After what has been a typically gruelling and energy-sapping season in the Championship, four teams will hope to have another three games as they look to win promotion to the Premier League. Brentford and Middlesbrough kick things off in this season’s Championship play-offs having finished fifth and fourth respectively. Neither club were particularly fancied to finish in the top six at the start of the season but both have been challenging at the top end of the table throughout the campaign. Brentford are, of course, looking for back-to-back promotions whilst ‘Boro will be hoping to return to the top flight for the first tIme since suffering relegation in 2009.
The Bees actually started outside the top six going into the last day of the regular season but they done what they needed to by seeing off relegated Wigan. They also had to rely on Derby losing and, somewhat surprisingly, Steve McLaren’s men came unstuck at home to Reading. Those events do not only extend Brentford’s season, it also means that Mark Warburton’s reign as the club’s manager is also prolonged for at least a couple more games. As I have mentioned previously, Warburton will be relieved of his duties no matter the division Brentford ply their trade in next season, as the owners have decided to go in a different direction.
Middlesborough’s participation in the play-offs was also in doubt for a while but for a different reason than Brentford’s. Aitor Karanka’s team have challenged for automatic promotion all season but eventually missed out to Bournemouth and Watford in the last couple of games. It remains to be seen how missing out on a place in the top two will affect the players heading into this semi-final. It could be that the frustration and disappointment galvanises the squad, and they use that their motivation to go up at the second attempt. However, it could just as easily deflate them and find it difficult to raise their game, which will be required for them to be successful.
Brentford finished the season very strongly which is evidenced by losing only one of their last nine games. They were intent on making it difficult for themselves, though, drawing three of their last four at home – all three ending 2-2. Those games summed up their season as they are a team who always tried to play attacking football but they can be caught out at the back because of that. I would not expect the manager to change too much in the play-offs but, having kept just two clean sheets in their last 13, that defensive record will be something of a concern.
Having been a top-class defender himself, it is not a huge surprise to see how much emphasis he has put on organisation since arriving at the Riverside. Middlesborough conceded 11 fewer goals than anybody else in this season’s Championship. They have had to sacrifice some attacking flair for that record, however, and scored at least 20 less than the three sides who finished above them. Some will point to that as being the reason they fell short of automatic promotion but when you consider how much ‘Boro have improved in one season, it is only to be expected that they are a bit of the finished article.
There is nothing quite like the excitement of the Championship play-offs with such a huge prize on offer for the team who holds their nerve, best. Brentford certainly look to have the momentum out of these two clubs after winning their last two games to make the top six. I would be a little anxious if I supported Middlesborough to see what their response is to missing out on going up automatically but there is plenty of experience in the squad to try and combat that disappointment. Brentford lost both regular games between the two, but whilst they were soundly beaten at the Riverside, they will consider themselves hugely unlucky to have lost at home, 1-0. They battered the visitors that day but simply could not score. Pervious form goes out that window here, anyway, and it will be a cup final type atmosphere at Griffin Park. The home team will take the game to their opponents and I can see it being an entertaining match. Seven of Brenford’s last nine home games seen both teams scoring and I sense a similar outcome on Friday.
Both teams to score 19/20 @ Betfair
