Sheffield Wednesday is one step away from reaching the English Championship League Playoff Final after defeating Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 in the first leg of their semifinal showdown. Wednesday is in the driver’s seat after their home victory at Hillsborough Stadium on May 13 and can wrap things up when the two teams meet at the Amex Stadium in the second leg on Monday, May 16th. Brighton has their work cut out for them since no team has ever erased a 2-0 deficit in a Championship League Playoff semifinal. The winner of this series will go on to face the winner of the Hull City vs Derby County semifinal at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 28th with the victor winning promotion into the English Premier League.
Bet on Brighton and Hove Albion vs Sheffield Wednesday – Pinnacle SOCCER BETTING LINE:
- Pinnacle currently lists Brighton as the favorite to win the 90-minute game at +121 with Sheffield Wednesday +207 and a draw at +211
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Sheffield Wednesday – Head to Head:
- These two sides drew 0-0 at Brighton in league action back on March 8th and also drew 0-0 at Hillsborough in Sheffield on November 3rd. They drew 0-0 at Sheffield in the league last season with Sheffield winning 1-0 in Brighton. Wednesday is unbeaten in their past eight meetings with four wins and four draws. Brighton has failed to score a goal in their last six meetings and have found the net just twice in the last eight encounters. Brighton’s last win was a 3-1home result in league play in September of 2012. The teams have met 32 times in the past with Sheffield Wednesday winning 14, losing five and drawing the other 13.
Brighton finished tied for second place in the 24-team second-tier Championship League this season with 89 points after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw on the final day of the season. However, Middlesbrough earned automatic promotion to the Premier League due to a better goal difference. Middlesbrough finished the campaign with a plus-32 mark while Brighton was plus 30. Brighton’s 89 points came on a record of 24 wins, 17 draws and five losses. They scored 72 goals and allowed 42 against. Brighton won 15 matches at home while drawing five and losing three with 40 goals for and 18 conceded.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton will be hoping for a good performance from key player Gordon Greer in the home leg against Wednesday with hopes of eventually reaching the top tier of English soccer after a 33-year absence. Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvahal is hoping his club can hang onto their two-goal advantage or extend it as the club is hoping to return to the Premier League for the first time since the 1999/2000 season. Carvahal will be looking for good games out of Gary Hooper, Fernando Forestieri and Lucas Joao on Monday evening.
Sheffield Wednesday finished the 2015/16 campaign in sixth place and grabbed the final playoff position. They won 19 matches while drawing 17 and losing 10 for 74 points while scoring 66 goals and allowing 45 against. Wednesday won six games on the road, drew nine and lost eight while scoring 24 goals and allowing 28 against. Wednesday won the first leg at home against Brighton on goals by Ross Wallace in the 44th minute and Kieran Lee in the 73rd. However, luck was definitely on Wednesday’s side since Brighton lost four players due to injury and had to play the last half hour with just 10 men. The visitors lost Tomed Hemed, Steve Sidwell, Anthony Knockaert and Connor Goldson because of injuries.
A win or draw for Sheffield Wednesday will see them advance to the playoff final. If Brighton wins 2-0 the match will head to extra time and then a penalty shootout if it’s still level. The controversial away goals rule isn’t in effect in the playoffs, so in fact, any two-goal win by Brighton will send the match into extra time.