West Ham United, Leeds United, Cardiff City and Derby County have all played their part in blockbuster finals.
Bobby Zamora scores the first goal for QPR
The Championship play-off final is one of the most high pressure games in football, with the contrast of riches so vast between victory and defeat being added to the fact it’s generally always a full house at Wembley Stadium for the showpiece encounter.
Today marks the 2017 edition, and many neutral fans will be hoping that it can live up to the level of excitement we’ve seen from this tie in the past. Here are five occasions where the final was truly electrifying.
Leeds United 0-3 Watford – 2006
In the last play-off final before the new Wembley was built, the scene was set for a romantic Leeds United return to the Premier League, with the Whites having been relegated in 2004. At the Millennium Stadium that day however, their opponents Watford didn’t even bother to pick the script up, let alone read it, and proceeded to pound Leeds into the floor on their way to returning to the Premier League since 2000. Jay DeMerit got the ball rolling midway through the first half, before a Neil Sullivan own goal on the hour mark left Leeds with a very steep mountain to climb. A Darius Henderson penalty with six to play was the proverbial icing on the cake, and it was Watford on the back pages the next day, not Leeds.
Charlie Adam celebrates promotion with Blackpool
Blackpool 3-2 Cardiff City – 2010
Despite scraping sixth on the final day and finishing nine points behind third placed Nottingham Forest, it was Blackpool who would celebrate under the arch following what is possibly the most entertaining first half ever seen at the new Wembley. Michael Chopra put Cardiff ahead after nine minutes, only for Charlie Adam to level matters with an exquisite free kick with 13 on the clock. Cardiff again took the lead through Joe Ledley, on 37 minutes, but on 41, Gary Taylor-Fletcher equalised, and in first half stoppage time, Brett Ormerod fired home to put Blackpool 3-2 up. There were no more goals in the second half, and Blackpool’s fairy tale was complete.
Reading 2-4 Swansea City – 2011
From one of the most exciting first half displays to one of the most one sided, as in the 2011 play-off final, Swansea went in at half time sitting on a 3-0 lead. Two goals in two minutes from Scott Sinclar – the first of which being a penalty – set the Swans on their way, and a Stephen Dobbie strike five minutes before half time looked to have killed it off. Reading fought back bravely however, and a Joe Allen own goal followed by a Matt Mills strike put them right back in it. Reading’s Jem Karacan then struck the post in cruel footballing fashion, and the fact the ball wasn’t a few inches the other way proved costly, as Sinclair wrapped up the match with his hattrick goal from the penalty spot.
Ricardo Vaz Te scoring West Ham’s second goal
Blackpool 1-2 West Ham United – 2012
From some all out goalscoring affairs to a more conservative encounter, as West Ham returned to the top flight immediately after being relegated in dramatic circumstances. Sam Allardyce’s side took the lead through Carlton Cole, before a Tom Ince strike pulled Blackpool back into it. Chances came and went for both teams and it seemed certain that extra time was coming, until – with three minutes of normal time to play – Ricardo Vaz Te broke Blackpool hearts and slammed an effort home, sparking bedlam from the West Ham fans.
Derby County 0-1 Queens Park Rangers – 2014
As fans, we all know how cruel football can be – but few would have experienced pain and heartbreak on the level Derby County did in the summer of 2014. Having finished third in the table – five points clear of their opponents on the day – Derby had won over a lot of neutrals with their style of play, and many wanted them to win. For a long time it seemed likely, with the Rams slicing open QPR at will, but couldn’t find a way past Robert Green. Things stepped up when Gary O’Neil was sent off for QPR, but still Derby couldn’t find a way through. Their lack of a clinical edge proved costly as in the 90th minute, a rare QPR attack saw a Junior Hoilett cross woefully cleared by Richard Keogh…straight into the path of Bobby Zamora, who proceeded to slam the ball past Derby ‘keeper Lee Grant and into the net. It was QPR’s only shot on target the whole game, and despite being outplayed – even before the red card – QPR were promoted.
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