2008 Football League play-offs
The
Hull City won promotion to the Premier League after defeating Bristol City in the Championship final, 1–0 with a goal from their leading scorer Dean Windass. This marked the Tigers' first entry to the top division of English football in their existence.
In
. This meant all three clubs who had finished immediately below the automatic promotion places in their divisions were promoted.Background
The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each of the three Football League divisions following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing immediately below the automatic promotion places.
In the Championship, Hull City finished four points behind second-placed Stoke City, who were promoted with champions West Bromwich Albion. Bristol City - who were aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1980 - finished in fourth place in their first season at Championship level for nine years. The other entrants, Crystal Palace and Watford, had both played in the Premier League before, with Palace's last spell in the top division ending in a final day relegation in 2005, a year after having won the play-offs. Watford had been relegated from the top flight in the previous season, having finished bottom, and were looking to return at the first attempt.
Championship
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | Hull City | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 65 | 47 | +18 | 75 |
4 | Bristol City | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 54 | 53 | +1 | 74 |
5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 58 | 42 | +16 | 71 |
6 | Watford | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 62 | 56 | +6 | 70 |
Semi-finals
- First leg
Crystal Palace | 1–2 | Bristol City |
---|---|---|
Watson 87' (pen. ) |
Report | Noble 90+2' |
- Second leg
Bristol City | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Crystal Palace |
---|---|---|
Trundle 104' McIndoe 110' |
Report | Watson 24' |
Bristol City won 4–2 on aggregate.
Hull City | 4–1 | Watford |
---|---|---|
90' | Report | Henderson 12' |
Hull City won 6–1 on aggregate.
Final
Bristol City | 0–1 | Hull City |
---|---|---|
Report | Windass 38' |
League One
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 83 | 47 | +24 | 80 |
4 | Carlisle United | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 64 | 46 | +18 | 80 |
5 | Leeds United
|
46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 72 | 38 | +34 | 76* |
6 | Southend United | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 70 | 55 | +15 | 76 |
- Leeds United were docked 15 points by the
Semi-finals
- First leg
Southend United | 0–0 | Doncaster Rovers |
---|---|---|
Report |
Leeds United | 1–2 | Carlisle United |
---|---|---|
Freedman 90' | Report | Graham 32' Bridge-Wilkinson 50' |
- Second leg
Leeds United | ||
---|---|---|
Report | Howson 10', 90' |
Leeds United won 3–2 on aggregate.
Doncaster Rovers | 5–1 | Southend United |
---|---|---|
Stock 11' (pen.) Barrett 21' (o.g.) Coppinger 39', 52', 80' |
Report | Bailey 88' |
Doncaster Rovers won 5–1 on aggregate.
Final
League Two
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | Stockport County | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 72 | 54 | +18 | 82 |
5 | Rochdale | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 77 | 54 | +23 | 80 |
6 | Darlington | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 67 | 40 | +27 | 78 |
7 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 56 | 42 | +14 | 78 |
Semi-finals
- First leg
Darlington | 2–1 | Rochdale |
---|---|---|
Miller 90' |
Report | Dagnall 70' |
Wycombe Wanderers | 1–1 | Stockport County |
---|---|---|
Facey 37' | Report | Gleeson 82' |
- Second leg
Rochdale | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Darlington |
---|---|---|
Dagnall 43' Perkins 78' |
Report | Keltie 28' (pen.) |
Penalties | ||
5–4 | Guylain Purdie Wainwright Ravenhill Kennedy |
Rochdale 3–3 Darlington on aggregate. Rochdale won 5–4 on penalties.
Stockport County won 2–1 on aggregate.
Final
Rochdale | 2–3 | Stockport County |
---|---|---|
McArdle 24' Rundle 77' |
Report | Stanton 34' (o.g.) Pilkington 49' Dickinson 67' |
References
- ^ "Coca Cola Football League One Table". The Football League. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
- ^ "Leeds United hit with 15 point deduction". The Football League. 3 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.