The long and brilliant Championship season comes to a superb finale on Saturday afternoon, when Coventry City and Luton Town face off at Wembley. We have previewed this huge occasion and given you our best bets.
Coventry vs Luton Tips
Saturday 27 May, 2023
16:45
Wembley Stadium, London
What a season of Championship football it’s been!
We’ve seen brilliant Burnley dominate the second tier like no team has done for years and were eventually joined by Sheffield United in the Premier League for next season.
Now, we find out who will be the third side to ply their trade in the top tier of English football in 2023/24, in what is commonly known as ‘the richest game in football’.
£100m+ awaits for the victor of this winner-takes-all showdown and it will be a surprise one, whoever holds aloft the Championship playoff winners trophy on Saturday evening.
Coventry (21/10) and Luton (6/4) have two of the smallest wage budgets in the second tier and are massively punching above their weight to even be here.
City had a ridiculous rise from the bottom of the table to seal a playoff place on the final day of the season. They’ve come a long way from admin, being homeless and in League Two in 2018.
The Hatters, meanwhile, have achieved the unthinkable for a club of its size and structure. Back-to-back playoff campaigns, for a side that was non league as little as nine years ago.
Whoever wins this one and claims their place in the money pit of the Premier League, will have a Cinderella comeback story for the ages. We can’t wait to see how it unfolds…
Team news:
Match winning midfielder Gustavo Hamer should be fit to line up from the start here, after carrying a niggling injury through the semi final against Middlesbrough. Callum O’Hare and Fabio Tavares are both confirmed as out
Rob Edwards should pretty much have a full squad to pick from, with striker Cauley Woodrow the only injury doubt.
Match Result – Draw – 2/1
These two have faced off twice already this season and they have been inseparable.
The first match at Kenilworth Road finished 2-2 back in September and the return match up at the CBS Arena ended in another stalemate of 1-1.
As a fan of a team that has regularly played in playoff finals recently, I know just how tense and tight they can be.
Often the quality of football is dire and it comes down to one moment of brilliance or fortune.
I think this will be a cagey affair with neither side willing to take the chance of being out of it early.
With that in mind, I think we will go beyond the 90 minutes required.
Coventry City to win on penalties – 17/2
With such a closely matched game on the cards, I’m going to have a small punt on the game going to penalties. The ultimate drama for the ultimate high stakes game.
For some reason my head is swaying me towards the Sky Blues and I can see Gustavo Hamer taking the winning spot kick.
Enjoy the game and good luck if following!
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