Jamie Griffith: What can we learn about the EFL playoff finals from previous clashes?

May's second Bank Holiday weekend can mean only one thing – it’s time for the EFL playoff finals. 

Sheffield United and Sunderland kick things off and, if the pair’s regular-season meetings are anything to go by, Saturday’s clash could be an extremely close and feisty encounter. 

Tom Davies’ 83rd-minute strike was enough to see the Blades narrowly win the pair’s clash at Bramall Lane 1-0, although things could have been very different had Patrick Roberts not missed a penalty in the first half. 

A red card for Sunderland’s Chris Mepham and a second yellow for United’s Harry Souttar also made for a busy first half and bookings could be on the agenda at Wembley, given nine were brandished in that November head-to-head. 

There were only five cards as Sunderland got their revenge in a similarly close 2-1 victory on New Year’s Day, but the line is set at just 4.5 and, with so much on the line in the richest game in football, bookings could be the way to punt on a match between two well-matched and talented sides. 

Sunderland's Patrick Roberts missed a penalty is the Black Cats' first meeting with playoff final opponents Sheffield United earlier this seasonCredit: Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Sunday’s playoff final will see London rivals Charlton and Leyton Orient battle for a place in the Championship and we could be in for late drama at Wembley. 

All three meetings between the pair this term saw goals scored after the 90th minute and if things are level in a cagey encounter late on, do not even think about turning off your TV. 

Charlton’s Luke Berry scored a 92nd-minute winner when the pair met at the Valley in the second week of the season but Leyton Orient got their revenge in similarly dramatic fashion in the EFL Trophy. 

The sides met in the last 32 but the O’s had no interest in going to penalties as Charlie Kelman and Daniel Agyei scored in the 93rd and 95th minute to secure victory. 

However, the Addicks, who finished two places and seven points better off than Orient, will fancy their chances at Wembley after completing the league double in March. 

Again, they left it late, with Macauley Gillesphey and Kayne Ramsey scoring in the 92nd and 97th minute to come back from 1-0 down, and Charlton seem the likeliest winners of what promises to be another dramatic London derby.

 Due to the high stakes, playoff finals are often cagey encounters. Three of the last four League Two playoff finals have gone under 2.5 goals and, looking at Wimbledon and Walsall’s head-to-heads this term, that trend may continue on Monday. 

Walsall narrowly won 1-0 at Plough Lane in November, back when they were in excellent form, but the Sadlers were held to a 1-1 draw at home in the midst of their woeful end-of-season run which cost them automatic promotion. 

Defender Taylor Allen, who scored in the Saddlers’ playoff semi-final first-leg victory over Chesterfield, scored to salvage a point in that reverse fixture and those seeking a big price could consider backing him to get on the scoresheet in a cagey playoff final. 

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