Although the first match of the Championship play-offs has now been played, there is still a long way to go before we know, either from a fan or football betting point of view, which teams will end the season with a promotion.
Wigan vs. QPR
The battle between Wigan and QPR in the Championship should be really close. Only one place separated fourth placed QPR from Wigan in fifth at the end of the season, and – in Charlie Austin and Grant Holt respectively – they both have strikers to make a difference. QPR are in better form for this game, at 7.45 pm on the 9th of May at the DW Stadium, and have also had slightly the better of the previous clashes, winning narrowly at home and drawing at Wigan. That may seem to point to them, but QPR have also been inconsistent this season and a likely outcome would be Wigan to win the home leg, but QPR to win through narrowly in the second leg at Loftus Road on 12th of May at 7.45 pm.
Prediction: Narrow QPR win 1-2
Current Odds: Wigan (11/5), Draw (23/10), QPR (11/4)* – Full Odds List
Football Championship Play-Off Schedule
May 8th – Brighton 1 – 2 Derby
May 9th – Wigan vs QPR
May 11th – Derby vs Brighton
May 12th – QPR vs Wigan
May 24th – Final (TBD)
Peterborough vs. Leyton Orient
The next play-off scheduled is the 12.15 pm League On clash between sixth placed Peterborough and third placed Leyton Orient on the 10th of May, at London Road Stadium. Peterborough are the form team here, having enjoyed a fine April, whereas Orient rather tailed off following a great start to the season. However, Orient won 3-1 at Posh during that period and with strikers Kevin Lisbie and David Mooney having 39 goals between them, they will be confident of breaching Peterborough’s leaky defence (58 goals conceded) again. The latter will need all their play-off experience to win through, but Orient have the firepower to blast their way to a win, especially as the second leg at Brisbane Road on the 13th at 7.45 pm.
Prediction: Narrow Leyton Orient win 0-1
Current Odds: Peterborough (13/10), Draw (5/2), Leyton Orient (12/5)* – Full Odds List
Football League 1 Play-Off Schedule
May 10th – Peterborough United vs Leyton Orient
May 10th – Preston North End vs Rotherham United
May 13th – Leyton Orient vs Peterborough United
May 15th – Rotherham United vs Preston North End
*Odds taken from Bookmakers.co.uk are correct as of 09/05/2014