England

Charlton Fancied to Finish the Job Off at Home

Charlton host Doncaster on Friday night in what is the last game of the playoff semi finals in England. The winner of this game will go to Wembley to face Sunderland in the League One playoff final next Sunday, with a place in the Championship at stake.

Both clubs have been up in the second tier before, with Charlton having Premier League experience in the past. That means they both know what it is like to be on a bigger stage, and they would love for a repeat of that in the 2019/20 season.

What Happened in the First Leg?

Despite being away from home in the first leg, Charlton attacked Doncaster right from the off during their meeting up in South Yorkshire and they got the rewards they deserved from the game. They came away with a 2-1 win and that has given them a huge advantage going into this leg. They are at home, and they know that if they don’t get beat, they are through to the Wembley final.

For Doncaster, although they would have preferred to win the game at home, they have put themselves in a position where they have nothing to lose and where they know they have to attack. Rovers have to win the game on Friday, so they cannot hold back and try to defend. There is no pressure on them though, everyone is expecting Charlton to get a result here to get through to the final, and Doncaster won’t mind that kind of pressure free environment before the game begins.

While Doncaster had a couple of chances in the first game, Charlton were the far better team and they were good value for their win. If Charlton play like that again, then Doncaster are going to have to really up their game if they want to win this one. The big need here for Doncaster is to be clinical. Charlton knew they wouldn’t get many chances at Doncaster, and those that came around they took in good fashion. Things are opposite now, Doncaster need to score but they know that chances won’t be easy to come by. Any they do get, have to be taken if they are to have any chance of making it through to Wembley.

Sunderland Await the Winners

It was Sunderland who came through the other tie to book their place in the playoff final. They await the winner of this game, and across two legs against Portsmouth they were good value for their win. They won the home leg 1-0 and had chances to score more, before going away from home and drawing 0-0 to maintain their lead over the two games.

Both Sunderland and Portsmouth have been close to automatic promotion at parts of the season, but fell away in the final few games and couldn’t catch Luton or Barnsley. However, they have shown that they are very good, and two of the best teams in this league. Many feel that the winner of that game is likely to go on and be promoted, and based on how well Sunderland played in the two games, that is hard to go against. Whoever gets through here is going to have to be at the top of their game to defeat Sunderland.

Charlton vs Doncaster Betting Tips

A big game at The Valley, and one of these two teams will become the final team to qualify for the three playoff finals that will be held at Wembley next weekend. Sunderland are already through to the League One final and they are waiting to find out who they will face.

Charlton are big favourites for qualification here which is no surprise and they have two ways in which they can get to Wembley. A win would certainly take them there, but they can also get through by drawing the game, showing that they have the big advantage here. Doncaster need to win, and a one goal win would only be good enough for extra time and possibly penalties. If they want to get through in 90 minutes then they have to win this game by two goals, which is going to be incredibly tough for them.

Doncaster have nothing to lose, and they simply have to attack here. They are good going forward, and will create chances. However, that is going to leave them open at the back and Charlton will be happy to sit back and soak up the pressure, before hopefully hitting on the counter attack. We saw in the first leg that Charlton are clinical, and if they play to the same level here then they are going to be very tough to beat, no matter how good Doncaster play.

I’m backing Charlton for the win in 90 minutes and to get to Wembley from this game. They impressed me in the first game, I want to see more of the same in the second and if we do, they are going to be incredibly difficult to beat. Expect Doncaster to leave gaps at the back, and Charlton to capitalise on them.