs can often be frenetic and fraught with incident. Always bear this in mind when tackling the goals markets.
It’s a One Off Game at Wembley – The play-off final is such a big occasion, and players will be understandably nervous. Sometimes punters put too much stock into previous meetings between the sides, but studying h2hs is ill-advised. It’s a one-off game, where anything can happen, and a previous meeting in the FA Cup in November is hardly going to be relevant to the outcome of this one.
