Latest news with #EFLPlayoffs
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Why are the EFL play-off finals kicking off a minute later?
SUNDERLAND and Sheffield United will meet in one of the biggest games on the English football calendar. A place in the Premier League awaits either the Blades or the Black Cats, with Chris Wilder's side eyeing an immediate return to the top flight. 4 4 4 4 Regis Le Bris is hoping to guide Sunderland back to the Premier League for the first time since 2016/17. The Championship play-off final is just one of three promotion deciders happening at Wembley over Bank Holiday weekend, with the League One and League Two play-off finals also occurring. League One sees an all-London affair, as Charlton and Leyton Orient both look to book their place alongside Wrexham and Birmingham in the Championship next season. In League Two, either Walsall or Wimbledon will be joining Doncaster, Port Vale and Bradford in League One next season. SunSport can reveal why these games are starting one minute later than usual. Why are the EFL play-off finals starting a minute later? The kick-off times have been moved back one minute to promote the Every Minute Matters campaign. The campaign is a collaboration between EFL sponsors Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation, which aims to get supporters to learn CPR. More than 270,000 people have already learned the life-saving skill thanks to the campaign, which launched during last season's play-offs. As a result, the three play-off finals will now have amended kick-off times: What TV channel are the EFL play-off finals and is there a live stream? All three play-off finals will be aired by Sky Sports. The matches will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. They can also be live streamed to customers on the Sky Go app and NOW TV. SunSport will have live coverage of all three matches.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
🎧 Can the Blades break their play-off curse?
"The people at Sheffield United would have heard that stat so many times... that will change at some point."Sheffield United have failed to win an EFL play-off campaign across all of their previous eight attempts but are looking to break that duck on Saturday (13:01 BST) when they face Sunderland at 72+ podcast team were joined this week by new Reading CEO Joe Jacobson to take a look at whether Sheffield United's play-off fortunes may see a turning point."I look at the firepower they've got and in big games like this, it's one or two moments that are going to decide things," Jacobson said."Sheffield United, along with Leeds and Burnley, were so far ahead [in the table] - that means something."There's a reason they were that far ahead, it's because they are a better squad, a better team."Listen to the full episode and more on the Football Daily podcast.
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
EFL play-off finals to kick off one minute later than scheduled as part of ‘truly groundbreaking' campaign
EFL playoff matches at Wembley this season will all kick off one minute later than originally scheduled. The Home of Football is gearing up to host the Championship, League One and League Two playoff finals later this month. 2 2 EFL bosses have signed up to a new initiative alongside the British Heart Foundation. The Every Minute Matters campaign aims to inspire supporters to learn CPR. More than 270,000 people have already learned the life-saving skill thanks to the campaign, which launched during last season's playoffs. In a bid to raise awareness, each match at Wembley will now kick off 60 seconds later than billed. As a result, Sunderland 's showdown with Sheffield United has now been scheduled for 3.01pm on May 24. Leyton Orient will face Charlton for a place in the Championship on May 25, with the game now underway at 1.01pm. And Walsall's League Two playoff final against AFC Wimbledon will kick-off at 3.01pm on Monday, May 26. Luton Town's Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during a Premier League game against Bournemouth in December 2023. The 30-year-old is now a British Heart Foundation ambassador and is backing the initiative. Lockyer said: "I was just one of the more than 30,000 people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every year in the UK. Tom Lockyer shows defibrillator fitted into his chest after Luton captain suffered cardiac arrest in Bournemouth clash "I am lucky to be alive today, but the reality is that less than 1 in 10 people usually survive, which is why it's vital that we continue to raise awareness. "The symbolic kick-off times are the perfect way to make our lifesaving message impossible to ignore. 'Over the course of the last year, the EFL community – fans, players and the clubs – have come together and united behind the Sky Bet Every Minute Matters campaign to achieve something I never thought possible. "And now, as we approach the business end of the season, the Sky Bet Play-Off Finals provide an incredible platform to continue to spread the word and bring the curtain down on a game-changing year in the fight against cardiac arrest." Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the BHF, added: "The Every Minute Matters campaign has been truly groundbreaking by encouraging hundreds of thousands of people to start learning vital CPR. "With millions of eyes on the Play-Off Finals, it's incredible to get the support of the EFL in our bid to encourage more fans to learn this lifesaving skill. "It only takes 15 minutes to learn with our free online tool RevivR, and knowing it could make the difference between life and death in the event of witnessing a cardiac arrest."
Irish Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Irish player tracker: Silver lining beckons for Jason Knight
The EFL playoff semi-finals have now wrapped up and we know which Irish players will be walking out at Wembley next weekend. Unlike most weeks in Irish football, this one has brought a welcome wave of positivity – both on and off the pitch. Performances have improved, and there's a growing sense of optimism surrounding Heimir Hallgrímsson 's recent Ireland squad selection. The early part of the week was dominated by the playoffs. On Monday night, Sheffield United comfortably finished the job against Bristol City with a 3-0 win at Bramall Lane to seal a 6-0 aggregate victory. Tom Cannon started for the hosts and played 62 minutes, while both Jason Knight and Max O'Leary completed the full 90 minutes for City. READ MORE For Knight, many believe it may have been his final appearance in a Bristol City shirt with Premier League clubs linked to his signature. United will meet Alan Browne and Sunderland in the play-off final after the Black Cats edged past Coventry City in extra-time on Tuesday. Browne remained an unused substitute on the night. The League One playoff semi-finals also contained plenty of interest from an Irish viewpoint. Leyton Orient's dramatic win over Stockport County saw Ollie O'Neill score early, before Josh Keeley became the shoot-out hero (again) – on the same day he received his first senior Ireland call-up. Orient will now face Charlton Athletic in the final. Conor Coventry was outstanding in Charlton's win over Wycombe, with Alex Gilbert also starting, while Kieran Sadlier featured for the opposition. Meanwhile, in League Two, a strong Irish presence will be on show in the playoff final as Walsall booked their place with a win over Chesterfield. The Saddlers boast a promising Irish core, including David Okagbue, Oisín McEntee, Ronan Maher, and Evan Weir. They'll face James Furlong's AFC Wimbledon, who overcame Notts County in their semi-final. County were without the injured David McGoldrick for the second leg. It was a brilliant week for the three Irish players at Celtic, especially Johnny Kenny. While Celtic celebrated lifting the trophy at home on Saturday, it was Wednesday's 5-1 win over Aberdeen that truly excited Irish fans. Kenny made his first start for the club and scored a memorable header – a moment he'll never forget. Liam Scales played the full 90 minutes in both matches, while Adam Idah also found the net on Wednesday – his 20th goal of the season. In the Premier League, Seamus Coleman had the bittersweet honour of captaining Everton for the final time at Goodison Park. Both he and Jake O'Brien started the match, but unfortunately Coleman's outing was cut short after just 18 minutes due to injury – a disappointing end to his time at the stadium. Meanwhile, Kasey McAteer enjoyed a standout game for Leicester, hitting the post and scoring his first Premier League goal to help secure a 2-0 win over Ipswich. Dara O'Shea played the full 90 minutes for the visitors, with Jack Taylor coming on for the final 20. Nathan Collins also played 90 minutes for Brentford in their loss to Fulham, while Evan Ferguson was once again an unused substitute for West Ham. Andrew Omobamidele (right) endured a nightmare cameo appearance for Strasbourg in the final game of his loan move. Photograph: Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images In France, it was a nightmare end to the season for Andrew Omobamidele and Strasbourg. In what was his final game on loan at the club, Omobamidele came off the bench in the 88th minute, only to be sent off in injury time after conceding a penalty – a costly error that saw Strasbourg miss out on Europa League qualification. They now need PSG to beat Stade de Reims in the French Cup final to secure a spot in the Conference League. As for Stade de Reims, John Patrick and his side will play in the relegation playoff due to La Havre picking up three points. Player of the Week – Kasey McAteer (Leicester City) Kasey McAteer's first Premier League goal!🇮🇪 — Rep of Ireland Player Tracker (@reptracker) It was another strong week for Kasey McAteer at Leicester City. On Wednesday, he was recalled to the Ireland squad following a string of impressive performances. He's back in the starting XI regularly and capped off the week by scoring his first Premier League goal in a standout display against Ipswich. He even struck the post earlier in the game. A massive confidence boost for McAteer as he looks to become a regular for club and country. Goal of the Week – Graham Carey (St Johnstone) Graham Carey's left foot is a wand!🪄 St Johnstone lost the game 2-1 with Carey and Sam Curtis (on loan) sadly being relegated to the Scottish Championship. Should the 35 year-old come home? — Rep of Ireland Player Tracker (@reptracker) Graham Carey scored a stunning goal for St Johnstone, showing he's still got it at 35. With his trademark left foot, he curled a brilliant long-range strike from a dead ball into the top corner. There's still life left in the old dog. Stat of the Week – Adam Idah's 20th goal of the season Adam Idah reached the coveted 20-goal mark on Wednesday in Celtic's win over Aberdeen, capping off what has been a standout season. Since the start of 2025, he's developed into a key figure for the Hoops, delivering consistently up front. With the Scottish Cup final still to come, Idah will be hoping to add to his tally and finish an already impressive campaign on an even higher note.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Sunderland break Frank Lampard's heart with stunning 123rd MINUTE winner to beat Coventry and reach the Championship play-off final
At least this saves Frank Lampard a two grand bar bill. Saying that, the Coventry boss could do with a drink after Sunderland 's last-gasp winner. It was following Derby's 4-3 aggregate win over Leeds at this stage six years ago that he put his credit card behind the bar during an impromptu pub stop. His team then lost in the final to Aston Villa. This time, though, there will be no final. That will be contested by Sunderland and Sheffield United after Dan Ballard headed a 123rd-minute goal that nearly sent the Stadium of Light roof into the North Sea. We can only hope the Wembley spectacle is better the majority of this second leg, though. Not that Sunderland will complain about the aesthetics of their bumpy passage to the capital. We've seen more of the Black Cats on Netflix than Match of the Day in recent years. And reruns of Sunderland 'Til I Die would have certainly made better viewing than this game, at least until the final act. Before that, the atmosphere did not get the contest it deserved. It was not until Ephron Mason-Clark's 76th-minute volleyed goal, from Milan Van Ewijk's centre, that we had some composure in front of the posts. Before that, they'd swiped high and wide. Sunderland had moved their advertising boards closer to the pitch to reduce the range of Van Ewijk's long throw-ins. He might have had his hands tied, but his feet were free to do their worst and his delivery was the best of the evening. That forced extra-time and it looked like we were heading for penalties before Ballard's dramatic intervention. Sunderland are on their way to Wembley!! 🤩 — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 13, 2025 The Stadium of Light has always done the big nights well. There just have not been enough of them of late. Since relegation from the Premier League in 2017, this was undoubtedly the biggest. Their only other Championship play-off semi-final second leg was an away defeat at Luton two years ago. This time, 46,000 had a stage to influence and intimidate, and very few stadiums do tribal like this one. The pitchside flamethrowers probably cooled those in the stands in the seconds before kick-off, such was the fury with which they welcomed their own and scorched the opposition. It felt like the uncorking of eight years of frustration. 'Wise Men Say' was the song that sent them into battle, and the wise men in these parts were saying this tie was far from over, despite Sunderland's first-leg advantage. They have seen how those documentaries can play out. What was most definitely unwise was Wilson Isidor's decision to dive when attempting to burst clear on the edge of Coventry's penalty area early in the game. Too early to be carrying a yellow card in the heat of this occasion. And the occasion, it seemed, was impacting the quality on the pitch. In truth, there was no quality. A pilot episode for the Premier League this was not. Mason-Clark did show a little adventure when he danced infield from the left, but it led down a blind alley and his eventual shot was nothing more than catching practice for Anthony Patterson. At the other end, Eliezer Mayenda did a jig of his own past a couple of Sky Blue jerseys but, likewise, it only led to a dark place. Indeed, there was little illumination in a first half hour of heavy touches and light heads. Then, Coventry found some composure, at least until they got in front of goal. The visitors finished the first half much the stronger and should have led when first Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and then Jack Rudoni prodded over the bar from inside the six-yard area. Two good chances, two bad finishes. For Sunderland, there was no control or conviction to anything they did. They looked like a side who had lost their last five matches of the regular season. Enzo Le Fee, the Roma loanee who is good enough for the Premier League, was too peripheral. Isolated on the left, he had a ringside seat but was watching others throw the punches. Not that any were landing. Come half-time, the teams had traded one shot on target. From noisy to nervy, the mood had changed entering the second half. Forty-five minutes waiting for the bell is hardly an enticing prospect. Belatedly, after the hour, they dragged themselves from the ropes and gloved up. Full-back Trai Hume sent a spectacular volley goalwards and Ben Wilson somehow smuggled the ball around the post. It was a stunning effort hardly in keeping with what had gone before. Jobe Bellingham had done his best impression of his brother for too much of the first half, the version who has ghosted through too many Real Madrid matches of late. Then, when his team needed him, the younger sibling stepped up. He quite literally stepped up when jumping to his feet after a goalmouth melee and going forehead to forehead with goalkeeper Wilson. The atmosphere needed that, stoking those home flames in danger of petering out. The confrontation brought a roar of approval from the red and white masses. As did every clearance from Dan Ballard and Luke O'Nien. Each time, it felt like one kick closer to Wembley. But then, the kick in the crotch. With 14 minutes left on the clock, Coventry right back Van Ewijk hoisted a cross from the right and Mason-Clark stole in to cushion the ball into the bottom corner. Lampard celebrated as if his side had won, for that was the relief of drawing parity in a tie that had felt as if it was slipping away. It was a feeling that would not last.
