EFL play-offs 2024/.25: Which League One and League Two groups will attain Wembley?

Forward of the beginning of the Sky Wager League One and League Two play-off semi-finals this weekend, we check out the golf equipment getting ready to battle it out for a spot at Wembley.

Leyton Orient vs Stockport

Saturday Might 10, 12.30pm – Dwell on Sky Sports activities

Kelman holds the important thing for Orient categorical

Charlie Kelman has scored extra targets than every other participant within the prime 4 tiers for the reason that flip of the 12 months.

The Leyton Orient striker, on mortgage from QPR, has hit 15 this 12 months, 4 greater than each Alexander Isak and Mo Salah, to complete as League One’s prime scorer on 21.

His scientific ending and relentless vitality have made him the heartbeat of Orient’s assault, and the most important motive they’re nonetheless within the promotion hunt.

Orient themselves have had a extra blended 2025. It began with a slim, however memorable, defeat to Manchester Metropolis within the FA Cup and was quickly adopted by 5 consecutive league defeats which regarded to have ended hopes of a play-off end.

However a run of only one loss of their ultimate 10 video games, that concluded with a six-game successful streak, earned them sixth and a popularity of being the facet nobody needs to face.

Richie Wellens’ staff has already defied expectations as soon as this season – do not be stunned in the event that they do it once more.
David Richardson

Promotion king Challinor targets extra Stockport success

Stockport County boss Dave Challinor is a promotion specialist – he is gunning for the EIGHTH of his managerial profession.

The 49-year-old has lifted County from the Nationwide League to 3rd in League One, ending the season with simply two defeats of their final 21 league video games.

Challinor has received promotion within the earlier 5 divisions he has managed, working his approach up from the eighth tier with Colwyn Bay, AFC Fylde and Hartlepool. In every of the final 14 seasons, he has completed both within the play-offs or as promotion winners.

His 3-4-2-1 formation has delivered 168 league targets within the final two seasons and solely champions Birmingham scored extra on this marketing campaign.

Now simply three video games away from the Championship, Challinor’s relentless rise via the ranks exhibits no indicators of slowing. With Stockport driving the momentum of a stellar season and his monitor report of success, few would guess towards him including to his exceptional managerial resume.
David Richardson

Second leg on Wednesday Might 14, 8pm – Dwell on Sky Sports activities

Sunday Might 11, 6.30pm – Dwell on Sky Sports activities

Can Wycombe be taught from very latest historical past?

Since their first-ever Championship season ended with relegation in 2020/21, Wycombe have pushed exhausting to get again there. They reached the play-off ultimate in 2021/22, however had been overwhelmed by Sunderland. In 2022/23, they completed eight factors off sixth and in 2023/24, it was 11.

Final summer season, a takeover by billionaire businessman Mikheil Lomtadze was accomplished and the nice feeling continued into the season. In a league containing heavyweights Birmingham and Wrexham, it was the Chairboys that had been prime on the finish of November, having received eight on the trot.

In January, nonetheless, they had been rocked by the departure of Matt Bloomfield, who left for Luton after one of the best a part of 22 years at Adams Park. There was potential for the promotion push to crumble consequently, however Mike Dodds took over and led them to the play-offs, despite the fact that hopes of automated promotion had been alive till April 26.

Their solely fear is that they confronted every of the opposite three League One play-off semi-finalists of their final three video games and misplaced all three – together with 4-0 towards Charlton on April 21. Classes must be discovered.
Dan Lengthy

Charlton nicely positioned to problem after excellent turnaround

Outcomes recommended Charlton had been sleepwalking to a different season of mid-table mediocrity within the first few months of this season. However they had been nonetheless nicely beneath a 12 months into the Nathan Jones-led rebuild – and for the reason that begin of December, every part has clicked into gear.

Throughout the final 29 video games of the season, 87 factors had been obtainable – and with 19 wins and 6 attracts in that point, the Addicks took 63 of them. With out their struggles at the beginning, it could have been title-winning type.

It’s significantly spectacular given the membership completed solely 9 factors above the relegation zone in 2023/24.

“We’ve asked, ‘give us time and we’ll build you something,'” Jones informed Sky Sports activities in an unique interview in March. “And we’ve got that. And now we’re in a really good place. We’ve achieved nothing. Absolutely nothing. But we’re in a categorically better position than we were last year.”

And so it goes with out saying their possibilities of ending a five-year exile in League One look extremely beneficial.
Dan Lengthy

Second leg on Thursday Might 15, 8pm – Dwell on Sky Sports activities

Saturday Might 10, 8pm – Dwell on Sky Sports activities

Notts County’s fearsome entrance two make them favourites

Notts County’s type was patchy on the finish of the common season. Of their final 14 video games, they received 4, drew three and misplaced seven, with solely a three-point cushion between themselves and Salford in seventh.

However what units them aside – and is little doubt a major motive as to why they’re favourites for promotion – is their fearsome strikeforce, made up of Alassana Jatta and David McGoldrick.

Between them, the pair have 36 league targets and 7 assists this season; Jatta has 19 and 4, McGoldrick 17 and three. Solely Bromley’s Michael Cheek – League Two Participant of the 12 months – scored extra (25).

It’s price noting that is Gambia worldwide Jatta’s first full season in English soccer, following his transfer from Danish facet Viborg in February 2024 – and veteran frontman McGoldrick is barely 5 months away from his thirty eighth birthday.

They may every have their very own causes for carrying that type within the play-offs, too. Jatta was reportedly focused by Championship golf equipment in January, whereas McGoldrick has the possibility to safe promotion for his hometown membership, who gave him his skilled debut 21 years in the past.

Wimbledon will must be at their greatest to stifle this duo.
Dan Lengthy

Wimbledon aiming for 4 from 4 in play-offs

They began the season with 4 wins from 5, however it’s only actually for the reason that finish of 2024 that AFC Wimbledon have been within the promotion combine.

Between Boxing Day and February 22, Johnnie Jackson’s facet went on a 12-game unbeaten run, which included eight clear sheets. That propelled them to 3rd and created a six-point cushion between themselves and Grimsby in eighth.

From March onwards, they stuttered. There have been probabilities to climb again right into a closely-contested prime three, however they had been handed up. There have been solely 4 wins within the ultimate 14, although a type of did come on the ultimate day.

With simply two victories within the final 9, now’s the time to attract on the membership’s earlier expertise within the play-offs; in 2007/08, they had been promoted from the Isthmian Premier Division, in 2010/11, they had been promoted from the Convention and 5 years later, in 2015/16, they did the identical in League Two.

Historical past is necessary at Plough Lane and getting again to League One after three seasons is non-negotiable.
Dan Lengthy

Second leg on Saturday Might 17, 12.30pm – Dwell on Sky Sports activities

Sunday Might 11, 3.30pm – Dwell on Sky Sports activities

Prepare dinner heats up back-to-back promotion hopes regardless of accidents

“Our season was summed up in the second half where it offers so much but ends with so little.”

That was supervisor Paul Prepare dinner’s verdict after Chesterfield’s shock 4-0 defeat to lowly Tranmere at the beginning of April. It turned out to be their solely defeat of their ultimate 13 matches of a season which will nicely finish with a lot.

Chesterfield had been nicely backed for one more promotion push after arising as Nationwide League champions. Accidents have blighted their season but now with a extra settled facet they’ve proven their true potential.

Attacking midfielder Liam Mandeville has shone whereas a 33-year-old Will Grigg is their prime scorer with 12, scoring in every of the final three video games, though a latest damage to ahead Armando Dobra has come at a nasty time.

Regardless of the setbacks, their season can nonetheless flip right into a memorable success.
David Richardson

Do Walsall have grit to salvage promotion?

A 4-2 win over MK Dons on January 18 was Walsall’s ninth in succession. They had been 12 factors clear on the prime of the league, with a sport in hand, and a League Two title win regarded nailed on.

Their drop-off after that was fairly one thing. Within the 21 video games that adopted, they received simply 3 times, with 10 attracts and eight defeats. Whereas the actual fact Stoke recalled prime scorer Nathan Lowe from his mortgage spell in January performed a component, it can’t be put down as the one issue.

Even so, on the ultimate day, they had been on target to complete third. Till Antoni Sarcevic’s 96th-minute winner for Bradford towards Fleetwood, that was. Whereas Bradford went up consequently, the Saddlers missed out on automated promotion by a single level.

The query now’s whether or not Mat Sadler’s facet can summon the mettle to present this rollercoaster promotion push one final effort.
Dan Lengthy

Second leg on Friday Might 16, 8pm – Dwell on Sky Sports activities