2010 Football League play-offs
Introduction The '''Football League play-offs''' for the 2009–10 season were held in May 2010, with the finals taking place at Wembley Stadium in London. The play-off semi-finals were played over two legs, contested by the teams who finished in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Football League Championship and League One and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the League Two table. The winners of the semi-finals went through to the finals, with the winner of the final gaining promotion for the following season.
Background The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987.They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places.In the Championship, Nottingham Forest, who were aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1999, finished 12 points behind second placed West Bromwich Albion, who in turn finished 11 points behind champions Newcastle United, who returned to the top flight at the first attempt after relegation from the Premier League on the last day the season before. Cardiff City who haven't been in the top flight since 1962, finished in fourth place in the table. Leicester City who finished as champions of League One the season before, finished in fifth place looking for a return to the top flight for the first time in 6 years. Blackpool finished 6 points behind Leicester and Cardiff on 70 points, looking for a first spell back in the top flight since 1971.
Championship Team3Nottingham Forest462213116540+25794Cardiff City462210147354+19765Leicester City462113126145+1676'''6''''''Blackpool''''''46''''''19''''''13''''''14''''''74''''''58''''''+16''''''70'''===Semi-finals===;First leg----;Second leg''Blackpool won 6–4 on aggregate.'' ----{pengoal}  Carry Dine Dine''Cardiff City 3–3 Leicester City on aggregate. Cardiff City won 4-3 on penalties. ''===Final===
League One Team'''3''''''Millwall''''''46''''''24''''''13''''''9''''''76''''''44''''''32''''''85'''4Charlton Athletic4623158714823845Swindon Town4622168735716826Huddersfield Town4623111282562680===Semi-finals===;First leg----;Second leg''Charlton Athletic 3–3 Swindon Town on aggregate. Swindon Town won 5–4 on penalties.'' ----''Millwall won 2–0 on aggregate. ''===Final===
League Two Team4Morecambe462013137364+9735Rotherham United462110155552+3736Aldershot Town462012146956+1372'''7''''''Dagenham & Redbridge''''''46''''''20''''''12''''''14''''''69''''''58''''''+11''''''72'''===Semi-finals===;First leg----;Second leg''Rotherham United won 3–0 on aggregate.'' ----''Dagenham & Redbridge won 7–2 on aggregate. ''===Final===
References
External links * Football League website