The Playoff Preview

With the drama (or should that be 'drama queen' in the case of Didier Drogba) of the Champions League semi finals finished, the next raw excitement in football comes in the form of the league playoffs.

League Two
The playoffs kick off in League Two tonight (Thursday) with Rochdale (6th) v Gillingham (5th) and Shrewsbury Town (7th) v Bury (4th). The second legs are on Sunday.

Rochdale and Gillingham faced each other at Spotland as recently as the final weekend of the season in a match which the Gills won.
But it is hard to tell how much can be read into that result as both managers are expected to select significantly different teams tonight.
What the result did manage to do is extend Gillingham's unbeaten run to four matches which contrasts sharply with Rochdale who staggered over the line with five points from their last six games.
And, only two years ago, Gillingham were playing in The Championship while Rochdale have not been promoted in over 30 years.
Prediction: Gillingham win

Earlier this season: 25/11/08 Gillingham 1-1 Rochdale, 02/05/09 Rochdale 0-1 Gillingham
Rochdale form (last six games): LDLDWL
Gillingham form (last six games): WDWWLL
Rochdale finished 5th with 70 points and 70 goals for, 59 goals conceded
Gillingham finished 4th with 75 points and 58 goals for, 55 goals conceded

Bury may struggle recover from the heartbreak of finishing outside the automatic promotion spots by a single goal as they prepare to face Shrewsbury Town.
Their final day woe was in contrast to the Shrews who made the playoffs by overhauling Dagenham & Redbridge in a winner-takes-all match.
At least Bury can console themselves that they will go into the playoffs on the back of a final day win and a 12-match unbeaten run which featured a 2-1 home win over the Shrews.
But that was Shrewsbury's only loss in their last 12 matches and they enjoyed a home win over Bury back in December.
Indeed, the Shrews enjoyed the best home record in the whole of League Two.
Prediction: Shrewsbury Town win

Earlier this season: 28/12/08 Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Bury, 10/04/09 Bury 2-1 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town form (last six games): WDWDLD
Bury form (last six games): WDWDWD
Shrewsbury Town finished 7th with 69 points and 61 goals for, 44 conceded
Bury finished 4th with 78 points and 63 goals for, 43 goals conceded


League One
The fight for the final promotion spot the Championship begins on Friday night with Scunthorpe United (6th) v MK Dons (3rd) and continue on Saturday with Millwall (5th) v Leeds United (4th).

At one stage, MK Dons looked as if they would get second place behind runaway leaders Leicester City.
But a series of draws in February and March proved costly and meant they were overhauled by Peterborough United.
Scunthorpe United are just glad they made it into the playoffs, securing a 1-1 draw on the last day against nearest rivals Tranmere Rovers to make sure of their place.
The Dons finished the season with six wins from their last seven and beat Scunthorpe 1-0 at Glanford Park in April.
But the Iron had beaten the Dons on their home patch 2-0 in December and lost just one of their last six matches.
Prediction: MK Dons win

Earlier this season: 06/12/08 MK Dons 0-2 Scunthorpe United, 18/04/09 Scunthorpe United 0-1 MK Dons
Scunthorpe United form (last six games): DWDDLW
MK Dons form (last six games): WWLWWW
Scunthorpe United finished 6th with 76 points and 86 goals for, 67 goals conceded
MK Dons finished 3rd with 87 points and 83 goals for, 47 goals conceded

Leeds United are favourites to beat Millwall in what is possibly the most highly anticipated League One playoff match in history.
United finished the season strongly with four wins in their last five matches to secure a playoff place which had looked doubtful under previous manager Gary McAllister.
Former Blackpool boss Simon Grayson came in at Christmas and turned United's fortunes around, including a 2-0 home win over Millwall in February.
That was revenge for a 3-1 loss to the Lions at the New Den in October and the London club will be hoping Leeds crack under pressure again.
But, with four wins and four losses in their last eight matches, Millwall are inconsistent.
Prediction: Leeds United win

Earlier this season: 18/10/08 Millwall 3-1 Leeds United, 09/02/09 Leeds United 2-0 Millwall
Millwall form (last six games): LWLWLW
Leeds United form (last six games): WWWLWD
Millwall finished 5th with 82 points and 63 goals for, 53 goals conceded
Leeds United finished 4th with 84 points and 77 goals for, 49 goals conceded


The Championship
Aiming to reach the promised land of the Premier League, the two playoff semi finals in the Championship are Preston North End (6th) v Sheffield United (3rd) on Friday and Burnley (5th) v Reading (4th) on Saturday. Return legs on Monday and Tuesday.

Sheffield United made a valiant effort in trying to steal the final playoff spot from Birmingham City and enjoyed some impressive form in the second half of the season.
But the goals dried up towards the end and a 0-0 draw on the last day to Crystal Palace was never likely to be enough to stop the Blues.
And so the Blades require a playoff victory to regain the place which many of their fans still feel was robbed of them when they were relegated two seasons ago.
United will take on Preston from whom they have taken four points without conceding a goal in the regular season.
Preston's qualification is surprising and relied on an uncharacteristic late surge of form and a collapse by Cardiff City.
The Lilywhites, who have never played in the Premier League, finished above the Welsh club courtesy of having scored one more goal after both had the same points and same goal difference.
But it was never going to be a possibility until Preston beat Cardiff 6-0 with three matches left.
And so, Preston, who normally find themselves in the Cardiff position of having just missed out, will be dangerous opponents for the Blades having finished on four successive wins - especially with the Blades problems in front of goal.
Prediction: Sheffield United win

Earlier this season: 25/10/08 Sheffield United 1-0 Preston North End, 31/01/09 Preston North End 0-0 Sheffield United
Preston North End form (last six games): WWWWLD
Sheffield United form (last six games): DWLDWW
Preston North End finished 6th with 74 points and 66 goals for, 54 goals conceded
Sheffield United finished 3rd with 80 points and 64 goals for, 39 goals conceded

Reading's failure to secure automatic promotion can be laid firmly at their own front door as they recorded a miserable three points from their last eight home games.
The Royals were considered to play the best football in the division at times and their goals record backs this up but they should be wary of a dangerous Burnley side.
The two clubs met in the space of a month back in October, each enjoying a home win.
But the Clarets will now have to hope that their players can draw on their energy reserves as they head into the 59th and 60th matches of the season.
Burnley enjoyed cup runs in both domestic competitions, reaching the semi finals of the League Cup and the fifth round of the FA Cup.
And with the playoff semi finals akin to two-legged cup ties, the Lancastrians will trust themselves to have the nerve to get to the Premier League for the first time.
Burnley head into the tie on the back of a fine 4-0 home win against Bristol City while Reading suffered another home loss against Birmingham which finally killed off any automatic promotion hopes.
Prediction: Burnley win

Earlier this season: 04/10/08 Reading 3-1 Burnley, 28/10/08 Burnley 1-0 Reading
Burnley form (last six games): WDWLWD
Reading form (last six games): LWWDLL
Burnley finished 5th with 74 points and 72 goals for, 60 goals conceded
Reading finished 4th with 77 points and 72 goals for, 40 goals conceded