What About The Play Offs?

May 8, 2009 by KevB8ll
Filed under: General Football, Matches, Reports By Bazza

Bazza turns from match reports to a preview, on this occasion the up and coming play offs. Isn’t it nice to be able to sit back and watch it happen without worrying about it!

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I am a great fan of one of Birmingham’s greatest sons, Jasper Carrott who is of course also one of the most famous bluenoses known. I was thinking that the play offs this year are going to be something to be enjoyed, not dissimilar to watching someone else get the nutter! Most of us will remember the nutter sketch on the top of a double-decker bus when the nutter sits next to Jasper Carrott and he tells of the relief of the other people on the bus who think ‘Thank God for that!’ followed rapidly by ‘ Look at ‘im he’s got the nutter!’ ‘Yeah they can enjoy it now can’t they?’ Well I feel a little like that towards the fans of Sheffield United, Reading, Burnley and Preston. We all know exactly how they are feeling but loving it all the same; ghoulish I know but enjoyable.

The fans of all these teams will be nervous and apprehensive knowing that there are three games that are going to define their season full of months of hard work, anguish, joy and disappointments in varying measure. Two of these teams will have the heartbreak of elimination in the semi-final with no chance to contest the main prize at Wembley at the end of the month. We all of us know how bad that feels and that is why we all feel so relieved to have already booked our place in the Premier League and not be going through this stomach churning lottery.

Some fans will be more apprehensive than others however and with good reason. Preston sneaked into sixth place on the last day at the expense of Cardiff and will be thrilled to be involved after so much uncertainty. They also have form and momentum which could count for a lot in the final analysis. Contrast this with Sheffield United who still had a realistic chance of usurping our place on the last day only to fall short. They failed to win at Palace with a disappointing 0 – 0 draw and although it didn’t matter either way in the end I am sure that Kevin Blackwell would have preferred to be going to Preston tonight on the back of a win to instil confidence. Burnley have been solid, formidable opponents all season especially at Turf Moor. They have had a great season with their exploits in the Cup competitions playing flowing, attractive, direct, attacking football which make them the team you would least want to face at the semi-final stage I feel. They have some excellent players and the likes of Robbie Blake, Chris Eagles, Wade Elliot and Clarke Carlisle can give anyone trouble. They face Reading whose form has been wretched of late though they have been better away which may count in their favour. I get the impression that their fans deep down don’t believe they are going to win through which is worrying from their perspective. It is puzzling that with players like Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle, Dave Kitson, Shane Long and Marek Matejovsky why they are misfiring so badly.

So what of the two semi final line ups? Preston versus Sheffield United tonight with the reverse fixture next Tuesday: The Blades are very solid, direct and cussedly difficult to beat with a stubbornly tough back four of Gary Naysmith, David Cotterill, Chris Morgan and Matthew Kilgallon marshalled by their excellent keeper, Paddy Kenny. They present a threat going forward with the aerial danger of Henderson aided and abetted by Danny Webber. Preston are also well organised and tough to play against but are capable of playing some nice stuff on the floor as they did against us at St Andrews. Sean St Ledger and Jon Parkin are key players for them and take your eye off them for a moment at your peril!

Burnley take on Reading tomorrow at Turf Moor and I think this is going to be a very difficult game for the Royals. I feel they have to avoid defeat here to stand any chance and with their confidence shot to pieces in front of their own fans they have to start as slight underdogs despite their superior league position and home advantage in the second leg next week.

Time to stick my neck out I suppose; I think that Burnley will progress as they have confidence and form. I think they will go at Reading all guns blazing tomorrow evening and could put the tie beyond them before the return leg. The Sheffield Preston match up is much harder to call and I expect low scoring encounters with some gritty, attritional play with the ‘e’ of entertainment being in lower case. I’m going with Preston as I think they are the better footballing side. Don’t be surprised if there is only one goal over the two legs.

If I’m right and it is a Preston Burnley final then I take Preston by the odd goal. Sorry if I’ve put the hex on you Preston fans; it’s only an opinion and opinions are what make this wonderful game of football what it is aren’t they? Good luck to all four participants. Thank heavens it’s you and not us!

Finally a word for Wolves fans; this article has absolutely nothing to do with them but they were anxious not to be mentioned!

KRO SOTV

Tags: Birmingham City, Burnley, Championship, Match, Play Offs, Preston North End, Reading, Sheffield United, View From the South

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