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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/may/24/preston-swindon-league-one-play-off-final-live
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Preston North End v Swindon: League One play-off final – as it happened | Preston North End v Swindon: League One play-off final – as it happened |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.34pm BST19:34 | 7.34pm BST19:34 |
| Summary | Summary |
| Congratulations to Preston, they were by far the better team today, despite the fact that they only had around a third of the possession. Preston were definitely the third best team in League One – they finished 10 points clear of Swindon in fourth – and they fully deserve to go up. | Congratulations to Preston, they were by far the better team today, despite the fact that they only had around a third of the possession. Preston were definitely the third best team in League One – they finished 10 points clear of Swindon in fourth – and they fully deserve to go up. |
| Beckford was superb, terrorising Swindon’s back three with his pace and strength. | Beckford was superb, terrorising Swindon’s back three with his pace and strength. |
| “Are you staying at Preston?” he is asked after the match. “We’ll see,” he replies, with the match ball in his hand. | “Are you staying at Preston?” he is asked after the match. “We’ll see,” he replies, with the match ball in his hand. |
| Not exactly the strongest of replies there from Beckford. With that in mind, how many of that Swindon’s team will depart over the summer? You’d certainly think Luongo has played his last match for the Wiltshire club. | Not exactly the strongest of replies there from Beckford. With that in mind, how many of that Swindon’s team will depart over the summer? You’d certainly think Luongo has played his last match for the Wiltshire club. |
| Thanks for reading, and for your emails. Tune in for the Championship play-off final tomorrow. Bye! | Thanks for reading, and for your emails. Tune in for the Championship play-off final tomorrow. Bye! |
| Updated at 8.10pm BST | |
| 7.26pm BST19:26 | 7.26pm BST19:26 |
| PRESTON ARE PROMOTED TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP! Full-time: Preston 4-0 Swindon | PRESTON ARE PROMOTED TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP! Full-time: Preston 4-0 Swindon |
| Simon Grayson has done it again, he’s broken Preston’s play-off curse. They are going up! | Simon Grayson has done it again, he’s broken Preston’s play-off curse. They are going up! |
| Congratulations to @pnefc, who have been promoted to the @SkyBetChamp! #PlayOffFinal pic.twitter.com/lMEVXhR1Ka | Congratulations to @pnefc, who have been promoted to the @SkyBetChamp! #PlayOffFinal pic.twitter.com/lMEVXhR1Ka |
| Updated at 7.39pm BST | Updated at 7.39pm BST |
| 7.26pm BST19:26 | 7.26pm BST19:26 |
| 90+2 min: Preston’s bench are hugging each other. Big man love going on right now. Paul Gallagher is crying. | 90+2 min: Preston’s bench are hugging each other. Big man love going on right now. Paul Gallagher is crying. |
| 7.24pm BST19:24 | 7.24pm BST19:24 |
| 90 min: Kasim is struggling with an injury, but Swindon have made all of their substitutions. Effectively have to play with 10 men for the rest of the game. Three minutes added for injury time. Preston are nearly there! | 90 min: Kasim is struggling with an injury, but Swindon have made all of their substitutions. Effectively have to play with 10 men for the rest of the game. Three minutes added for injury time. Preston are nearly there! |
| Updated at 7.24pm BST | Updated at 7.24pm BST |
| 7.23pm BST19:23 | 7.23pm BST19:23 |
| 88 min: David Moyes is at Wembley today to cheer Preston on. He was manager there from 1998-2002 remember. | 88 min: David Moyes is at Wembley today to cheer Preston on. He was manager there from 1998-2002 remember. |
| 7.20pm BST19:20 | 7.20pm BST19:20 |
| 85 min: Some of the Swindon fans are leaving, and Preston’s supporters gleefully wave them off. Cheerio! | 85 min: Some of the Swindon fans are leaving, and Preston’s supporters gleefully wave them off. Cheerio! |
| 7.19pm BST19:19 | 7.19pm BST19:19 |
| 83 min: Another save from Johnstone, and it’s another cracker. Obika rises highest and gets the faintest of touches on an inswinging cross. It looks for all the world like it’s going to creep in the corner, but Johnstone somehow claws it out. | 83 min: Another save from Johnstone, and it’s another cracker. Obika rises highest and gets the faintest of touches on an inswinging cross. It looks for all the world like it’s going to creep in the corner, but Johnstone somehow claws it out. |
| 7.17pm BST19:17 | 7.17pm BST19:17 |
| 82 min: Johnstone makes his first meaningful save, beating away a swerving shot from Gladwin, who had hit it from 25 yards out. Laird comes on for Johnson, he’s had a solid match for Preston. | 82 min: Johnstone makes his first meaningful save, beating away a swerving shot from Gladwin, who had hit it from 25 yards out. Laird comes on for Johnson, he’s had a solid match for Preston. |
| Updated at 7.19pm BST | Updated at 7.19pm BST |
| 7.15pm BST19:15 | 7.15pm BST19:15 |
| 80 min: The tempo has dropped. It’s a big pitch at Wembley, and both side are showing signs of fatigue. | 80 min: The tempo has dropped. It’s a big pitch at Wembley, and both side are showing signs of fatigue. |
| Today's match attendance for the League 1 #PlayOffFinal is 48,236. pic.twitter.com/oHHzQr9tod | Today's match attendance for the League 1 #PlayOffFinal is 48,236. pic.twitter.com/oHHzQr9tod |
| 7.13pm BST19:13 | 7.13pm BST19:13 |
| 77 min: Another chance for Davies! Johnson crosses to the back post, Garner heads back across goal, and Davies only needs to tap it in… no! He can’t quite stretch far enough, those hamstrings aren’t what they used to be. | 77 min: Another chance for Davies! Johnson crosses to the back post, Garner heads back across goal, and Davies only needs to tap it in… no! He can’t quite stretch far enough, those hamstrings aren’t what they used to be. |
| 7.11pm BST19:11 | 7.11pm BST19:11 |
| 75 min: Thompson cuts in from the right, jinks inside Woods but Huntington hurls himself towards the ball to take the sting off the shot. Preston’s centre-back has had a super game, and he’s got his goal. | 75 min: Thompson cuts in from the right, jinks inside Woods but Huntington hurls himself towards the ball to take the sting off the shot. Preston’s centre-back has had a super game, and he’s got his goal. |
| 7.10pm BST19:10 | 7.10pm BST19:10 |
| 72 min: Free-kick to Preston, kick it at Kevin Davies, he played at the old Wembley, don’t you know. They do just that, but Davies nods wide. | 72 min: Free-kick to Preston, kick it at Kevin Davies, he played at the old Wembley, don’t you know. They do just that, but Davies nods wide. |
| 7.07pm BST19:07 | 7.07pm BST19:07 |
| 69 min: This tug-of-war is just getting started, it is five boys strong now. Eventually, a big tattooed man in a full Adidas tracksuit gets off his seat, wrestles the shirt of the boys and gives it to his wife. It’s unclear if man and wife had anything to do with the boys. Either way, daylight robbery! | 69 min: This tug-of-war is just getting started, it is five boys strong now. Eventually, a big tattooed man in a full Adidas tracksuit gets off his seat, wrestles the shirt of the boys and gives it to his wife. It’s unclear if man and wife had anything to do with the boys. Either way, daylight robbery! |
| Updated at 7.10pm BST | Updated at 7.10pm BST |
| 7.06pm BST19:06 | 7.06pm BST19:06 |
| 68 min: Beckford dances his way round three, four challenges and wins a cheap throw-in. He’s been outstanding today, and is roundly cheered by the Preston fans. It looks as though he’s got a knock though, and he goes down. Kevin Davies is coming on! Beckford goes off to a standing ovation – obviously. He gives his shirt to a young lad in the crowd and an almighty tug-of-war commences between the young boy and an adversary. | 68 min: Beckford dances his way round three, four challenges and wins a cheap throw-in. He’s been outstanding today, and is roundly cheered by the Preston fans. It looks as though he’s got a knock though, and he goes down. Kevin Davies is coming on! Beckford goes off to a standing ovation – obviously. He gives his shirt to a young lad in the crowd and an almighty tug-of-war commences between the young boy and an adversary. |
| 7.02pm BST19:02 | 7.02pm BST19:02 |
| 67 min: Swindon make another change. Toffolo off, Williams on. Williams has scored 22 goals in all competitions this year, but Obika was preferred today, perhaps because of his fantastic impact in the semi-final v Sheffield United. | 67 min: Swindon make another change. Toffolo off, Williams on. Williams has scored 22 goals in all competitions this year, but Obika was preferred today, perhaps because of his fantastic impact in the semi-final v Sheffield United. |
| 7.01pm BST19:01 | 7.01pm BST19:01 |
| 65 min: First chance for Obika. He beats Huntington to a cross, but can’t produce enough power on the header to trouble Johnstone, who makes a Hollywood save for the cameras. | 65 min: First chance for Obika. He beats Huntington to a cross, but can’t produce enough power on the header to trouble Johnstone, who makes a Hollywood save for the cameras. |
| 6.59pm BST18:59 | 6.59pm BST18:59 |
| 62 min: Penalty shout for Swindon. Bryne steals a march on Woods as he attempts to latch onto a diagonal ball and as the ball bounces, it strikes Woods on the arm inside the area. Woods didn’t know much about that, but his touch did prevent Byrne controlling the ball. Probably a penalty. Sub for Swindon, Gladwin off, Louis Thompson on. | 62 min: Penalty shout for Swindon. Bryne steals a march on Woods as he attempts to latch onto a diagonal ball and as the ball bounces, it strikes Woods on the arm inside the area. Woods didn’t know much about that, but his touch did prevent Byrne controlling the ball. Probably a penalty. Sub for Swindon, Gladwin off, Louis Thompson on. |
| 6.56pm BST18:56 | 6.56pm BST18:56 |
| 59 min: Garner battles to win Preston a corner, and he celebrates in front of the Preston faithful behind the goal to the left as though he’s just scored in the World Cup final. The party has started in the stands – Mark Judd, I hope you find something nice to buy with that £86 you’ve got in your pocket. | 59 min: Garner battles to win Preston a corner, and he celebrates in front of the Preston faithful behind the goal to the left as though he’s just scored in the World Cup final. The party has started in the stands – Mark Judd, I hope you find something nice to buy with that £86 you’ve got in your pocket. |
| 6.54pm BST18:54 | 6.54pm BST18:54 |
| Kasim, perhaps suffering a serious bout of head-loss, sells Toffolo short and Garner pounces on the loose ball, sending Beckford through on goal once more. In contrast to the chance he missed six minutes ago, the striker is more composed and the outcome is different, cooly sliding the ball into the far corner as Foderingham advanced. Hat-trick for Beckford, the Championship for Preston! | Kasim, perhaps suffering a serious bout of head-loss, sells Toffolo short and Garner pounces on the loose ball, sending Beckford through on goal once more. In contrast to the chance he missed six minutes ago, the striker is more composed and the outcome is different, cooly sliding the ball into the far corner as Foderingham advanced. Hat-trick for Beckford, the Championship for Preston! |
| .@pnefc's Beckford joins Clive Mendonca (1998) and Scott Sinclair (2011) on list of Wembley #PlayOffFinal hat-tricks pic.twitter.com/ysXPeYVL6z | .@pnefc's Beckford joins Clive Mendonca (1998) and Scott Sinclair (2011) on list of Wembley #PlayOffFinal hat-tricks pic.twitter.com/ysXPeYVL6z |
| Updated at 7.16pm BST | Updated at 7.16pm BST |
| 6.51pm BST18:51 | 6.51pm BST18:51 |
| GOAL! Preston 4-0 Swindon (Beckford 57) | GOAL! Preston 4-0 Swindon (Beckford 57) |
| That’s that then. | That’s that then. |
| Updated at 7.21pm BST | Updated at 7.21pm BST |
| 6.49pm BST18:49 | 6.49pm BST18:49 |
| 53 min: Kasim is booked. He came through the back of Garner next to the corner flag, and when the ref blew for the foul, gave Garner a little kick on the ground. He’s having to be calmed down by his team-mates, his emotions are getting the better of him. | 53 min: Kasim is booked. He came through the back of Garner next to the corner flag, and when the ref blew for the foul, gave Garner a little kick on the ground. He’s having to be calmed down by his team-mates, his emotions are getting the better of him. |
| 6.47pm BST18:47 | 6.47pm BST18:47 |
| 50 min: Great save from Foderingham! Beckford fluffs his chance to put this game to bed, and nab himself a hat-trick in the process, after being sent clean through by Garner. Beckford had space and time to steady himself and pick his spot, but he took his shot early, and Foderingham dives well to his right to turn it behind. | 50 min: Great save from Foderingham! Beckford fluffs his chance to put this game to bed, and nab himself a hat-trick in the process, after being sent clean through by Garner. Beckford had space and time to steady himself and pick his spot, but he took his shot early, and Foderingham dives well to his right to turn it behind. |
| 6.44pm BST18:44 | 6.44pm BST18:44 |
| 47 min: Swindon free-kick and Kasim is over the ball. It’s hit far too deep, and the ball trickles out for a goal kick. Cooper holds his hands up on the touchline as if to say, ‘what was that?’ | 47 min: Swindon free-kick and Kasim is over the ball. It’s hit far too deep, and the ball trickles out for a goal kick. Cooper holds his hands up on the touchline as if to say, ‘what was that?’ |
| 6.39pm BST18:39 | 6.39pm BST18:39 |
| 46 min: This is the biggest half-time lead that there has ever been in a play-off final at any level. Quite the task for Swindon, but you sense that it’s not quite done yet. Swindon need an early goal. | 46 min: This is the biggest half-time lead that there has ever been in a play-off final at any level. Quite the task for Swindon, but you sense that it’s not quite done yet. Swindon need an early goal. |
| 6.39pm BST18:39 | 6.39pm BST18:39 |
| Peeep Peeeep! We’re off again. | Peeep Peeeep! We’re off again. |
| 6.27pm BST18:27 | 6.27pm BST18:27 |
| Preston’s dressing room right now.... | Preston’s dressing room right now.... |
| 6.25pm BST18:25 | 6.25pm BST18:25 |
| Half-time: Preston 3-0 Swindon | Half-time: Preston 3-0 Swindon |
| Let’s hope Cooper claps some sense into his Swindon players this half-time. They have most of the ball but, save for that Smith chance, not troubled Preston’s goal whatsoever. | Let’s hope Cooper claps some sense into his Swindon players this half-time. They have most of the ball but, save for that Smith chance, not troubled Preston’s goal whatsoever. |
| 6.23pm BST18:23 | 6.23pm BST18:23 |
| 45+1 min: Sky’s co-commentator, I’m not sure who it is, just ruined a lovely moment. He just described this game as “Preston’s La Decima” which is a bit of a stretch, but quite a nice idea – this is their tenth play-off appearance. Then he said “Johnstone and Johnson, they’re cleaning up aren’t they.” Urgh. | 45+1 min: Sky’s co-commentator, I’m not sure who it is, just ruined a lovely moment. He just described this game as “Preston’s La Decima” which is a bit of a stretch, but quite a nice idea – this is their tenth play-off appearance. Then he said “Johnstone and Johnson, they’re cleaning up aren’t they.” Urgh. |
| Updated at 6.29pm BST | Updated at 6.29pm BST |
| 6.21pm BST18:21 | 6.21pm BST18:21 |
| Garner wins a flick-on from another long Preston ball – he has quite the leap on him, doesn’t he? – and Beckford runs onto it. He twists and turns on the edge of the box, throwing a Cruyff turn in there for good measure, and curls a delightful shot into the far corner with his weaker left foot, before running straight into the arms of a delirious Grayson. Swindon could have been 2-1 down if Smith had converted his chance, now they’re 3-0 down. Are Preston out of sight? | Garner wins a flick-on from another long Preston ball – he has quite the leap on him, doesn’t he? – and Beckford runs onto it. He twists and turns on the edge of the box, throwing a Cruyff turn in there for good measure, and curls a delightful shot into the far corner with his weaker left foot, before running straight into the arms of a delirious Grayson. Swindon could have been 2-1 down if Smith had converted his chance, now they’re 3-0 down. Are Preston out of sight? |
| 6.18pm BST18:18 | 6.18pm BST18:18 |
| GOAL! Preston 3-0 Swindon (Beckford 44) | GOAL! Preston 3-0 Swindon (Beckford 44) |
| WHAT. A. GOAL. | WHAT. A. GOAL. |
| Updated at 7.12pm BST | Updated at 7.12pm BST |
| 6.17pm BST18:17 | 6.17pm BST18:17 |
| 43 min: Golden chance for Smith! HOW HAS HE MISSED THAT? Bryne gets half a yard on the right and delivers a delicious cross to the back post. Smith outmuscles Wright but plants his header wide from two yards out. It was easier to score! | 43 min: Golden chance for Smith! HOW HAS HE MISSED THAT? Bryne gets half a yard on the right and delivers a delicious cross to the back post. Smith outmuscles Wright but plants his header wide from two yards out. It was easier to score! |
| Updated at 6.31pm BST | Updated at 6.31pm BST |
| 6.16pm BST18:16 | 6.16pm BST18:16 |
| 42 min: Free-kick to Swindon and a chance to pack Preston’s box. This nice tiki-taka stuff isn’t working. Hoof it in! Headed away by Wright. | 42 min: Free-kick to Swindon and a chance to pack Preston’s box. This nice tiki-taka stuff isn’t working. Hoof it in! Headed away by Wright. |
| 6.14pm BST18:14 | 6.14pm BST18:14 |
| 40 min: Can I just say, isn’t Preston’s kit lovely? | 40 min: Can I just say, isn’t Preston’s kit lovely? |
| 6.12pm BST18:12 | 6.12pm BST18:12 |
| 38 min: Gallagher, who received some treatment for a knock about 10 minutes ago, is not going to be able to continue. He is replaced by Browne and trudges off, littering the pitch with his sock tape in frustration. He’s not happy, but obviously not fit to continue. | 38 min: Gallagher, who received some treatment for a knock about 10 minutes ago, is not going to be able to continue. He is replaced by Browne and trudges off, littering the pitch with his sock tape in frustration. He’s not happy, but obviously not fit to continue. |
| 6.10pm BST18:10 | 6.10pm BST18:10 |
| 36 min: Again, it’s a very dangerous delivery, with Foderingham flapping in no-man’s land but captain Clarke is ruled offside at the back post. The Swindon marking has been shocking so far though! | 36 min: Again, it’s a very dangerous delivery, with Foderingham flapping in no-man’s land but captain Clarke is ruled offside at the back post. The Swindon marking has been shocking so far though! |
| 6.09pm BST18:09 | 6.09pm BST18:09 |
| 35 min: Beckford wins a free kick with Stephens nibbling him from behind. Not literally. He gave him a kick. Free kick to Preston. Remember what happened last time? | 35 min: Beckford wins a free kick with Stephens nibbling him from behind. Not literally. He gave him a kick. Free kick to Preston. Remember what happened last time? |
| 6.07pm BST18:07 | 6.07pm BST18:07 |
| 33 min: Gladwin skips away from Kilkenny and delivers a cross but Johnstone claims. Isn’t it nice when a goalkeeper catches the ball? | 33 min: Gladwin skips away from Kilkenny and delivers a cross but Johnstone claims. Isn’t it nice when a goalkeeper catches the ball? |
| 6.06pm BST18:06 | 6.06pm BST18:06 |
| 30 min: Kilkenny kits another long diagonal towards Beckford, and for a moment, Swindon look exposed again. Beckford is adjudged to have fouled Ricketts but Swindon need to be wary of that threat. | 30 min: Kilkenny kits another long diagonal towards Beckford, and for a moment, Swindon look exposed again. Beckford is adjudged to have fouled Ricketts but Swindon need to be wary of that threat. |
| 6.02pm BST18:02 | 6.02pm BST18:02 |
| 28 min: Woods chops down Bryne, coming right through the back of Swindon’s right wing-back. That’s a yellow card all day long … no! Andrew Madley just has a word. Very lenient. | 28 min: Woods chops down Bryne, coming right through the back of Swindon’s right wing-back. That’s a yellow card all day long … no! Andrew Madley just has a word. Very lenient. |
| 6.01pm BST18:01 | 6.01pm BST18:01 |
| 26 min: Gallacher goes down in a heap and there is a break in play as he receives treatment. | 26 min: Gallacher goes down in a heap and there is a break in play as he receives treatment. |
| “I was thinking of going to this match,” emails Mark Judd, “travel chaos permitting, then my brother-in-law, a lifelong PNE fan, informed me what it was costing him to go from Preston: £25 for the coach, £52 for the match ticket, £2.50 for ticket admin fee, £6.50 to send the ticket to his home. So that is £86 before he even buys a programme, pint and pie. Still, having just seen PNE score within the 3rd minute I guessing he doesn’t care about the cost.” | “I was thinking of going to this match,” emails Mark Judd, “travel chaos permitting, then my brother-in-law, a lifelong PNE fan, informed me what it was costing him to go from Preston: £25 for the coach, £52 for the match ticket, £2.50 for ticket admin fee, £6.50 to send the ticket to his home. So that is £86 before he even buys a programme, pint and pie. Still, having just seen PNE score within the 3rd minute I guessing he doesn’t care about the cost.” |
| Correct. | Correct. |
| 5.59pm BST17:59 | 5.59pm BST17:59 |
| 23 min: Stephens steps out with the ball and dribbles into space. The seas part, and the defender does a nifty stepover (!!!) to beat Welsh and unleashes a shot. Deflected over. Nice run though, that boy can play. | 23 min: Stephens steps out with the ball and dribbles into space. The seas part, and the defender does a nifty stepover (!!!) to beat Welsh and unleashes a shot. Deflected over. Nice run though, that boy can play. |
| 5.56pm BST17:56 | 5.56pm BST17:56 |
| 21 min: Preston have a very simple gameplan, it seems. Sit deep, soak up pressure, win the ball, hit it long to Beckford, who has got the legs on Stephens and Ricketts. It’s working. | 21 min: Preston have a very simple gameplan, it seems. Sit deep, soak up pressure, win the ball, hit it long to Beckford, who has got the legs on Stephens and Ricketts. It’s working. |
| 5.54pm BST17:54 | 5.54pm BST17:54 |
| 19 min: Bryne wins a corner down the right. They’ll be aiming for 6ft4in striker Michael Smith, who looks and plays not too dissimilarly like Fulham’s Matt Smith by the way. He’s like a lightning rod in that penalty area. Johnstone punches clear, nothing doing. | 19 min: Bryne wins a corner down the right. They’ll be aiming for 6ft4in striker Michael Smith, who looks and plays not too dissimilarly like Fulham’s Matt Smith by the way. He’s like a lightning rod in that penalty area. Johnstone punches clear, nothing doing. |
| 5.51pm BST17:51 | 5.51pm BST17:51 |
| 16 min: Swindon have had 70% possession but they haven’t been in the game at all. They’ve got such a young team out today, have they perhaps been overawed by the occasion? | 16 min: Swindon have had 70% possession but they haven’t been in the game at all. They’ve got such a young team out today, have they perhaps been overawed by the occasion? |
| 5.49pm BST17:49 | 5.49pm BST17:49 |
| 14 min: Mark Cooper looks absolutely shellshocked. He is just clapping. Pointlessly clapping. It’s unclear why. | 14 min: Mark Cooper looks absolutely shellshocked. He is just clapping. Pointlessly clapping. It’s unclear why. |
| 5.49pm BST17:49 | 5.49pm BST17:49 |
| Swindon just haven’t learned their lesson from the first goal: they are able to clear a Gallagher corner, but cannot prevent the former Blackburn man crossing for a second time, and centre-back Huntington ghosts in completely unmarked to tap in from five yards out! 2-0! | Swindon just haven’t learned their lesson from the first goal: they are able to clear a Gallagher corner, but cannot prevent the former Blackburn man crossing for a second time, and centre-back Huntington ghosts in completely unmarked to tap in from five yards out! 2-0! |
| 5.47pm BST17:47 | 5.47pm BST17:47 |
| GOAL! Preston 2-0 Swindon (Huntington 13) | GOAL! Preston 2-0 Swindon (Huntington 13) |
| Swindon are sinking without trace (Football Manager reference there for you). | Swindon are sinking without trace (Football Manager reference there for you). |
| 5.45pm BST17:45 | 5.45pm BST17:45 |
| 8 min: Beckford comes deep and gives the ball away. For all his danger in the penalty boxes, his link up play often does leave a lot to be desired, which is perhaps why he didn’t cut it higher up the leagues. | 8 min: Beckford comes deep and gives the ball away. For all his danger in the penalty boxes, his link up play often does leave a lot to be desired, which is perhaps why he didn’t cut it higher up the leagues. |
| Still, he did do this in the play-off semi-final... | Still, he did do this in the play-off semi-final... |
| 5.43pm BST17:43 | 5.43pm BST17:43 |
| 6 min: Swindon are being in danger of overrun, and Ricketts’s first task is to track Gallagher, who is released down the left by Garner. Gallagher drives to the byline, but selfishly chooses to shoot. There were three bodies waiting for a cut back there. Swindon clear. | 6 min: Swindon are being in danger of overrun, and Ricketts’s first task is to track Gallagher, who is released down the left by Garner. Gallagher drives to the byline, but selfishly chooses to shoot. There were three bodies waiting for a cut back there. Swindon clear. |
| 5.41pm BST17:41 | 5.41pm BST17:41 |
| 4 min: Thompson, who was attempting to mark Beckford, hasn’t got up. He’s really struggling here, and they’re calling for a stretcher. Replays show that Thompson’s knee buckled as he was grappling with Beckford, and then he fell awkwardly. He stretchered off, head in hands, not nice to see. We wish him well, he has only just returned from injury. The veteran defender Sam Ricketts, formerly of Hull and Bolton, comes on in his place. He’s nine years older than any other Swindon player out on the pitch! | 4 min: Thompson, who was attempting to mark Beckford, hasn’t got up. He’s really struggling here, and they’re calling for a stretcher. Replays show that Thompson’s knee buckled as he was grappling with Beckford, and then he fell awkwardly. He stretchered off, head in hands, not nice to see. We wish him well, he has only just returned from injury. The veteran defender Sam Ricketts, formerly of Hull and Bolton, comes on in his place. He’s nine years older than any other Swindon player out on the pitch! |
| Updated at 6.00pm BST | Updated at 6.00pm BST |
| 5.39pm BST17:39 | 5.39pm BST17:39 |
| Gallagher swings in the free kick from the left, and frankly, it is shocking defending at the back post: Thompson gets completely the wrong side of Beckford, who is able to simply sweep a volley into the back of the net from three yards out. Foderingham no chance! Wembley erupts! The Preston lot are going, unsurprisingly, potty. | Gallagher swings in the free kick from the left, and frankly, it is shocking defending at the back post: Thompson gets completely the wrong side of Beckford, who is able to simply sweep a volley into the back of the net from three yards out. Foderingham no chance! Wembley erupts! The Preston lot are going, unsurprisingly, potty. |
| Updated at 6.02pm BST | Updated at 6.02pm BST |
| 5.36pm BST17:36 | 5.36pm BST17:36 |
| GOAL! Preston 1-0 Swindon (Beckford 3) | GOAL! Preston 1-0 Swindon (Beckford 3) |
| What a start! | What a start! |
| 5.36pm BST17:36 | 5.36pm BST17:36 |
| 2 min: Beckford stretches his legs for the first time, and outpaces Swindon captain Nathan Thompson. Beckford is tripped, but the referee doesn’t book Thompson. He well might have, that was a dangerous Preston counter-attack. Free kick to Preston... | 2 min: Beckford stretches his legs for the first time, and outpaces Swindon captain Nathan Thompson. Beckford is tripped, but the referee doesn’t book Thompson. He well might have, that was a dangerous Preston counter-attack. Free kick to Preston... |
| 5.33pm BST17:33 | 5.33pm BST17:33 |
| Peeeeep peeeep! And we’re off! | Peeeeep peeeep! And we’re off! |
| 5.29pm BST17:29 | 5.29pm BST17:29 |
| The teams are out! #COYW #PNElive pic.twitter.com/HSO49pEJUv | The teams are out! #COYW #PNElive pic.twitter.com/HSO49pEJUv |
| 4.46pm BST16:46 | 4.46pm BST16:46 |
| Today’s teams: | Today’s teams: |
| Preston: Johnstone, Clarke, Wright, Huntington, Woods, Kilkenny, Welsh, Johnson, Beckford, Garner, Gallagher. Subs: Laird, Humphrey, Kevin Davies, Reid, Stuckmann, Hugill, Browne. | Preston: Johnstone, Clarke, Wright, Huntington, Woods, Kilkenny, Welsh, Johnson, Beckford, Garner, Gallagher. Subs: Laird, Humphrey, Kevin Davies, Reid, Stuckmann, Hugill, Browne. |
| Swindon: Foderingham, Byrne, Nathan Thompson, Stephens, Turnbull, Toffolo, Luongo, Kasim, Gladwin, Obika, Michael Smith. Subs: Williams, Louis Thompson, Hylton, Tyrell Belford, Rodgers, Branco, Ricketts. | Swindon: Foderingham, Byrne, Nathan Thompson, Stephens, Turnbull, Toffolo, Luongo, Kasim, Gladwin, Obika, Michael Smith. Subs: Williams, Louis Thompson, Hylton, Tyrell Belford, Rodgers, Branco, Ricketts. |
| Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire) | Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire) |
| 4.30pm BST16:30 | 4.30pm BST16:30 |
| Preamble | Preamble |
| Hello world! Welcome to the League One play-off final at Wembley, which is effectively a shoot-out between two teams that just love to cock it up. Preston North End and Swindon both have absolutely abysmal records in the play-offs: Preston have failed to gain promotion in all nine attempts – a Football League record – whilst Swindon don’t fare much better, losing in 2004, 2010 and 2013. A case of the nosebleeds, white-line fever, whatever you want to call it, both have exhibited outstanding levels of ineptitude in post-seasons of the past. | Hello world! Welcome to the League One play-off final at Wembley, which is effectively a shoot-out between two teams that just love to cock it up. Preston North End and Swindon both have absolutely abysmal records in the play-offs: Preston have failed to gain promotion in all nine attempts – a Football League record – whilst Swindon don’t fare much better, losing in 2004, 2010 and 2013. A case of the nosebleeds, white-line fever, whatever you want to call it, both have exhibited outstanding levels of ineptitude in post-seasons of the past. |
| Swindon oh-so-nearly messed it up this time too, racing into a seemingly comfortable 5-1 aggregate lead over Sheffield United in their play-off semi-final second leg, before channelling the Swindon of play-offs past and capitulating. They scraped through 7-6 to book their place at Wembley today. | Swindon oh-so-nearly messed it up this time too, racing into a seemingly comfortable 5-1 aggregate lead over Sheffield United in their play-off semi-final second leg, before channelling the Swindon of play-offs past and capitulating. They scraped through 7-6 to book their place at Wembley today. |
| Preston can take heart from the fact that they came through their semi-final with Chesterfield with relative ease, winning 4-0 on aggregate, and they now have a manger, Simon Grayson, who is a bonafide expert of getting teams out of League One: the 45-year-old has done it with Blackpool, Leeds and Huddersfield. | Preston can take heart from the fact that they came through their semi-final with Chesterfield with relative ease, winning 4-0 on aggregate, and they now have a manger, Simon Grayson, who is a bonafide expert of getting teams out of League One: the 45-year-old has done it with Blackpool, Leeds and Huddersfield. |
| And so it’s all set up: two teams slugging it out for a place in the Best League in the World™, which is the Championship for all of you that don’t know. The two seem evenly matched, with both beating each other in the league this season. Get ready for a thrilling 0-0 (34-33 on penalties) victory. Who will (again) lose their bottle? Who will hit the canvas first? | And so it’s all set up: two teams slugging it out for a place in the Best League in the World™, which is the Championship for all of you that don’t know. The two seem evenly matched, with both beating each other in the league this season. Get ready for a thrilling 0-0 (34-33 on penalties) victory. Who will (again) lose their bottle? Who will hit the canvas first? |
| Find out at: 5.30pm BST | Find out at: 5.30pm BST |
| Updated at 5.02pm BST | Updated at 5.02pm BST |