2023 EFL Championship play-off final

Association football match

Football match

2023 EFL Championship play-off final

Wembley Stadium in London hosted the final.

| Coventry City | Luton Town

|

1 | 1
After extra time
Luton Town won 6–5 on penalties
Date| 27 May 2023 (2023-05-27)
Venue| Wembley Stadium, London
Man of the Match| Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town)[1]
Referee| Michael Oliver
Attendance| 85,711

← 2022

2024 →

The 2023 EFL Championship play-off final was an association football match which was played on 27 May 2023 at Wembley Stadium, London, to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football, to the Premier League. The top two teams of the 2022–23 EFL Championship, Burnley and Sheffield United, gained automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the clubs placed from third to sixth in the table took part in 2023 English Football League play-offs.[2] Success in the final has been estimated, by the accountancy company Deloitte, to be worth £170 million to the winning team over the next three seasons.[3]

The final was contested by Luton Town and Coventry City, who finished third and fifth respectively in the league season. The match was notable for the rapid ascent of both sides through the English league system, as both teams had played in League Two in the 2017–18 season.

With the score 1–1 after extra time with goals from Jordan Clark and Gustavo Hamer, Luton won the final on penalties to secure a return to the top flight after 31 seasons, and for the first time in the Premier League era, having been relegated the season prior to its formation.[4]

## Route to the final

[edit]

Main articles: 2022–23 EFL Championship and 2023 English Football League play-offs § Championship

EFL Championship final table, leading positions  Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Burnley (C, P) | 46  | 29  | 14  | 3  | 87  | 35  | +52  | 101
2  | Sheffield United (P) | 46  | 28  | 7  | 11  | 73  | 39  | +34  | 91
3  | Luton Town (O, P) | 46  | 21  | 17  | 8  | 57  | 39  | +18  | 80
4  | Middlesbrough | 46  | 22  | 9  | 15  | 84  | 56  | +28  | 75
5  | Coventry City | 46  | 18  | 16  | 12  | 58  | 46  | +12  | 70
6  | Sunderland | 46  | 18  | 15  | 13  | 68  | 55  | +13  | 69

Source: EFL Official Website
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Luton Town finished the regular 2022–23 season in third place in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league system, two places and 10 points ahead of Coventry City. They both therefore missed out on the two automatic places for promotion to the Premier League and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the third and final promoted team.[5] Luton finished 11 points behind Sheffield United (who were promoted in second place) and 21 points behind league winners Burnley.[6]

In their play-off semi-final, Luton faced sixth-placed Sunderland with the first match of the two-legged tie taking place at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on 13 May 2023. Luton took the lead in the 11th minute after Sunderland had failed to clear a corner and Elijah Adebayo scored from a rebounded shot after Alfie Doughty's close range strike was saved by Anthony Patterson. Sunderland dominated the possession as the half progressed and they equalised in the 39th minute when Amad Diallo curled the ball into the top corner of the net following an Alex Pritchard free kick. Sunderland maintained their momentum in the second-half and in the 63rd minute, Trai Hume scored with a header from a Jack Clarke cross. Luton rallied towards the end of the second-half but were unable to score an equaliser and the game finished 2–1.[7] The second leg took place at Luton’s Kenilworth Road on 16 May with both clubs fielding the same starting elevens. Luton scored in the 10th minute when Tom Lockyer won the ball from a corner and the ball fell to Gabriel Osho who reacted quickly to score. Luton added a second in the 43rd minute when an inswinging cross by Alfie Doughty was met by Lockyer to head home and make the score 2–0. Luton’s tactic of putting high balls into the Sunderland penalty box continued to cause the Sunderland defence problems while Sunderland rarely troubled the Luton defence. No further goals were scored and Luton won 3–2 on aggregate winning a place in the final and a chance to return to the top tier of English football for the first time since 1992.[8]

In the other play-off semi-final, on 14 May, Coventry City played Middlesbrough in the first leg at the CBS Arena in Coventry. In a match described by BBC Sport's Ged Scott as both "poor and tense", Coventry failed to have a single shot on target. Middlesbrough managed only two shots on target but also failed to score as the match ended 0–0.[9] The second leg was played at the Riverside Stadium on 17 May. The only goal of the game came in the 57th minute when Middlesbrough lost possession on the half-way line. Coventry’s Viktor Gyökeres played the ball into space past Middlesbrough goalkeeper, Zack Steffen. Gustavo Hamer took control of the ball and hit a precise shot into the roof of the net. Middlesbrough pressed for an equaliser and they had the ball in the net with two minutes to go only for it to be ruled out for offside. Eight minutes of added time were played but Middlesbrough could not find a way past the Coventry defence and the game ended 1–0 to Coventry, the same aggregate scoreline which sent them through to the Wembley final against Luton Town.[10]

Coventry manager, Mark Robins described the final as "one for the romantics" due to the rise of both teams from the lower tiers of English football, both clubs having been in League Two as recently as the 2017–18 season.[11]

## Match

[edit]

### Background

[edit]

This was Coventry City's second play-off final, the first being a 3–1 win against Exeter City in the 2018 League Two play-off final.[12] They had last played in the Premier League in the 2000–01 season, when they were relegated to the Championship (then known as Football League Division One).[12] Aside from the 2018 match, the club's prior visits to Wembley Stadium included the 1987 FA Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur, which Coventry won 3–2 after extra time, the Charity Shield game against Everton the same year, and the 2017 EFL Trophy final in which they defeated Oxford United.[13] Luton had appeared in one play-off final before this match – the 2012 Conference Premier play-off final, which they lost 2–1 to York City.[14] Luton had not played in the top flight since 1992, when defeat on the final day of the season meant they were relegated while Coventry stayed up.[14][15] In addition to the 2012 play-off final, Luton had completed seven other matches at Wembley before this one, including wins over Arsenal in the 1988 Football League Cup final and Scunthorpe in the 2009 Football League Trophy final, as well as five defeats.[16] During the regular season, both matches between the two clubs finished in draws – a 2–2 result at Kenilworth Road in September 2022, followed by a 1–1 match at the Coventry Building Society Arena the following February.[17] Gyökeres was Coventry's highest scorer with 21 goals while Luton's top marksman was Carlton Morris with 20.[18]

The final was refereed by Michael Oliver, with Stuart Burt and Lee Betts as his assistants, and Graham Scott the fourth official. From 2022, the EFL had announced that the video assistant referee (VAR) system would be used at all play-off finals, and Andre Marriner was appointed in this role with Richard West his assistant.[19][20]

### Summary

[edit]

The match kicked off at 4:45 p.m. in front of a crowd 85,711, with more than 36,000 supports of each of the two teams present.[21][22][23] Luton had the better of the opening phase of the match, and thought they'd scored after five minutes when Osho put the ball into the net from close range, but it was ruled out for offside. They suffered a setback on 10 minutes when their captain, Lockyer, collapsed while running off the ball, and had to be substituted.[24] Luton's Morris had two chances to score on 14 and 20 minutes, before the side took the lead on 23 minutes.[24] Adebayo received possession from a long ball forward and ran with it, beating Coventry defender Kyle McFadzean twice before passing to Jordan Clark who scored.[21] Luton continued to dominate play in the minutes after their goal and had several opportunities to extend their lead. On 29 minutes, Adebayo missed a chance following a blocked Morris shot and, on 41 minutes, the ball went into the Coventry goal off Adebayo's arm following a Doyle goal-line clearance.[24][25] Luton's dominance waned somewhat towards the end of the half: Hamer had Coventry's first significant chance of the match on 43 minutes when he headed the ball over the crossbar following Bidwell's cross, and they earned a free kick in an attacking position during stoppage time but Luton's goalkeeper Ethan Horvath was able to claim the ball.[25][26]

Coventry brought on Matt Godden at half time, in place of Jamie Allen, adopting a more attacking formation.[26] Their defender Luke McNally was booked early in the second half for a foul on Adebayo. Coventry began to dominate in the early stages of the half, earning a corner on 49 minutes and Gyökeres having a chance a minute later when he toed the ball past Osho and Horvath but he was unable to reconnect with the ball in front of the goal.[25] Liam Kelly then had a chance for Coventry shortly afterwards, but his shot went over the crossbar.[21] Coventry equalised on 66 minutes when Gyökeres ran down the left side of the field before crossing it for Hamer, scored past Horvath into the bottom-right corner of the goal.[21][26] Gyökeres had a chance to give Coventry the lead on 73 minutes when he received the ball near the penalty spot, but his shot was too high. A minute later, Hamer sustained an ankle injury when landing on the ground and he eventually had to be substituted by Robins, Kasey Palmer replacing him.[25] There were some chances for both sides in the remainder of the half, including one by Godden, who shot over the crossbar after receiving the ball from Gyökeres close to the penalty spot.[21][26] There were eight minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half had eight minutes of stoppage time with both teams trying to find a winning goal, but neither were successful. With the game finishing 1–1 after 90 minutes, it went to extra time.[26]

### Details

[edit]

27 May 2023 (2023-05-27)

16:45 BST

Coventry City| 1–1 (a.e.t.)| Luton Town

|
|

* Hamer 66'

| Report |

* Clark 23'

Penalties

* Godden
* Gyökeres
* Sheaf
* Eccles
* Kelly
* Dabo

| 5–6 |

* Morris
* Taylor
* Nakamba
* Clark
* Berry
* Potts

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 85,711

Referee: Michael Oliver

Coventry City

Luton Town

|

|  |

|

GK | 13 |  Ben Wilson
LWB | 27 |  Jake Bidwell
CB | 3 |  Callum Doyle |  |  115'
CB | 5 |  Kyle McFadzean
CB | 16 |  Luke McNally |  46'
RWB | 7 |  Brooke Norton-Cuffy |  |  90'
CM | 6 |  Liam Kelly (c)
CM | 14 |  Ben Sheaf
CM | 8 |  Jamie Allen |  |  46'
CM | 38 |  Gustavo Hamer |  |  80'
CF | 17 |  Viktor Gyökeres
Substitutes:
GK | 1 |  Simon Moore
DF | 2 |  Jonathan Panzo |  |  115'
DF | 11 |  Josh Wilson-Esbrand
DF | 23 |  Fankaty Dabo |  |  90'
MF | 28 |  Josh Eccles |  |  102'
MF | 45 |  Kasey Palmer |  |  80' |  102'
FW | 24 |  Matt Godden |  |  46'
Head coach:
Mark Robins
|  |  |

|

GK | 34 |  Ethan Horvath
RB | 13 |  Marvelous Nakamba
CB | 32 |  Gabriel Osho |  |  112'
CB | 4 |  Tom Lockyer (c) |  |  12'
LB | 29 |  Amari'i Bell
DM | 17 |  Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu |  |  98'
RM | 2 |  Cody Drameh
CM | 18 |  Jordan Clark |  99'
LM | 45 |  Alfie Doughty |  |  84'
CF | 11 |  Elijah Adebayo |  |  105'
CF | 9 |  Carlton Morris
Substitutes:
GK | 1 |  James Shea
DF | 3 |  Dan Potts |  112'
DF | 16 |  Reece Burke |  12'
MF | 8 |  Luke Berry |  98'
MF | 22 |  Allan Campbell
MF | 23 |  Fred Onyedinma |  84'
FW | 25 |  Joe Taylor |  105'
Head coach:
Rob Edwards

Man of the Match:
Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town)[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "'Win it 4 Lockyer' – the story of Luton's emotional Premier League promotion". The Athletic. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
2. ^ "EFL Key Dates". English Football League. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
3. ^ "The 'hard luck story' Championship play-off final". BBC Sport. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
4. ^ "Luton Town win shootout to reach Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
5. ^ "Sky Bet EFL Play-Off dates confirmed". EFL Official Website. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
6. ^ "Sky Bet Championship Table". EFL Official Website. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
7. ^ "Sunderland take first-leg lead with win over Luton". BBC Sport. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
8. ^ "Luton overpower Sunderland to reach play-off final". BBC Sport. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
9. ^ "Coventry City held by Middlesbrough in first leg". BBC Sport. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
10. ^ "Coventry beat Middlesbrough to make play-off final". BBC Sport. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
11. ^ "Coventry-Luton final 'one for romantics' – Robins". BBC Sport. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
12. ^ a b "Coventry City". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
13. ^ Scott, Ged (22 May 2023). "Coventry City sell out Wembley ticket allocation for Championship play-off final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
14. ^ a b "Luton Town". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
15. ^ Horridge, Dave; Malam, Colin (3 May 1992). "Sad Hatters set up Sky Blue Party". Sunday Telegraph. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
16. ^ Simmonds, Mike (26 May 2023). "In Pictures: Luton Town's previous record at Wembley Stadium". Luton Today. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
17. ^ "Coventry City football club match record: 2023". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
18. ^ "League One – 2022/23 – regular season". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
19. ^ "Referee appointments: Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final". English Football League. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
20. ^ "VAR to be used in all three EFL play-off finals". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
21. ^ a b c d e "Report: Luton Town seal promotion from the Sky Bet Championship in Play-Off Final". English Football League. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
22. ^ Scott, Ged (22 May 2023). "Coventry City sell out Wembley ticket allocation for Championship play-off final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
23. ^ "Watch as Wardown Park erupts at Luton's historic Premier League promotion – The Lutonian". The Lutonian. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
24. ^ a b c Murray, Scott (27 May 2023). "Luton promoted to Premier League after beating Coventry – as it happened". The Guardian. p. 4. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
25. ^ a b c d Murray, Scott (27 May 2023). "Luton promoted to Premier League after beating Coventry – as it happened". The Guardian. p. 3. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
26. ^ a b c d e Scott, Ged (27 May 2023). "Coventry City 1-1 Luton Town (5-6 pens): Hatters win shootout to reach Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2025.

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*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template