LEAGUE TWO PLAY-OFFS
The League Two play-offs have thrown up several surprises this season. All four sides – Shrewsbury, Accrington, Stevenage and Torquay – more than deserve their place in the 2010/11 play-offs. But at the start of the season few people, other than perhaps the optimistic fans at three of these clubs, could have imagined that their seasons would end with a place in the top seven and a chance of promotion. Shrewsbury were expected to clinch promotion and, although they lost out on a third-place finish to Wycombe on the final day of the season, Graham Turner’s men must be strong favourites to come out on top.
TORQUAY VS SHREWSBURY
Shrewsbury will need a big performance if they are to avoid defeat in the first leg of their play-off semi-final. The Shrews will want to forget all about their last visit to Plainmoor, back in March, where they were thumped 5-0 by the Gulls. Torquay striker Jake Robinson, who is at the club on loan from Shrewsbury, netted twice in that game and will be looking to inflict more damage on his parent club. But Shrewsbury ended the season on a five-match unbeaten run and will be looking to continue that form into the play-offs.
Torquay ended the season with a 3-1 defeat at Rotherham, which left them level on points with nearest challengers Gillingham. But goal difference ensured Paul Buckle’s men clinched a top seven finish despite having been deducted one point for fielding Jake Robinson in February’s clash with Hereford. The Gulls still have a great chance of sealing promotion this season but a poor run of results at the end of the campaign leaves Buckle’s men needing a big upturn in fortunes if they are to clinch the big prize. Torquay failed to win any of their last five league games, although four of those ended in draws. The most positive point for Torquay is their recent defensive record; the Gulls conceded in just two of their final seven league games this season. If their defence can produce that kind of form again, they are certainly in with a shout.
The underdogs tag could work in Torquay’s favour as they can just go out and enjoy the occasion. But they cannot take their previous 5-0 win for granted as, with a much bigger prize at stake, this time around Shrewsbury are likely to be more fired up for this one. Shrewsbury will still feel aggrieved at having not sealed automatic promotion after finishing just a point behind third-placed Wycombe. Wycombe’s controversial point against the Shrews, back in March, ultimately earned them promotion at the expense of Turner’s men. The game ended 1-1 after the linesman ruled that Gareth Ainsworth’s effort had crossed the line when it clearly hadn’t. But Shrewsbury must forget about that and focus on the task at hand – beating Torquay.
PREDICTION
Torquay to claim a narrow 2-1 win at Plainmoor, but Shrewsbury will turn on the style and take advantage of having the second leg at home with a 2-0 win. That would give Shrewsbury a 3-2 aggregate win and book Turner’s men a place in the final.
STEVENAGE VS ACCRINGTON
Stevenage fans must be delighted with how their season has turned out and, even if they were to miss out on promotion, the 2010/11 campaign will still be viewed as a huge success. After winning the Conference title, some may have expected Stevenage to have been embroiled in a relegation battles as can often be the case with newly promoted sides. However, several sides coming up in recent years have proved they can more than hold their own in England’s fourth tier. Graham Westley has done a magnificent job to lead Stevenage to a sixth-place finish and, with just three league defeats at home this season, they will be a tough nut to crack.
But Accrington will certainly be no pushovers as manager John Coleman continues to improve the team year after year. The longest serving manager in the Football League has been at Accrington since August 1999 and gradually turned the club from a non-league outfit into a side that can more than hold their own in League Two. Last season Accrington finished 15th, which at the time seemed like a very respectable position for the Lancashire club. This makes this season’s achievement of finishing fifth and claiming a place in the play-offs even more remarkable. John Coleman really has done a fantastic job and deserves a lot of credit for what he has done at the Crown Ground. Considering the problems with unpaid wages that the players have had to face, they really have stood up to be counted and deserve huge praise for doing so.
Accrington claimed a 2-2 draw on their last visit to Stevenage back in February, which followed on from the 1-0 win over their rivals from earlier in the season. It is set to be yet another close encounter and there is no room for error in the first leg if either side wants their promotion bid to continue. Morecambe lost the first leg of their play-off semi-final to Dagenham 6-0 last season so, although they won the second clash, it was already too late. Accrington and Stevenage will both want to attack but will also be wary of what happened to Morecambe and want to avoid that at all costs.
PREDICTION
Accrington to claim a share of the spoils with a 1-1 draw in the first leg before saving their best for the home leg in a 3-1 win, which would give them a 4-2 aggregate victory and a place in the play-off final.
LEAGUE TWO PLAY-OFF FINAL
Before the League Two play-offs have even got underway I am predicting a Shrewsbury Vs Accrington final. Shrewsbury will be huge favourites to clinch promotion and will be looking to avoid the play-off heartache they suffered in the final against Gillingham back in 2009. But I believe Accrington will spring a surprise to win the final by a narrow margin and send the Stanley faithful wild.
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