Ranking the 15 Championship play-off finals at the new Wembley; we’re overdue a classic

The Championship play-off final is oft-cited as the richest game in football, but how often is it any good? We have ranked the last 15 since new Wembley was its host…

15) 2013 – Crystal Palace 1-0 Watford

Some will say it’s unfairly ranked bottom because it failed to live up the ‘Deeeeeeney’ moment of the semi-final, but no final could. Those who were unfortunate enough to watch it will remember it was just a sh*t final. Kevin Philips’ extra time penalty even denied us a first shootout of the 21st century. Absolute dross.

14) 2017 – Huddersfield 0-0 Reading (Huddersfield won 4-3 on penalties)

This at least had a penalty shoot-out. That was about it. It avoids bottom place for having given us a new Premier League outfit, the spot-kicks, and has nothing to do with Winty being a Huddersfield fan. Honest.

13) 2007 – Derby County 1-0 West Brom

This was the first Championship final to be played at the new Wembley Stadium and was more of a precursor to the finals listed above as to the ones coming further in the list. They do get good, I promise. This did give us Derby’s record low points tally in the Premier League. Still, at least things have come good at Pride Park eventually. Right? Right?!

12) 2015 – Norwich City 2-0 Middlesbrough

This one comes with the caveat that it’s the only Championship play-off final I didn’t watch live. I must have had a life that year, unlike this final which was a damp squib from a neutral and Middlesbrough perspective. Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond each scored in the opening quarter of an hour and…that was it.

11) 2021 – Brentford 2-0 Swansea City

Not quite played behind closed doors – over 11,000 fans were allowed into Wembley for this one – but it was not the occasion Brentford’s