Sky Bet Championship play-off final: Date, kick-off time, TV channel and odds for Aston Villa v Derby
The play-off final has been confirmed as Aston Villa take on Derby, we have everything you need to know for the game.
How did both sides reach the final?
Aston Villa finished the season in fifth place after a superb run of form which included a club record streak of 10 victories in a row.
In the semi-finals they faced West Brom and came from behind to win the first leg at Villa Park 2-1 only to lose a compelling second leg 1-0. With no away goals, the clash at The Hawthorns went to extra-time but there would be no more goals and Villa progressed on penalties.
Derby held their nerve on the last day of the season to defeat West Brom and finish sixth but it looked like their efforts would be in vain after losing the opening leg to third-placed Leeds 1-0 at home.
Frank Lampard's Rams then conceded the opening goal in the second leg at Elland Road as they fell 2-0 down on aggregate but a stunning revival either side of the break saw them go 3-2 up.
Leeds hit back to level the aggregate scores but up popped Jack Marriott with his second of the night in the closing stages to seal a dramatic victory.
What date is it and what time is kick-off?
This season sees the final revert back to the traditional Monday spot on May 27, therefore taking place after the League One and Two finals. The kick-off at Wembley is at 3pm.
Is it on TV?
Sky Sports will be broadcasting the entire play-off finals weekend, including all semi-finals across the three divisions.
Does finishing higher give you a better chance?
It's not a certainty - but finishing higher does give you a slightly better chance of success according to the history of the play-offs in England's second tier.
Dating back to the 1988-89 campaign - when the play-offs became a battle solely between second tier sides (in the two previous seasons, top-flight sides were involved in an attempt to secure their survival) - the teams finishing in the highest possible position have got promoted on 10 occasions.
In 1991 that happened to be fourth place, when Notts County emerged triumphant.
The team finishing in the second highest spot has gone up on six occasions, with one of those times being third-placed Bolton when they defeated second-placed Reading in an all-time classic in 1995.
The fifth placed side has won promotion eight times, with the team sneaking into the last spot brining up the rear with five promotions.
In terms of previous finals between fourth placed and fifth placed sides - as is the case this year - there have been five of these down the years.
- Swindon (5th) 4-3 Leicester (1993)
- Crystal Palace (6th) 1-0 Sheffield United (1997)
- Watford (5th) 2-0 Bolton (1999)
- Birmingham (5th) 1-1 (Pens: 4-2) Norwich (2002)
- West Ham (6th) 1-0 Preston (2005)
It might not be the greatest of omens, but Aston Villa fans might be slightly more cheered by this 'evidence'!
In 14 play-off finals since the league was re-branded to the Championship, only three teams have failed to make Wembley when finishing in 3rd (Brighton in 2016, Nottingham Forest in 2010 and Ipswich in 2005).
In 50% of those finals, the team finishing in 3rd has been promoted to the Premier League. Most recently that was Fulham in 2018, and prior to that it was Norwich in 2015 after they beat Middlesbrough at the national stadium.
Blackpool (2010) and West Ham (2005) are the only teams in the 'Championship era' who finished in 6th and went on to win the play-off final.
Who are the bookies favourites?
According to Sky Bet, Aston Villa are the favourites to secure promotion
- Aston Villa - 8/13
- Derby - 5/4
Where is the final?
As has been the case in recent years, the Sky Bet Championship play-off final will be played at Wembley Stadium.
The stadium capacity is 90,000 and the 2018 final between Aston Villa and Fulham saw a total attendance of 85,243.
Odds correct at 1445 BST (16/05/19)
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