Championship Playoff Semi-Finals Preview: The Promotion Race Begins!

By the news team
May 9, 2024

Excitement is building as the Championship play-off semi-finals approach, we delve into this weekend’s exciting fixtures, with Norwich taking on Leeds and West Brom taking on Southampton.

We examine each team’s chances in the early stages of these important matches as Sunday approaches.

Norwich v Leeds – May 12, 12pm

In the opening semi-final, Leeds United venture to Carrow Road to face David Wagner’s Norwich City. While Leeds once looked destined for automatic promotion, their recent form has been poor, securing just one win in their last five matches. Norwich City’s form shows a similar trend, managing to pick up three points just once in their last five games. With both teams potentially affected by the safety of playoff football, form can prove unpredictable in these high-stakes one-off semifinals.

Both Norwich and Leeds have been in the Premier League recently, Leeds only being relegated last year, so they both know what it feels like to be promoted and the experience will prove beneficial in these high-pressure games. Leeds find themselves 11/10 favorites to win the first leg, most likely because they finished 17 points clear of Norwich City. The home side are 23/10 to get a result to take away at Leeds.

Norwich City striker Josh Sargent has been in terrific form this season, having had his most prolific year for the club to date with 16 goals. Sargent is 23/10 to score in the play-off first leg against Leeds. The Yorkshire club have Championship player of the season Crysencio Summerville in their attacking artillery. Having scored 20 goals this season and set up 10 goals, it would be no surprise to see him involved in any of the goals. Summerville are also 23/10 to score in the first leg.

West Brom v Southampton – May 12, 2.15pm

The second semi-final to be played on Sunday is fourth versus fifth. West Brom host Southampton in what will be a closely fought affair. The odds also suggest this as West Brom are 7/4 with Southampton marginal favorites at 29/20. Like the other semis, both teams have been at the top in recent years and will be pushing to get back there, so we can expect the usual end-to-end playoff filled with drama.

West Brom couldn’t have finished the regular season better with a simple 3-0 win against Preston and they will be full of confidence going into the first leg. Southampton will also be full of confidence after winning 2-1 away at fellow play-off contenders Leeds, who they could meet at Wembley in the final.

West Brom have been in fine scoring form with Brandon Thomas-Asante leading the scorers with 12. He is 23/10 to score anytime in the first leg of this semi-final tie. As for Southampton, they have had two players who have scored plenty of goals throughout the season – Adam Armstrong with 21 and Ché Adams 18. Armstrong is the all-time favorite to score at 21/10 with Adams 9/ 4 to score against West Brom.

Check out all the latest football betting odds at William Hill