Play Off Finals 28th, 29th & 30th May

[GETT1NLOTS]

Coca-Cola League Championship
30 May-15:00 West Ham v Preston 2.20 3.20 2.87

Coca-Cola League One
29 May-19:45 Hartlepool v Sheff Wed 2.80 3.25 2.20

Coca-Cola League Two
28 May-15:00 Southend v Lincoln City 2.40 3.20 2.62

Odds with Bet 365

Place your analysis here.

[ONEDUNME]

Who fukkin cares

[ONEDUNME]

Sorry.

Analysyis? West Ham, Wednesday, Southend.

Why? erm..... be back later...................

[MickeyPaul]

Ooooooo, I'm so tempted by Preston @ 2/1, I really am. Those head to heads are pretty positive too...... I want a look at those match reports.

[david]

the finals are one legged unlike this fella as i understand it? correct?

intial thought are the 2 outsiders looks decent value in the champ/div1 with div 2 too hard to call.

in the championship i dont see much between them so on that basis preston slight value. is sheringham still out?

in the 1st, hartlepool great result against tranmere which i really didnt expect and that will IMO give them the confidence to finish the job. neither on great form lately but hartlepool a bit better than wednesday

in the 2nd, lincoln been kinda hot and cold lately but record compared to southend over past 10 games almmost identical. this one has got draw written all over it imo.

waiting for team news but preston/hartlepool and draw is my shout early doors

DC

[crowie]

Championship

The stats (posted on another thread in here) say West Ham will go up. Better 6 match from than Preston. However I have to say I was impressed by Prestons win over Derby, beat them well at home as they have been doing to most teams this season and were very solid away. Mind you Derby looked poor in the 2nd leg, a couple of half fit players didn't help.

Also have to favour Preston having already beaten West Ham 2-1 home and away this season. I would say its an evenly matched game and match up so the 2.2 on Preston to be promoted appeals to me rather than the odds on prices on West Ham.


Division 1

I've already laid Sheffield Wednesday at 3.5 for promotion before the Brentford games. I still don't think they are an in-form side despite winning home and away v Brentford. I think Brentford over achieved this season and Wednesday win wasn't as impressive as the prices make out IMO.

Hartlepool did the business at home v Tranmere but were well beaten away from home and lucky to get through. Tranmere were excellent in the 2nd leg and should be in the final.

Lets hope (well for me anyway) that Hartlepool bring their "home form" rather than "away form" to the final

I would imagine that Wednesday will have the bulk of the support but its actually been more a hinderance than a help for them playing in front of their big crowds at Hillsborough this season. I think they would rather play this one behind closed doors

No bet on the game, Wednesday look a bit short for promotion. Tempted to lay them again but will leave my original bet to stand.


Division 2

Stats worked out in the Southend game (9 times out of last 10 the higher side from position 4 v 7 has qualified) and I hope they continue to work out in the final (8 times out of last 10 the higher placed league side has gone up) as I am on Southend at 3.65 for promotion (currently 1.82). Again will leave this bet to run.



So in summary not a lot for me to bet on with 2 bets already running. Possibly take Preston to buck the trend and frank the normal season form with West Ham.

One other option to consider is the over/under markets for the finals. 10 out of the 12 play off games were under 2.5. Could pay to back unders in all 3 finals. The Division 2 game especially would be a prime candidate. Out of the 4 play off semis there was a total of 4 goals scored. No liquidity on Betfair for these markets at the moment though.

[keemanan]

All season I've been impressed with Preston , when craig brown left they weren't in great shape but Billy Davies has tuned the team around completly , I'm sick of saying how good Nugent could be and a part of me hopes they done go up and City could buy him :dreamon
Anyway , this occasion is big and I really think that preston wont handle it as well as the hammers and that could be the big advantage on the day.
west Ham played ever so well v Ipswich second leg , better than Preston played against ODM's injury ravaged rams.

I forsee a comfortable win for the moaning londoners .

west Ham 2.25 (bet365)

[GETT1NLOTS]

The Championship Play Off Final is very difficult to call. Both sides come into the final in excellent form.

West Ham have (on paper) the better team. The big pitch at Cardiff should suit Harewood and Zamora and it would be of no surprise to see this pair use their pace to good effect here.

Having said that Preston have beaten the Hammers twice this season 2-1 home and away so why do the Londoners deserve to be the bookies favourite? I can only guess that the Hammers extra support and more famous name has meant that the book has got unbalanced by some 'punters' money?

Because either team could win the 3.10 on Preston now looks like the value bet to me (if you expect a winner in 90 minutes.)

Here are the current bookie odds from Bet365 (different to above now)

Championship
30 May-15:00 West Ham v Preston 2.25 3.20 3.10

Coca-Cola League One
29 May-15:00 Hartlepool v Sheff Wed 3.20 3.25 2.20

Coca-Cola League Two
28 May-15:00 Southend v Lincoln City 2.40 3.20 2.87

[stevenc1]

Gone for a bit of a long shot for a wee bit of fun ...

Covered as doubles all four teams (WHU, PNE,SWFC & HUFC) to win on pens

[MickeyPaul]

3.45-3.50 for Preston here is just too much for me. Billy Davies seems to have worked wonders at Preston since Craig 'the draw master' Brown piddled off and considering Preston have beaten West Ham 2-1 twice all ready, the price is unmissable imo. Here are the reports from the West Ham site for those who are interested:

SUPER STRIKES SINK HAMMERS 18/12/04

WEST Ham United have gone down 2-1 against Preston North End at Deepdale. Alan Pardew’s side were 2-0 down at half-time after two super strikes from Eddie Lewis and Brian O’Neil, and despite Nigel Reo-Coker’s second-half strike they could not find an equaliser.

Alan Pardew made one change to the team that drew against Leeds, Teddy Sheringham coming in to replace Sergei Rebrov in attack.

The Hammers looked lively in the opening exchanges, and Luke Chadwick very nearly stole in behind the Preston defence but Claude Davis got back to tackle. Teddy Sheringham fired over the bar soon after, but with just eight minutes gone Preston stunned Alan Pardew’s men by taking the lead.

Richard Cresswell broke free on the left and his thumping shot was beaten away by Stephen Bywater. West Ham should have cleared their lines, but instead the ball fell to Eddie Lewis 25-yards-out, who let fly with a stunning shot that beat the diving Bywater to his right.

Alan Pardew’s team responded well to going behind. Five minutes later Teddy Sheringham’s pass released Marlon Harewood, but his shot was well blocked by Preston ’keeper Andy Lonegran.

West Ham continued to fashion some good football on the edge of the Preston box. A slick passing move made space for Carl Fletcher to attack down the right, but his cut back was scooped up by Lonegran.

Preston remained a threat, though, and Lewis’ firecracker right foot in particular. On 25 minutes the American midfielder unleashed another dipping drive that Bywater did well to tip wide.

Fired up by their goal Preston began to mount a sustained period of pressure. Chris Sedgwick’s toe-poked shot drifted well over the Hammers bar and Cresswell’s downward header was easily gathered by Bywater.

With half-time fast approaching Bywater had to race from his penalty area to meet the onrushing Patrick Agyemang and did well to clear under pressure from the big Preston striker.

Then, on the stroke of the interval, Preston added a second to seal a miserable first-half for the Hammers. Tomas Repka’s poor clearance fell to Brian O’Neil 20-yards-out and he unleashed a super drive that rocketed past Bywater to send the Hammers in 2-0 down at the break.

HT: 0-2

Alan Pardew began the second-half by replacing Luke Chadwick with Nigel Reo-Coker. As substitutions go it proved something of a masterstroke. Seven minutes after the interval the Hammers were back in it. Marlon Harewood worked the ball out to Tomas Repka on the right and his low cross found Reo-Coker sliding in to score his second goal of the season.

Suddenly the game erupted into life, but it was Preston rather than the Hammers who began to push forward. O’Neil shot straight at Bywater from the edge of the area, before Lewis’ cracking drive thundered back off the crossbar. The danger was not over though, as the ball dropped to Chris Sedgwick whose thumping effort stung the hands of Bywater as the Hammers ’keeper beat it away.

Teddy Sheringham was guilty of squandering a good chance to equalise on 65 minutes, miscuing his shot on the turn from the edge of the six-yard box.

But suddenly the momentum was with the Hammers. Alan Pardew’s men pressed forward in search of an equaliser and unmet crosses began to rain down on the Preston penalty area.

With 76 minutes gone the bubbly Reo-Coker burst through the hosts defence and cut the ball back to Marlon Harewood, but the striker fired wide with the goal at his mercy.

Still Alan Pardew’s men probed for an equaliser, Sergei Rebrov replacing Darren Powell on 82 minutes to add some more bite to the Hammers forward line.

Chris Powell just failed to take Matty Etherington’s clever flick in his stride and Teddy Sheringham’s goal-bound effort was blocked by Chris Lucketti. There were appeals for a penalty from the West Ham fans behind the goal, but the referee was unmoved.

Hammers were encouraged by five minutes of added time. But despite some late pressure Preston held firm for a 2-1 win, avenging West Ham’s victory at Deepdale on the opening day of last season.

HAMMERS LOSE OUT IN TENSE CLASH 05/03/05

AN incident packed promotion clash at Upton Park has finished 2-1 to Preston, Bobby Zamora’s late goal not enough to save ten-man Hammers from defeat.

Dave Nugent and Patrick Agyemang scored for the visitors, while Hammers had Tomas Repka sent off in the first-half of this ill-tempered clash.

Alan Pardew’s one change from the defeat at Leeds was forced on him by the absence of Anton Ferdinand with a hamstring injury, Hayden Mullins coming in at right-back and Tomas Repka switching to the centre of defence.

Youth-team star Hogan Ephraim was named among the substitutes for the first time and Chris Cohen made up a duo of Hammers Academy graduates to make the first team bench.

The game started brightly, with both sides showing plenty of attacking endeavour. Hayden Mullins found space in the box but should have done better in picking out Teddy Sheringham when his far post cross floated well-clear of the Hammers striker.

Brian O’Neil had a hopeful drive from all of 30 yards easily saved by Stephen Bywater, but the Hammers goalkeeper looked anything but comfortable when he ballooned his clearance from Chris Powell’s back-pass under pressure from Paul McKenna.

Hammers had a great chance with 13 minutes gone, but it was Preston full-back Graham Alexander that turned Steve Lomas’ back post cross towards goal, the ball trickling just wide of the post.

Then, less than five minutes later, an awful aberration by Bywater gave Preston the lead. Malky Mackay played the ball back to his goalkeeper, but Bywater’s touch was heavy and it allowed Dave Nugent to steal in and roll the ball into the unguarded net.

Hammers rallied to try and cancel out the mistake of their teammate, but it was Bywater himself making amends for the error on 26 minutes. Chris Sedgwick hit a venomous 25 yard drive that the ’keeper did well to parry and regained his balance to make a superb point-blank block from Nugent, although the goal would have been ruled out in any case for offside.

West Ham continued to enjoy plenty of the attack, but a succession of crosses failed to beat the first defender, while O’Neil’s header for Preston drifted well wide.

With 39 minutes gone Marlon Harewood’s shot was well-blocked by Preston captain Chris Lucketti and from the resulting corner Carl Fletcher hit a shot on the turn that drove through the crowded penalty box, but was well saved by a sprawling Chris Day in the visitors’ goal.

Two minutes later Day had to be alert again as Harewood chased a long clearance from Bywater, but couldn’t get enough of a touch to divert it beyond the goalkeeper.

With three minutes to go until half-time Alan Pardew’s problems were compounded when Tomas Repka clashed with Brian O’Neil off the ball and Repka was shown the fourth red card of his Upton Park career for lashing out at the Preston midfielder.

Already on a knife-edge, the Upton Park atmosphere exploded as the players from both sides became embroiled in an ugly melee that saw Harewood and Chris Sedgwick booked.

The half-time whistle couldn’t come soon enough to quell some heated tempers as the Hammers left the field trailing 1-0.

HT: 0-1

Down to 10 men and a goal behind, Hammers emerged for the second-half with it all to do. Bobby Zamora replaced Teddy Sheringham during the break with Carl Fletcher switching to central defence.

But it was Preston who had the ball in the net barely a minute after the re-start. It was another nervy moment for Bywater as he spilled Alexander’s drive and Nugent pounced again to turn the ball home, only for the offside flag to rule out the effort.

With their man advantage Preston were doing all the pressing. Nugent was denied by Chris Powell’s excellent tackle in the six-yard area, before a miss-kick from Hayden Mullins allowed Nugent to break through on goal. One on one with Bywater, the Preston goalscorer tried to round him, but this time the Hammers goalkeeper came out on top, diving at Nugent’s feet to tip the ball away for a corner.

Alexander and Eddie Lewis were both off target with efforts soon after, but Hammers were beginning to raise the tempo and their desire was epitomised by Harewood fighting to win back the ball in midfield and charging at the Preston defence before his run was ended by Matt Hill.

Matty Etherington hit a cracking 25 yard volley that Day watched all the into his arms, and then swung over the corner from the left that Lomas flew in to meet, but glanced his effort well wide.

Defender Malky Mackay was replaced by Nigel Reo-Coker on 69 minutes as Hammers desperation for an equaliser increased. On the other hand, Preston showed their desire to close up the game by bringing on defender Claude Davis for Eddie Lewis.

But it was the visitors’ next substitution that sealed all three points for Preston. Patrick Agyemang replaced Nugent and within a minute the gangly forward was twisting past Mullins and beating Bywater with a cool finish to make it 2-0.

Hammers looked out of it, but that certainly didn’t show in their performance as Alan Pardew’s men continued to surge forward in search of a way back into the game.

With four minutes remaining Hammers scored the goal that their application deserved. It was some goal, too. Harewood’s pace and strength dealt with Youl Mwaene, giving him time to pick out Zamora at the far post, and he dispatched a sizzling volley into the far corner of the net, giving Day no chance.

Upton Park was suddenly alive again with visions of a sterling comeback. Hammers gave it all they had, but Steve Lomas was off target with his effort and Zamora had a shot well blocked by the Preston defence.

Passions were running high in both camps as the final whistle approached, but it was on the bench where they finally spilled over as Preston manager Billy Davies was sent from the dug-out.

He missed seeing his side celebrate a 2-1 victory at Upton Park and what could prove a very important three points.

[GETT1NLOTS]

I took 2.42 on Preston to get promoted on Betfair last night.

Come on lads!

[GETT1NLOTS]

Balls.