Who Dares Wins
Posted on 30th April 2009 at 22:43
The Championship play-off final is often described as the most lucrative one-off game in world football due to the £50m Premier League carrot dangling in front of the victorious team's nose.
But this weekend is even more mouthwatering, as there are three rivals fighting to join champions Wolves at England's top table.
There's no way Birmingham should be in this position taking into account the budget and squad at McLeish's disposal.
They bottled it big style against Preston at St Andrews, where the Lilywhites picked up a massive win which leaves Blues facing the task of trying to beat Reading at The Madejski, something only five teams have done this season.
The Royals have outside automatic promotion hopes themselves if they manage to pocket all three points - but both sets of fans will have one eye and one ear on what is going on at Selhurst Park.
A delicious twist of fate has seen Kevin Blackwell's razor-sharp Blades - the form team of the division - facing Crystal Palace as they bid to take second place.
The Eagles are currently managed by former Sheffield United gaffer Neil Warnock, but he has no axe to grind with the Yorkshire club having decided to leave Bramall Lane of his own accord following the trauma of their relegation from England's top tier due to 'Tevezgate'.
Mid-table Palace have nothing but pride to play for, and I'd love to hear Warnock's pre-match teamtalk in the home dressing room, as I'm sure he'll be asking the players what their holiday plans are to ensure they're there for the taking for his former club and No 2 Blackwell.
The thing is, United actually deserve automatic promotion having emerged from the chasing pack at just the right time, much as Hull City hit top form when it mattered most last season.
And remember the Blades have kept running despite the January sale of star striker James Beattie to Stoke, making Blackwell's achievement all the more staggering.
It has been proved that West Ham shouldn't have had the inspirational Tevez on their books when they managed to pull off a Great Escape at United's expense, so I'm really hoping justice is done this weekend, leaving Reading and Birmingham to do battle in the play-offs.
Whatever happens, it has been another thrilling race for promotion in the Championship - let's just hope we get the fairytale finish to put the icing on the cake on Sunday.
But this weekend is even more mouthwatering, as there are three rivals fighting to join champions Wolves at England's top table.
There's no way Birmingham should be in this position taking into account the budget and squad at McLeish's disposal.
They bottled it big style against Preston at St Andrews, where the Lilywhites picked up a massive win which leaves Blues facing the task of trying to beat Reading at The Madejski, something only five teams have done this season.
The Royals have outside automatic promotion hopes themselves if they manage to pocket all three points - but both sets of fans will have one eye and one ear on what is going on at Selhurst Park.
A delicious twist of fate has seen Kevin Blackwell's razor-sharp Blades - the form team of the division - facing Crystal Palace as they bid to take second place.
The Eagles are currently managed by former Sheffield United gaffer Neil Warnock, but he has no axe to grind with the Yorkshire club having decided to leave Bramall Lane of his own accord following the trauma of their relegation from England's top tier due to 'Tevezgate'.
Mid-table Palace have nothing but pride to play for, and I'd love to hear Warnock's pre-match teamtalk in the home dressing room, as I'm sure he'll be asking the players what their holiday plans are to ensure they're there for the taking for his former club and No 2 Blackwell.
The thing is, United actually deserve automatic promotion having emerged from the chasing pack at just the right time, much as Hull City hit top form when it mattered most last season.
And remember the Blades have kept running despite the January sale of star striker James Beattie to Stoke, making Blackwell's achievement all the more staggering.
It has been proved that West Ham shouldn't have had the inspirational Tevez on their books when they managed to pull off a Great Escape at United's expense, so I'm really hoping justice is done this weekend, leaving Reading and Birmingham to do battle in the play-offs.
Whatever happens, it has been another thrilling race for promotion in the Championship - let's just hope we get the fairytale finish to put the icing on the cake on Sunday.
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