The EFL Championship playoffs get underway today, with four teams fighting it out to join Norwich and Watford as teams to go up into the Premier League. The chance of promotion is huge, and the financial implications only add to what is at stake.
Bournemouth takes on Brentford and Barnsley plays Swansea City in two-legged semi-finals, with the winners going to Wembley for a winner takes all game to get to the top-flight of English football.
The @SkyBet EFL Play-Offs are here!
— EFL (@EFL) May 17, 2021
Who will #StepUp? #EFL | #EFLPlayOffs pic.twitter.com/59SXcUNSMD
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Brentford
A team that just cannot seem to catch a break when it comes to that elusive last step to the Premier League.
Brentford finds themselves in the playoffs once again after falling at the last hurdle in 2020, losing to now relegated Fulham, 2-1.
In their first year in a brand-new stadium, the Bees have continued their good Championship form but despite having the league’s top scorer in Ivan Toney with 31 goals, they fell four points short of the automatic promotion places.
After last year’s campaign, Brentford have the most unsuccessful playoff campaigns in history with nine but having kept much of the team that went all the way last year, together, there is real hope that Thomas Frank’s side can get to the big time.
Look out for players like Toney and French winger Bryan Mbuemo to be the difference for the London side.