The EFL playoffs 2024 have conjured up some exciting ties that are set to be played over the next few weeks, to determine which teams gain promotion from their respective leagues.
The League One and League Two playoffs have already been decided, and the events leading to determining their respective dramatis personae were suitably intense. In League One, Derby County condemned Bolton Wanderers to a playoff place by earning automatic promotion on the final day.
Oxford United and Barnsley claimed the final two playoff spots ahead of Lincoln City and Blackpool.
And in League Two, Doncaster Rovers, Crewe Alexandra and Crawley Town claimed the final three playoff places up for grabs on the final day, ahead of Barrow and Bradford City, who just missed out.
As ever though, it's the Championship playoffs that will steal all the headlines, given what is at stake in the world's richest game.
Only Southampton had a guaranteed playoff spot in the Championship ahead of the final day, while Ipswich Town and Leeds United battled it out for the last remaining automatic promotion place.
Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion occupied the final two playoff spots ahead of Hull City, who could still sneak in on the final day if they won and results go their way. However, it was West Brom and Norwich who would make the playoffs in fifth and sixth respectively, while Leeds claimed the final spot in third after Ipswich gained automatic promotion.
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EFL Championship playoffs 2024 fixtures and dates
Fixtures and dates
6th vs 3rd: Norwich vs Leeds United
Sunday 12th May 12pm, Carrow Road
Leeds edged a five-goal thriller between these two teams in October's corresponding league fixture, as the visitors came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in injury time.
5th vs 4th: West Brom vs Southampton
Sunday 12th May 2:15pm, The Hawthorns
Southampton won this corresponding league fixture 2-0 in February, in a result that moved the Saints up to the automatic promotion places. They slipped down to the playoff spots since then, and will be determined not to let their chances of returning to the Premier League slip again.
3rd vs 6th: Leeds United vs Norwich
Thursday 16th May 8pm, Elland Road
Patrick Bamford scored a 16th-minute winner as Leeds won 1-0 in this league fixture in January, and the striker will be hoping to fire his team straight back up into the Premier League via the playoffs.
4th vs 5th: Southampton vs West Brom
Friday 17th May 8pm, St. Mary's Stadium
Adam Armstrong scored a late winner as Southampton edged this league fixture 2-1 in November, and their league double over West Brom could give them a psychological advantage.
EFL League One playoffs 2024 fixtures and dates
Fixtures and dates
6th vs 3rd: Barnsley 1-3 Bolton
Friday 3rd May 7:30pm, Oakwell
Bolton hold a major two-goal advantage going into their second leg against Barnsley at home, and will be favourites to progress to the final.
5th vs 4th: Oxford Utd 1-0 Peterborough
Saturday 4th May 7:45pm, Kassam Stadium
Oxford United thrashed Peterborough 5-0 in this corresponding league fixture in front of their home fans only a few weeks ago, but take a narrow one-goal lead ahead of the second leg.
3rd vs 6th: Bolton vs Barnsley
Tuesday 7th May 8pm, University of Bolton Stadium
Amazingly, these two teams actually met in the League One playoff semi-finals last season, with Barnsley triumphing over two legs. In their most recent league meeting at the University of Bolton Stadium in February, the game finished 1-1, but Barnsley will need a huge win to turn this tie around.
4th vs 5th: Peterborough vs Oxford Utd
Wednesday 8th May 8pm, Weston Homes Stadium
Not quite the 5-0 of the reverse league fixture, but Peterborough beat Oxford United 3-0 in this corresponding fixture in December, which suggests that each team hold a significant home advantage when playing against each other.
EFL League Two playoffs 2024 fixtures and dates
Fixtures and dates
7th vs 4th: Crawley vs MK Dons
Monday 6th May 3pm, Broadfield Stadium
The corresponding league fixture finished 2-1 to Crawley in August, so home advantage could be key for them this time around.
6th vs 5th: Crewe vs Doncaster
Monday 6th May 5:30pm, Mornflake Stadium
These two sides played out a five-goal thriller in this corresponding league fixture, with Crewe just edging it 3-2 with an injury-time winner on home turf.
4th vs 7th: MK Dons vs Crawley
Thursday 9th May 8pm, Stadium:mk
MK Dons won this corresponding league fixture 2-0 in December, as the visitors were reduced to 10 men late on. They will have to try and keep their cool in the playoffs with so much at stake.
5th vs 6th: Doncaster vs Crewe
Friday 10th May 8pm, Eco-Power Stadium
Doncaster won 2-0 in this corresponding league fixture in March, and with such a recent encounter, it will be interesting to see if Crewe approach the match any differently.
