Notorious as one of the toughest divisions to get out of, Burton Albion made an absolute mockery of that assertion by clinching back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship – where they will be taking on the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle to name a few. AFC Wimbledon and Plymouth will have watched their progress with interest.
Bank Holiday Monday will be a time for barbecues, trips to the garden centre and terrible TV films, and it will also play host to the League Two play-off final between the Dons and the Pilgrims.
History tells us that these are tight and testy affairs, so make sure you get the kettle on, reject your other half’s demands for a trip to IKEA and enjoy what should be an intriguing contest.
Match Betting
Having finished fifth and seventh respectively, there’s little to choose between Plymouth and Wimbledon. For the latter, it would be a fairytale story given that their club barely existed a decade ago. This is their first opportunity to ascend to the third tier of English football.
Plymouth have been there before – indeed, they have been as high as the Championship in recent years – and now that the club is on a firmer footing financially they are looking to climb back up the ladder.
Seven wins in their last ten has gotten Wimbledon to this point, and a two-legged defeat of Accrington in the play-off semi finals deserves huge credit. Perhaps most tellingly of all, they beat Plymouth 2-1 in their own back yard as recently as April, and while we have mentioned in our other play-off previews that the head-to-head stats don’t seem to count for all that much, surely the fact that the relevant fixture took place just a matter of weeks ago counts for something?
The door is ajar for Wimbledon certainly given Plymouth’s end to the campaign. They tasted defeat to both Exeter in the ‘English Riviera derby’ and Dagenham & Redbridge; a side that otherwise won seven of 45 matches played. With 2/1 available from bet365, they look well worthy of a back.
Other Bets
Historically, the League Two play-off final is a low-scoring affair. Of the last five editions, four have gone under the 2.5 goal mark; some 80%.
That would be a surprise given Plymouth’s proclivity for scoring (and conceding) goals, but they can expect a clash of styles here given that the Dons are rather more conservative in their approach. They recorded Under 2.5 verdicts in seven of their last ten – this is clearly a side who likes to keep it tight and hit on the break, and so Plymouth may find them a tough nut to crack.
As such, we’re more than happy to support the Wimbledon win & Under 2.5 Goals double at 9/2 with bet365.
If anybody is going to do the damage for the Dons, then surely it is Lyle Taylor. The 26-year-old netted 21 times this season – more than half the next top scorer on either side. He can be backed at 6/1 (BetVictor) to score first or 2/1 (bet365) anytime.
