The final of three playoff finals takes place on Monday afternoon and it's a South Yorkshire Derby as Barnsley take on Sheffield Wednesday, with a place in the Championship at stake.
Barnsley Form GuideFourth in League One during the regular season, Barnsley found their way to this final by beating Bolton in the semi finals. They drew 1-1 away from home in the first leg, before winning their home leg 1-0. It was good from Barnsley, if a little defensive, but they played to their strengths and kept the game simple, enough to bag the win.
It is their defensive strength that Barnsley have built success on, but they can also score goals, and have done this season against Sheffield Wednesday. In two meetings so far this season, Barnsley have won 2-0 and 4-2, and are the only team to win at Hillsborough against Wednesday this season.
Sheffield Wednesday Form GuideSheffield Wednesday achieved what can only be described as the best playoff comeback ever to reach the final. Away at Peterborough in the first leg, Wednesday were beaten 4-0, and put in a position where no one expected them to qualify for the final. However, a big turnaround in the second leg saw them do exactly that.
They won the second leg 4-0 to force extra time, which ended in a 1-1 draw and then won the penalty shootout 5-3. The team will have no doubt been on a huge high after that win, and will be hoping to channel that, plus the belief they've gained, into winning this game and returning to the Championship.
Match PredictionA huge game made even bigger by the fact that these two teams are rivals, as well as playing with a lot at stake. Barnsley have won the two head to head games, plus they've got the younger legs, so if dealing with the occasion, could really make those work in their favour during the second half of this game. With that in mind, Sheffield Wednesday are hugely respected, but at the odds, Barnsley are the pick.
