League 2 Play Offs Semi Final, First Leg
So lets go back to the beginning to the Football League play offs. First of all came the League 2 first leg matches. First Bradford hosted Burton in what was expected. However two goals in six minutes from Zola meant that Burton had a dominant 2-0 lead, a Wells penalty got Bradford back into it. Another goal by Weir meant it already looked very hard for Bradford to even have a chance of claiming a place at Wembley. A goal by Thompson got Bradford back into the match but it meant that going into the second leg Bradford would need two to go through. Bradford 2-3 Burton.
In the other match that took place that night Northampton faced Cheltenham at Sixfields. It was a close but boring match with the goal by O'Donnovan being the only one as the match ended 1-0 to Northampton.
League 1 Play Offs Semi Final, First Leg
On the 3rd May, the League 1 play off finals began, it was another boring affair, but Sheffield United looked like they were on their way to the final after a McFadzean goal in the 46th minute mean it was Sheffield Utd 1-0 Yeovil. They day after and Brentford who had just missed out on promotion travelled to Swindon. It looked like Swindon would hold an advantage after a Luongo goal in the 70th minute, but an O'Connor penalty in the 90th minute mad it 1-1.
League 2 Play Offs Semi Final, Second Leg
Both games took place on the same day. First a Guttridge goal confirmed that Northampton would go to Wembley 2-0 on aggregate. In the Bradford game, they would need a 2-0 win to go to Wembley for the second time this season. It was all going well as Wells gave them a lead in the 20th minute, it looked confirmed in the 50th minute as Hanson gave them a 2-0 lead to take them to Wembley, or so they thought, a Burton penalty converted by Maghoma meant it was going to extra time, but two minutes later Wells scored again to make it 3-1 and take the Bantams to Wembley.
League 1 Play Offs Semi Final, Second Leg
It started with Yeovil at home to Sheffield United, Dawson got the ball rolling for Yeovil after 6 minutes, and the comeback was complete with 5 minutes to go when Dawson converted to take Yeovil to Wembley.
In the other match and Brentford faced Swindon, it all started with a Rooney own goal to give Brentford the lead, after 40 minutes it then looked like Brentford were going to the final as Donaldson scored to make it 2-0. Rooney however got one back with one minute of the first half to go. Donaldson made it 3-1 just after the kick off. Devera scored after 57 minutes and they got level in the 90th minute through Flint, it went to extra time and penalties where Brentford won 5-4.
Championship Play Offs Semi Finals, First Leg
The chase for £120,000,000 began with Leicester at the King Power Stadium against Watford who just missed out on promotion because of a 2-1 defeat to Leeds (a review of which you can see on this website) A Nugent goal in the 82nd minute meant that Leicester would hold a lead going to Vicarage Road. In the Palace v Brighton match, the game didn't live up to its expectation with a 0-0 draw.
Championship Play Offs Semi Finals, Second Leg
Watford needed to win by two or more to get a place at Wembley, and after 15 minutes it looked like they could do it after Vydra scored, they were brought back down to earth 4 minutes later with a Nugent goal, Vydra then scored in the 65th minute, but it looked too late as in the 90th minute Knockaert dived looking for a penalty and he got it, but he missed it and just like in the Brentford vs Doncaster match which we said would never happen again, Watford went up the other end and 30 seconds or less after the penalty, Deeney fired into an open goal to make it 3-1 (3-2 Watford on aggregate) In the other match, at the Amex 2 goals from Zaha in the 69th and 88th minute meant it would be a Palace vs Watford final.
League 2 Play Offs, Final
So it was to Wembley as Bradford were there for the second time against Northampton, all goals came in 13 minutes from Hanson (15 mins) McArdle (19 mins) and Wells (28 mins) to give Bradford a 3-0 win and took them to League 1 in what was classed a highly successful season for the Bantams.
League 1 Play Offs, Final
On the next day, Brentford faced Yeovil, it was a good start for Yeovil as top scorer Madden scored after 6 minutes, Burn made it 2 just before half time. Brentford scored after the kick off through Dean, though it wasn't enough, Yeovil will be in the Championship.
Championship Play Offs, Final
So Palace faced Watford in the final for £120 million. Nothing much actually happened in the 90 minutes but towards the end Palace were dominating, so at 0-0 the match went into extra time, this is where it started to get interesting. Watford started off the better, getting chances in, but then when Zaha went down in the box due to a challenge, Palace got a penalty and Phillips converted, it was then all Watford for the second half of extra time, but having not been able to get it into the net, Palace claimed the £120 million and went up to the Premier League.
That's it for this blog and the 2012/13 season, all that remains is England matches and transfer news. England matches include;
England vs Republic of Ireland - International Friendly Preview
England vs Republic of Ireland - International Friendly Review
Brazil vs England - International Friendly Preview
Brazil vs England - International Friendly Review
As for the 2013/14 season there are;
19th June 5pm: Leeds Fixture Preview
2nd August 5pm: Leeds vs ? - Npower Championship Preview
More will be confirmed, you can follow me on twitter @AJWoodward29 and keep up to date with this blog @LUFCWorld
