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 gained possession of midfield and Luton’s Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu fouled Patrick Roberts resulting in a free-kick. Alex Pritchard touched the ball to Amad who curled the ball into the top corner of the net beyond Luton goalkeeper, Ethan Horvath who did not move, making the score 1–1 in the 39th minute. No further goals were scored in the first-half. 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 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 section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (May 2024)

|

### Summary

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (May 2024)

|

### 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
RB | 16 |  Luke McNally |  46'
CB | 5 |  Kyle McFadzean
CB | 14 |  Ben Sheaf
LB | 3 |  Callum Doyle |  |  115'
CM | 8 |  Jamie Allen |  |  46'
CM | 6 |  Liam Kelly (c)
CM | 38 |  Gustavo Hamer |  |  80'
RF | 7 |  Brooke Norton-Cuffy |  |  90'
CF | 17 |  Viktor Gyökeres
LF | 27 |  Jake Bidwell
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 | 18 |  Jordan Clark |  99'
CB | 32 |  Gabriel Osho |  |  112'
CB | 4 |  Tom Lockyer (c) |  |  12'
LB | 29 |  Amari'i Bell
RM | 2 |  Cody Drameh
CM | 13 |  Marvelous Nakamba
CM | 17 |  Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu |  |  98'
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.

* v
* t
* e

English Football League play-offs

Competitions|

* EFL Championship play-offs
* EFL League One play-offs
* EFL League Two play-offs

Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Finals|

| Championship|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

|

League One|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

League Two|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

Coventry City F.C. matches

FA Cup Final|

* 1987

FA Charity Shield|

* 1987

EFL Trophy Final|

* 2017

Football League play-off Final|

* 2018 EFL League Two
* 2023 EFL Championship

Other matches|

* Coventry City 2–2 Bristol City (1977)
* Sutton United 2–1 Coventry City (1989)

* v
* t
* e

Luton Town F.C. matches

FA Cup Final|

* 1959

League Cup Finals|

* 1988
* 1989

Football League Trophy Final|

* 2009

Full Members' Cup Final|

* 1988

Football League play-off finals|

* 2011 Conference Premier
* 2012 Conference Premier
* 2023 EFL Championship

Other matches|

* Kenilworth Road riot (1985)
* Norwich City 0–1 Luton Town (2013)

*[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