THE Sky Bet Championship play-off final is fast approaching - and here's everything you need to know about the Wembley showdown.
Monday's mouthwatering clash between Rewading FC and Huddersfield marks the 30th anniversary of Wembley play-off finals.
The format has grown in popularity since its inception and has become a staple feature of the country’s sporting calendar, providing a fitting and exciting finale to the season.
So here and some facts and figures ahead of the big game.
This season’s Sky Bet Championship:
- There was an average of 2.6 goals scored per match in the Sky Bet Championship this season – taking the total to 1,441.
- The average attendance in the Sky Bet Championship this season was 20,119.
- The highest attendance in the Sky Bet Championship this season was 52,301 when Newcastle played host to Leeds United at St James’ Park in April.
- The cumulative attendance figure for Sky Bet Championship was over 11.1 million in 2016/17.
- The attendance total for the EFL in 2016/17 reached more than 18 million, with clubs recording their highest attendances since 1959
The Teams:
Reading FC
- Reading are looking to secure promotion through the Play-Offs for the first time, having failed to make it through on each of the last five occasions (1995, 2001, 2003, 2009 and 2011).
- Reading’s last Play-Off appearance was in 2011, where they lost 4-2 in the final against Swansea City.
- The Royals have lost in each of their previous three Play-Off final appearances, while only Sheffield United have lost more (4).
- The previous three play-off finals involving Reading have seen a total of 18 goals scored (an average of six per game).
- Jaap Stam’s side could become the 11th team to win the playoffs having finished 3rd in the Championship regular season – the third-placed team has previously won it on 10 occasions (36% of the overall finals since 1989).
- Yann Kermorgant has scored 10 goals in his last 10 league starts for Reading, including the winning goal in their semi-final tie against Fulham.
- Six of Reading’s last nine goals have come from set piece situations (five from corners and one penalty).
Roy Beerens, right, scored Reading's goal in a 1-0 home win against Huddersfield in September.
This season's head-to-head:
Tuesday, February 21: Huddersfield Town 1-0 Reading.
Saturday, September 24: Reading 1-0 Huddersfield Town.
- This will be the sixth meeting in all competitions between these sides since David Wagner took charge of Huddersfield in November 2015 – in the previous five both sides have claimed two victories each and shared a draw.
Huddersfield Town
- Huddersfield Town are only the fourth EFL club to reach the final of the play-offs in all three divisions after Blackpool, Preston and Swansea – only Blackpool have won all three.
- The Terriers have been promoted from three of their four play-off finals, winning promotion in 1995, 2004 and 2012, with the latter two coming in penalty shootouts after goalless draws. The exception was a 3-0 defeat to Peterborough in 2011 in League One.
- Following Huddersfield’s 4-3 penalty shootout win over Sheffield Wednesday in the semi-final, they have now won all five of their penalty shootouts in the Play-Offs – no other side has ever won more than one.
- If Huddersfield are promoted, next season will be their first in the top-flight since 1971/72; in the Premier League era (1992-), only two sides have had to wait longer since their previous top-flight season – Cardiff City (52, 1961/62 – 2013/14) and Bradford City (78, 1921/22 – 1999/2000).
- The two previous occasions in the Football League Play-Offs that a one-legged final has been drawn goalless have involved Huddersfield (2004 and 2012).
- Terriers striker Nahki Wells scored at Wembley in the 2013 League Two Play-Off final for Bradford, as the Bantams won 3-0 against Northampton.
- The Terriers will also be the first team in Football League history to have won promotion having conceded more goals than they’ve scored in the league campaign.
Attendances:
Last five Championship play-off finals:
2016 - Hull City 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday – attendance 70,189.
2015 - Middlesbrough 0-2 Norwich City – attendance 85,656.
2014 - Derby County 0-1 Queens Park Rangers – attendance 87,348.
2013 - Crystal Palace 1-0 Watford – attendance 82,025.
2012 - Blackpool 1-2 West Ham United – attendance 78,523.
Record Attendance: 2014- Derby County 0-1 Queens Park Rangers - 87,348.
Match Officials:
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Assistant Referees: Jake Collin and Darren Cann
Fourth Official: Stuart Attwell
Reserve Assistant Referee: Derek Eaton
Goal line technology:
The Hawkeye Goal Decision System will again be in use at the final.
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