Thursday 7 May 2015 10:15, UK
Sky Sports' Football League pundit Don Goodman is predicting a tough fight for the final Premier League place next season.
Middlesbrough and Norwich just missed out on automatic promotion from the Sky Bet Championship but they know Brentford and Ipswich, respectively, will push them all the way in the play-offs.
“Middlesbrough were always in a difficult four-horse race and it was never a given they were going to be one of the two teams automatically promoted,” Goodman told Sky Sports News HQ.
“They still have an opportunity to progress though and then it is about holding your nerve. The club that can do so and maybe gets a little bit of luck will be the one that goes to Wembley.”
Norwich face East Anglian rivals Ipswich in the other semi-final but Goodman, despite admitting they have the strongest squad of the four, is warning promotion will not automatically follow.
“Most of Norwich's players have Premier League experience, a little bit like Middlesbrough,” added the former Wolves striker.
“They were one of the four to miss out on automatic promotion but they have a second chance. Since Alex Neil has come to the club they have been the outstanding team in the division.
“If it wasn’t for the home defeat to Middlesbrough a couple of weeks back they may well have snuck into the automatic places. They have the strongest squad and the best players but history shows you that may not get you over the finishing line.”
Goodman expects a similarly tough battle in the League One play-offs, where Sheffield United and Preston are favourites to progress to the Wembley final.
Preston missed out on automatic promotion after losing 1-0 away to Colchester on the final day of the season but Goodman feels they can win through if they cope with the disappointment of failing to hold off the challenge of MK Dons.
“There will be an element of pressure on Sheffield United. They and Preston are probably the biggest two, with respect to the others,” said Goodman.
“They will expect to be playing Championship football next season but it is going to be tough. I really feel for Simon Grayson and Preston but you have to admire MK Dons.
“They chased them down and the last 10 games MK Dons put together was a remarkable sequence of results that means Preston find themselves in the play-offs.
“But Preston were by far and away the third best team in the division this season and they will feel if they get anywhere near their best standard, they will be the club that progresses to the Championship.”
Like Preston, Southend must overcome the disappointment of being pipped at the post to an automatic promotion berth but Goodman feels Phil Brown’s side should have just enough to edge a close play-off contest in League Two.
“These clubs are all very evenly matched. Southend are going in with the disappointment of missing out and Wycombe also,” he added.
“It’s almost impossible to call but if you put me on the spot, I think Phil Brown will probably rejuvenate Southend.”
Watch all the play-off action from the Football League. Coverage begins on Thursday in League One with Sheffield United v Swindon (Sky Sports 2) and Chesterfield v Preston (Sky Sports 5). Coverage begins on both channels at 7:30pm.
