2018 EFL League One play-off final

Last updated

2018 EFL League One play-off final
Wembley Stadium, illuminated.jpg
Wembley Stadium hosted the final
After extra time
Date27 May 2018
Venue Wembley Stadium, London
Referee Robert Jones
Attendance26,218
2017
2019

The 2018 EFL League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 27 May 2018 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Rotherham United and Shrewsbury Town to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from EFL League One to the EFL Championship. The top two teams of the 2017–18 EFL League One season gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the teams placed from third to sixth place in the table partook in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2018–19 season in the Championship.

Contents

Rotherham had reached the play-off final in their first season back in the third tier of English football, having been relegated from the Championship in the 2017–18 season. The two clubs had faced one another at Wembley before, in the 1996 Football League Trophy Final. The 2018 final was watched by a crowd of more than 26,000 people and refereed by Robert Jones. Shrewsbury's goalkeeper Dean Henderson saved an early Rotherham penalty before Rotherham took the lead with a Richard Wood goal. Shrewsbury equalised through a second-half Alex Rodman strike, forcing the match into extra time. Late in the first half, Wood scored his and Rotherham's second, and the match ended 21.

Shrewsbury Town ended the next season in 18th place, five points above the relegation zone. Rotherham United finished 22nd in the 2018–19 EFL Championship, four points from safety and having conceded the most goals in the division, and were relegated back to League One.

Route to the final

Football League One final table, leading positions [1]
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1 Wigan Athletic 46291168929+6098
2 Blackburn Rovers 46281268240+4296
3 Shrewsbury Town 46251296039+2187
4 Rotherham United 46247157353+2079
5 Scunthorpe United 461917106550+1574
6 Charlton Athletic 462011155851+771

Shrewsbury Town finished the regular 2017–18 season in third place in EFL League One, the third tier of the English football league system, one place ahead of Rotherham United. Both therefore missed out on the two automatic places for promotion to the EFL Championship and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the third promoted team. Shrewsbury finished nine points behind Blackburn Rovers (who were promoted in second place) and eleven behind league winners Wigan Athletic. Rotherham United ended the season eight points behind Shrewsbury. [1] [2]

Rotherham faced Scunthorpe United in their play-off semi-final, with the first leg being played away at Glanford Park. Jon Taylor scored after 17 minutes to take the lead for Rotherham but Scunthorpe equalised almost immediately through an own goal from Michael Ihiekwe. Joe Newell, a second-half substitute, put Rotherham back in front in the 64th minute after Scunthorpe goalkeeper Matt Gilks was replaced after suffering a knee injury. With two minutes remaining, Cameron McGeehan restored parity once again and the match ended 22. [3] The second leg was played four days later at Rotherham's New York Stadium. Richard Wood put Rotherham ahead with a headed goal in additional time in the first half, and Will Vaulks extended their lead with a close-range strike. The Scunthorpe captain Rory McArdle was sent off after receiving two yellow cards and the match ended 20 to Rotherham, who progressed to the final with a 42 aggregate victory. [4]

Shrewsbury's opponents in their play-off semi-final were Charlton Ahtletic, with the first leg being played away at The Valley. The first half was goalless and with ten minutes remaining in the second, Jon Nolan's 20-yard (18 m) half-volley from a Stefan Payne pass put Shrewsbury into a 10 lead which they held onto until the final whistle. [5] The second leg was played at Shrewsbury's New Meadow three days later. A second-half strike from Carlton Morris was the only goal of the game, and the match ended 10, with Shrewsbury qualifying for the final, winning 20 on aggregate. [6]

Shrewsbury TownRound Rotherham United
OpponentResultLegsSemi-finalsOpponentResultLegs
Charlton Athletic 2–01–0 away; 1–0 home Scunthorpe United 4–22–2 away; 2–0 home

Match

Richard Wood (pictured in 2007) scored both goals for Rotherham. Richard Wood May 2007.jpg
Richard Wood (pictured in 2007) scored both goals for Rotherham.

Background

Rotherham United had featured in two play-off finals prior to 2018, losing the 2010 Football League Two play-off final to Dagenham & Redbridge and the 2014 Football League One play-off final where they defeated Leyton Orient after a penalty shootout. [7] [8] Shrewsbury Town had also played in two play-off finals, both unsuccessfully. They lost the 2007 Football League Two play-off final 31 to Bristol Rovers and then were defeated by Gillingham in the 2009 final. [6] Shrewsbury had also lost in two other finals hosted at Wembley Stadium, against Rotherham in the 1996 Football League Trophy Final and League Two team Lincoln City in the 2018 EFL Trophy Final, held the month prior to this play-off final. [6] During the regular season, both teams had won their away games, Shrewsbury winning 21 in November 2017 and Rotherham victorious 10 the following February. [9] The play-off final was Shrewsbury's 62nd competitive match of the season. [10] The on-loan striker Kieffer Moore was Rotherham's highest scorer during the season with thirteen goals, despite having left the club in January, [11] while Payne was Shrewsbury's top marksman with eleven. [1]

Shrewsbury Town had not played in the second tier of English football since their relegation from the 1988–89 Second Division, while Rotherham were attempting to restore their place in the EFL Championship having been relegated in the 2016–17 season. [10] The Shrewsbury Town manager Paul Hurst had spent almost his entire playing career at Rotherham, and coming into the game there was considerable speculation in the media over whether he would be taking the vacant position at Championship club Ipswich Town, regardless of the result of the play-off final. [10] [12] Paul Warne, the Rotherham manager, had played alongside Hurst for the club for five years. [10]

Robert Jones was the referee for the match, with assistants Neil Davies and Dan Robathan, and Scott Duncan acted as the fourth official. Jones had officiated the regular season fixture between the clubs in which he sent off Shrewsbury captain Abu Ogogo. [13] Rotherham were considered to be favourites to win the match by bookmakers. [10] [14] Shrewsbury Town's starting lineup was unchanged from the second leg of the semi-final win against Charlton with Morris starting as striker ahead of the top scorer Payne. Rotherham United made three changes to the team that defeated Scunthorpe, bringing Semi Ajayi, David Ball and Taylor back. [15]

First half

Rotherham United kicked the game off at 3:03 p.m. in front of a Wembley crowd of 26,218 in hot conditions. After early pressing from Shrewsbury, Rotherham's Ball's cross went close to Newell before Ball himself was brought down by Toto Nsiala. Joe Mattock's challenge on Shaun Whalley drew another free kick, which came to nothing before, on 7 minutes, Rotherham were denied a penalty after the ball struck Nsiala's arm, instead earning a corner. Two minutes later, Omar Beckles brought Wood down in the Shrewsbury area to concede a penalty. Ball stepped up to take it but it was saved by Dean Henderson, the Shrewsbury goalkeeper who was on loan from Manchester United. On fourteen minutes, Nolan won a corner from which Alex Rodman's shot was blocked. Ball's shot ten minutes later was blocked and the resulting corner from Taylor was gathered by Henderson. Whalley received the first yellow card of the match on 27 minutes for a foul on Beckles. [10] [16] In the 30th minute, Morris headed Nolan's cross past Rotherham's post, but a minute later Rotherham took the lead. Wood evaded Beckles for the first time in the match, and his header from a Newell corner beat Henderson. Shrewsbury's James Bolton was the second to receive a yellow card, in the 38th minute for a foul on Wood. Richie Towell's late first half shot from 30 yards (27 m) flew over the crossbar, before the half ended, with Rotherham leading 10. [16] [17]

Second half

No changes to the teams were made during half time, and Shrewsbury got the second half underway. Carlton Morris' early cross found no-one before, on 54 minutes, the midfielder Bryn Morris went down with a hamstring injury after an aerial challenge with Josh Emmanuel. Unable to continue, Bryn Morris was replaced by the striker Payne, and four minutes later Shrewsbury equalised. A free kick from Whalley to Mat Sadler was passed back to Rodman who turned it past the Rotherham goalkeeper, Marek Rodák, to make it 11. Despite seeming to recover from an injury after a clash with Wood, Carlton Morris was replaced on 64 minutes by Lenell John-Lewis. [17] [18] In the 69th minute, Vaulks' shot was saved by Henderson, before Rotherham made their first substitution of the afternoon with Caolan Lavery coming on to replace Ball. Newell's shot was straight at the goalkeeper, and Joe Riley was then brought on for Bolton. Lavery then took the ball in space but his shot curled wide of the Shrewsbury post. With fifteen minutes of regular time remaining, Ryan Williams was brought on for Taylor. Two chances were missed by Lavery before John-Lewis' shot went wide of Rodak's post. Michael Smith then saw his shot saved, and with chances at either end missed, the match went into five minutes of additional time. In the final moments, a Williams shot was saved by Henderson and the second half ended 11, sending the match into extra time. [19]

Extra time

Four minutes into extra time, Newell struck a shot wide of the Shrewsbury post before a run from Ben Godfrey was blocked by Rotherham's Emmanuel. Rodman received treatment for a head wound before Newell's free kick was pushed away by Henderson. After thirteen minutes, Shrewsbury's captain Sadler was booked for a foul on Williams. A free kick from Newell was then headed in by Wood off the post to give Rotherham a 21 lead. Ajayi then blocked an attempt from Payne and Wood cleared, and the half came to an end. Five minutes into the second half, Newell was taken off and replaced by Anthony Forde. Despite chances for both sides, no further goals were scored and the match ended 21 to Rotherham. [10]

Details

Rotherham United 2–1 (a.e.t.) Shrewsbury Town
Wood Soccerball shade.svg32', 103' Report Rodman Soccerball shade.svg58'
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 26,218
Referee: Robert Jones
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body whiteshoulders.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts redbottom.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks whitetop.png
Kit socks long.svg
Rotherham United
Kit left arm goldborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body amber stripes.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm goldborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks bluetop.png
Kit socks long.svg
Shrewsbury Town
13 Marek Rodák
2 Josh Emmanuel
5 Semi Ajayi
6 Richard Wood
3 Joe Mattock
17 Richie Towell
4 Will Vaulks
11 Jon Taylor Sub off.svg 75'
10 David Ball Sub off.svg 71'
22 Joe Newell Sub off.svg 111'
24 Michael Smith
Substitutes:
12 Lewis Price
25 Shaun Cummings
18 Ben Purrington
7 Anthony Forde Sub on.svg 111'
8 Matt Palmer
23 Ryan Williams Sub on.svg 75'
31 Caolan Lavery Sub on.svg 71'
Manager:
Paul Warne
1 Dean Henderson
13 James Bolton Yellow card.svg 38'Sub off.svg 73'
22 Aristote Nsiala
5 Mat Sadler Yellow card.svg 103'
6 Omar Beckles
7 Shaun Whalley Yellow card.svg 27'
16 Bryn Morris Sub off.svg 56'
4 Ben Godfrey
23 Alex Rodman
20 Jon Nolan
9 Carlton Morris Sub off.svg 66'
Substitutes:
15 Craig MacGillivray
12 Junior Brown
3 Max Lowe
2 Joe Riley Sub on.svg 73'
19 Sam Jones
14 Lenell John-Lewis Sub on.svg 66'
45 Stefan Payne Sub on.svg 56'
Manager:
Paul Hurst

Statistics

Statistics [15]
RotherhamShrewsbury
Goals scored21
Shots on target72
Shots off target145
Fouls committed1519
Corner kicks113
Yellow cards03
Red cards00

Post-match

Wood, the scorer of both Rotherham's goals, said: "I am speechless. We've come so far from last season, it was terrible. To turn it around in the manager great credit. To get a brace has never been heard of." [10] His manager Warne noted: "They went toe to toe with us, I am really proud of my group of lads. It was a horrendous 12 months last year ... The only person I didn't want to beat was [Shrewsbury manager Paul Hurst] Hursty, but Hursty will go on to great things". [10] It was the first time since 2007 that all three teams relegated the previous season were promoted. [20] After guiding Shrewsbury to their highest finishing position in the league in 27 years, Hurst left the club three days after the final to join Ipswich Town. [21] He was sacked less than five months later after leading Ipswich to one win in fourteen league matches. [22]

Shrewsbury Town ended the next season in 18th place, 5 points above the relegation zone but 23 below the play-offs. [23] Rotherham United finished 22nd in the 2018–19 EFL Championship, 4 points from safety and having conceded the most goals in the division, and were relegated back to League One for the 2019–20 season. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrewsbury Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Shrewsbury Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. The team competes in League One, the third level of the English football league system.

{{Infobox football biography | name = Paul Hurst | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Paul Michael Hurst | birth_date = 25 September 1974 | birth_place = Sheffield, England | height = 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | position = Left back | currentclub = | youthclubs1 = [[Rotherham United F.C.|Shrewsburyfc manager] | years1 = 1993–2008 | years2 = 2008 | clubs1 = Rotherham United | clubs2 = → Burton Albion (loan) | caps1 = 438 | goals1 = 13 | caps2 = 17 | goals2 = 0 | totalcaps = 455 | totalgoals = 13 | manageryears1 = 2009 | manageryears2 = 2009–2011 | manageryears3 = 2011–2013 | manageryears4 = 2013–2016 | manageryears5 = 2016–2018 | manageryears6 = 2018 | manageryears7 = 2019–2020 | manageryears8 = 2020–2023 | managerclubs1 = Ilkeston Town | managerclubs2 = Boston United | managerclubs3 = Grimsby Town | managerclubs4 = Grimsby Town | managerclubs5 = Shrewsbury Town | managerclubs6 = Ipswich Town | managerclubs7 = Scunthorpe United | managerclubs8 = Grimsby Town }} Paul Michael Hurst is an English football manager and former player who was most recently the manager of EFL League Two club Grimsby Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Doig</span> Scottish footballer (born 1981)

Christopher Ross Doig is a Scottish former professional footballer who was most recently assistant manager of Grimsby Town

Ryan Paul Taylor is an English professional footballer plays as a striker for National League North side Alfreton Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Waterfall</span> English association football player

Luke Mathew Waterfall is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League Two club Grimsby Town.

Stefan Steve Payne is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Faversham Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aristote Nsiala</span> Congolese footballer

Aristote Nsiala is a Congolese professional footballer who last played as a centre back for Fleetwood Town. He has also represented DR Congo at international level.

Joseph Peter Newell is an English professional footballer who plays for Scottish Premiership club Hibernian as a midfielder. Newell has previously played for Peterborough United, St Albans City and Rotherham United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caolan Lavery</span> Canadian-born Northern Irish footballer

Caolan Owen Lavery is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Doncaster Rovers.

Olayinka Fredrick Oladotun "Freddie" Ladapo is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ipswich Town.

William Robert Vaulks is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Sheffield Wednesday and the Wales national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Emmanuel</span> English association football player

Joshua Oluwadurotimi Emmanuel is an English professional footballer who plays as a right back and winger for Carlisle United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Yates</span> English footballer

Jerry Aaron Yates is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Swansea City. He has previously played for Rotherham United, Harrogate Town, Carlisle United, Swindon Town and Blackpool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Nolan</span> English association football player

Jon Anthony Nolan is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Northern Premier League club Macclesfield.

John George McAtee is an English footballer who plays as a striker for League One club Barnsley, on loan from Premier League club Luton Town.

The 2018–19 season was the 120th season of the English Football League (EFL) and the third season under that name after it was renamed from The Football League in 2016. It began on 3 August 2018 and concluded on 5 May 2019, with the promotion play-off finals at Wembley Stadium on 25–27 May 2019. For the sixth season running, the league was sponsored by Sky Betting & Gaming and was therefore known as the Sky Bet EFL.

The 2019–20 FA Cup was the 139th edition of the oldest football tournament in the world. It was sponsored by Emirates and known as The Emirates FA Cup for sponsorship purposes.

The 2019–20 Blackpool F.C. season was the club's 111th season in the English Football League and their third-consecutive season in League One, the third tier of the Football League. The season covered the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020. Blackpool finished a curtailed season in 13th place.

The 2019–20 season was Rotherham United's 95th season in their existence and the first back in the League One following relegation last season. The club also participated in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy.

The 2021–22 EFL Trophy, known as the Papa Johns Trophy for sponsorship reasons, the 40th season in the history of the competition, was a knock-out tournament for clubs in EFL League One and League Two, the third and fourth tiers of the English football league system, as well as the "Academy teams" of 16 Premier League clubs with Category One status.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "League One – 2017/18 – regular season". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  2. "League One end of season table for 2017–18 season". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  3. "Scunthorpe United 22 Rotherham United". BBC Sport. 12 May 2018. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  4. Mitchell, Brendon (16 May 2018). "Rotherham United 20 Scunthorpe United". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  5. Cartwright, Phil (10 May 2018). "Charlton Athletic 01 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 Cartwright, Phil (13 May 2018). "Shrewsbury Town 10 Charlton Athletic". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  7. Fletcher, Paul (30 May 2010). "Dag & Red 32 Rotherham". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  8. Maiden, Phil (25 May 2014). "Leyton Orient 22 Rotherham United". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  9. "Rotherham United football club match record: 2018". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bewin, John (27 May 2018). "Rotherham 2–1 Shrewsbury: League One play-off final – as it happened (3 of 3)". The Guardian . Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  11. "Kieffer Moore: Barnsley sign Ipswich Town striker". BBC Sport. 8 January 2018. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  12. "Paul Hurst: Shrewsbury boss says links with Ipswich job are 'a compliment'". BBC Sport. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  13. "Play-Off Final: Match officials confirmed for League One showdown". English Football League. 21 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  14. "Rotherham United vs Shrewsbury Town: League One play-off final preview". 7 January 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  15. 1 2 Stevens, Rob (27 May 2018). "How Rotherham won the League One play-off final (10 of 10)". BBC Sport . Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  16. 1 2 Stevens, Rob (27 May 2018). "How Rotherham won the League One play-off final (7 of 10)". BBC Sport . Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  17. 1 2 Bewin, John (27 May 2018). "Rotherham 2–1 Shrewsbury: League One play-off final – as it happened (2 of 3)". The Guardian . Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  18. Stevens, Rob (27 May 2018). "How Rotherham won the League One play-off final (6 of 10)". BBC Sport . Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  19. Bewin, John (27 May 2018). "Rotherham 2–1 Shrewsbury: League One play-off final – as it happened (1 of 3)". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  20. Stevens, Rob (27 May 2018). "How Rotherham won the League One play-off final (1 of 10)". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  21. "John Terry leaves Aston Villa as Ipswich appoint Paul Hurst as new manager". The Guardian . Press Association. 30 May 2018. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  22. "Paul Hurst: Ipswich Town sack manager after less than five months". BBC Sport. 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  23. "League One table at close of 2018–19 season". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  24. "League Championship table at close of 2018–19 season". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 24 May 2020.