EFL Play-Offs

Thomas is averaging 1.19 shots per 90 in 2024/25 for Coventry. This improves to 1.58 per 90 when only looking at Coventry's home matches across the season.

He is a big threat from set pieces, this is an obvious plus, but, those that remember Thomas’ last minute goal at Stoke a few weeks ago will remember that he is also very useful on the ground in terms of getting his shots away.

He has taken at least one shot in 15 of his 19 starts at home this season, and when he starts he usually plays the full 90 minutes.

Rudoni has really rounded into form over the last few weeks under Frank Lampard and looks to be one of Coventry’s biggest goal threats.

He took four shots on final day, scoring twice, exactly when his team needed him. This made his seasonal average end up at 1.92 shots per 90, again, this does rise to 2.23 per 90 when only considering Coventry home matches.

Rudoni has had at least one shot in 20 of his 21 starts at home, hitting the 2+ target in 14 of his 21 home starts.

The Sunderland midfield general has a big hand in controlling lots of different phases for Sunderland, both in and out of possession.

He is very consistent in the number of fouls that he commits as well. He is averaging 0.97 fouls per 90, so almost exactly one per game, but his last 10 games sees Neil running at 1.22 fouls per 90.

This is because he has committed at least one foul in eight of his last nine starts, 10 fouls in total. With Coventry’s strength in the midfield with Ben Sheaf, Matt Grimes, and Jack Rudoni, it is likely that Neil will have to put some pressure on his opponents to make a difference in the game.

Grimes was a surprise January signing for Coventry from Swansea, and, of course, his fouls were not a key reason for his signing, but his record since signing make Grimes an enticing bet for one foul in this first leg.

He has averaged 0.66 fouls per 90 in a Coventry shirt, but, again, it is his recent record which makes this bet look good value. His last four starts of the regular season has seen him go 2 (most recent), 2, 1, 1 in fouls committed.

Five of Grimes’ eight home starts have seen him make at least one foul, and pick up three yellow cards as well.

The first play-off game in League One sees the favourites Stockport County travel down to outsiders Leyton Orient, who only secured their play-off spot on the final day with victory at Huddersfield.

The O’s head into the end of season lottery in red hot form, having won six games on the bounce. The also possess the League One golden boot winner in Queens Park Rangers loanee Charlie Kelman, who has found the net 21 times this season. Nine of those goals have come in the last 10 games. He is a penalty area striker, with 18 of his 21 goals coming from inside the 18-yard box. 

Stockport are in equally good form, having won seven of their last eight matches. They have, however, conceded in each of their last five games. Being the underdogs, Orient will surely be doing everything possible to take a lead up to Greater Manchester, so expect plenty of attacking intent.

It is difficult to split these two sides, with AFC Wimbledon finishing just one place and one point above County in the League Two table. Notts County are in poor form, having won just one of their last six games. They have failed to beat Doncaster, Bradford, Salford and Colchester in recent weeks.

AFC Wimbledon are in similarly poor form, with just two wins in nine games, but they effectively won a play-off game on final day, securing a 0-1 win away at Grimsby to beat them to a top seven spot.

The way they won at Grimsby was via a set piece, and in what is likely to be a very tight game, that could be the method of victory in this one. Don’s centre back Joe Lewis is the pick here at a massive price. He scored from a corner against Notts County in March, and has taken four shots from inside the box in is last five games.