Southend United V Wycombe Wanderers Live – League Two Play-Off Preview & Betting Tips

Southend United V Wycombe Wanderers
Saturday 23rd May. 5:30PM. Sky Sports 1

Bank holiday weekend provides a bonanza of football action, including all three play-off finals at Wembley, and the feast of entertainment gets underway on Saturday evening as Southend United face Wycombe Wanderers for a place in next year’s League One.

The League Two rivals were separated by goal difference alone during the regular season and we’re expecting an equally tight but explosive affair in London.

Who will gain promotion?

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Brown To Enjoy Another Play-Off Win?

Phil Brown famously guided Hull City to the Premier League via the play-off system justa few short seasons ago and the Roots Hall club will be desperate to see the manager repeat his magic with a vital victory over Wycombe.

Southend were the form side towards the end of this year’s League Two promotion and a run of seven straight wins had put them in pole position to join Burton and Shrewsbury in automatic promotion, before a final day collapse cruelly saw Bury pip them to the post. However, the Essex club got back on track by beating Stevenage in extra-time to seal their place at Wembley.

The Blues were beaten play-off semi-finalists last term so will feel this is their time and will be hoping to draw on that 2013/14 experience. Additionally, they should be in buoyant mood thanks to the large following at Wembley.

Southend’s grit and determination was perhaps best personified by Michael Timlin’s defiance as he bounced back from a horrendous head injury in their first leg against Stevenage to seal the club’s place in the final with a last minute strike in the return clash.

Brown’s Blues appear to have all the qualities need to shine on Saturday. Can they finally drag themselves back into the third tier?

Chairboys To Take Charge At Wembley?

Gareth Ainsworth’s men have only got themselves to blame after letting a title bid slip before dropping into the play-offs. However, those disappointment can be forgotten if the Wanderers manage to claim victory from Saturday’s showdown at the home of football.

The League Two side were brilliant at times this season, yet looked particularly vulnerable at others: sentiments that were summed up to perfection by their semi-final first leg. The real question is whether we will we see Jekyll or Hyde at Wembley?

If the Chairboys play to their best then Ainsworth’s men have a real chance of promotion. They certainly have a natural goalscorer in Paul Hayes and his firepower could spearhead another great attacking display following their five goals in the semi-final win over Shrewsbury. However, they must be cautious at the back after keeping just one clean sheet in their last nine.

Whatever happens, we should be in for an absorbing affair. Bring it on!

Southend United V Wycombe Wanderers Betting Tips

Very little separates these teams in terms of quality and those sentiment have been replicated by Bet365’s odds. Southend are the slight favourites at 6/4, but Wycombe’s price of 9/5 suggests they’ve got a very decent chance too. The draw, meanwhile, can be backed at 23/10 if you think this play-off will follow the lead of last week’s Conference clash between Bristol Rovers and Grimsby.

Form can somewhat be thrown out of the window heading into a Wembley final but the statistics certainly suggest this could be an entertaining game fuelled by goals at both ends.

As well as all four semi-final legs ending in BTTS winners, the last five head-to-head encounters have seen goals at both ends of the pitch. The odds are more generous than we’d have anticipated and we’re looking to capitalise accordingly.

[quote_center]Tip: Both teams to score @ 19/20 with Coral[/quote_center]

As an outside bet, we’re backing Southend’s David Worrall to become a hero by breaking the deadlock. The midfielder has notched six goals this term, with his last coming against Bury last month.

The former Oldham Athletic man has endured a tough time personally, losing his baby son earlier this year, but has acquitted himself well since returning to action. Nobody deserves the ecstasy of scoring more than him.

[quote_center]Tip: David Worrall to score first @ 12/1 with Coral[/quote_center]