2020 English Football League play-offs#Championship

{{Infobox football league season

| image = File:Wembley-Stadion 2013.jpg

| caption = Wembley Stadium was the venue for each play-off final

| prevseason = 2019

| nextseason = 2021

| season = 2019–20

}}

The English Football League play-offs for the 2019–20 season (referred to as the Sky Bet Play-Offs for sponsorship reasons) were held in June, July and August 2020 with all finals played at Wembley Stadium in London. The play-offs began in each league with two semi-finals played over two legs. The teams who finished in 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th place in the Championship and League One and the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th-placed teams in League Two were set to compete. The winners of the semi-finals advanced to the finals, with the winner of the final gaining promotion for the following season.{{Cite web|title=EFL rules and relegations|url=https://www.efl.com/clubs-and-competitions/sky-bet-play-offs/playoff-rules--regulations/}}

The away goals rule does not apply in the playoff semi-finals per the standard rules.

Background

The English Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places. The fixtures are determined by final league position – in the Championship and League One this is 3rd v 6th and 4th v 5th, while in League Two it is 4th v 7th and 5th v 6th.

Championship

{{Main|2019–20 EFL Championship}}The matchups were determined on 22 July 2020 on the conclusion of the league season.

width="30"\|{{Tooltip\| Pos \| Position}} !width="175"\|Team !width="30"\|{{Tooltip\| Pld \| Played}} !width="30"\|{{Tooltip\| W \| Won}} !width="30"\|{{Tooltip\| D \| Drawn}} !width="30"\|{{Tooltip\| L \| Lost}} !width="30"\|{{Tooltip\| GF \| Goals for}} !width="30"\|{{Tooltip\| GA \| Goals against}} !width="30"\|{{Tooltip\| GD \| Goal difference}} !width="30"\|{{Tooltip\| Pts \| Points}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan=10 \| Final league position – Championship
3	align=left\|Brentford \|46	24	9	13	80	38	+42	81
4	align=left\|Fulham \|46	23	12	11	64	48	+16	81
5	align=left\|Cardiff City \|46	19	16	11	68	58	+10	73
6	align=left\|Swansea City \|46	18	16	12	62	53	+9	70

First leg

{{footballbox

| date = {{Start date|2020|07|26|df=y}}

| time = 18:30 BST

| team1 = Swansea City

| score = 1–0

| team2 = Brentford

| goals1 = Ayew {{goal|81}}

| goals2 =

| location = Swansea

| stadium = Liberty Stadium

| referee = Keith Stroud

| attendance = 0{{efn|name=Behind closed doors|The semi-finals and final would be played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.}}

| report = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53508323

}}

{{footballbox

| date = {{Start date|2020|07|27|df=y}}

| time = 19:45 BST

| team1 = Cardiff City

| score = 0–2

| team2 = Fulham

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Onomah {{goal|49}}
Kebano {{goal|90+1}}

| location = Cardiff

| stadium = Cardiff City Stadium

| referee = Geoff Eltringham

| attendance = 0{{efn|name=Behind closed doors}}

| report = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/53151048

}}

Second leg

{{footballbox

| date = {{Start date|2020|07|29|df=y}}

| time = 19:45 BST

| team1 = Brentford

| score = 3–1

| aet =

| penaltyscore =

| team2 = Swansea City

| goals1 = Watkins {{goal|11}}
Marcondes {{goal|15}}
Mbeumo {{goal|46}}

| goals2 = Brewster {{goal|78}}

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| location = Brentford, London

| stadium = Griffin Park

| referee = Chris Kavanagh

| attendance = 0{{efn|name=Behind closed doors}}

| report = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/53151050

}}Brentford won 3–2 on aggregate

{{footballbox

| date = {{Start date|2020|07|30|df=y}}

| time = 19:45 BST

| team1 = Fulham

| score = 1–2

| aet =

| penaltyscore =

| team2 = Cardiff City

| goals1 = Kebano {{goal|9}}

| goals2 = Nelson {{goal|8}}
Tomlin {{goal|47}}

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| location = Fulham, London

| stadium = Craven Cottage

| referee = Paul Tierney

| attendance = 0{{efn|name=Behind closed doors}}

| report = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/53151052

}}Fulham won 3–2 on aggregate

= Championship final =

League One

After suspending play due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, EFL League One clubs voted to curtail the season, and they used points per game (PPG) to decide the final standings.{{Cite news |last=Fisher |first=Ben |date=2020-06-09 |title='A disgrace': Peterborough furious as League One and League Two curtailed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/09/league-two-league-one-clubs-vote-to-curtail-season-promotion-relegation-hold-play-offs |access-date=2025-03-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=EFL |date=June 9, 2020 |title=EFL statement: League One opts to curtail |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2020/june/efl-statement-league-one-opts-to-curtail/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=EFL |language=en}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan="10" \|Final league position – League One !
width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|Pos\|Position}} ! width="175" \|Team ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|Pld\|Played}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|W\|Won}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|D\|Drawn}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|L\|Lost}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|GA\|Goals against}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|GD\|Goal difference}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|Pts\|Points}} !PPG
3 \| align="left" \|Wycombe Wanderers \|34 \|17 \|8 \|9 \|45 \|40 \|+5 \|59 \|1.74
4 \| align="left" \|Oxford United \|35 \|17 \|9 \|9 \|61 \|37 \| +24 \|60 \|1.71
5 \| align="left" \|Portsmouth \|35 \|17 \|9 \|9 \|53 \|36 \| +17 \|60 \|1.71
6 \| align="left" \|Fleetwood Town \|35 \|16 \|12 \|7 \|51 \|38 \| +13 \|60 \|1.71

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="10" |Final league position – League One

width="30" |{{Tooltip|Pos|Position}}

! width="175" |Team

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|Pld|Played}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|W|Won}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|D|Drawn}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|L|Lost}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}}

!PPG

| align="left" |Wycombe Wanderers

|34

|17

|45

|40

|+5

|59

|1.74

| align="left" |Oxford United

|35

|17

|61

|37

| +24

|60

|1.71

| align="left" |Portsmouth

|35

|17

|53

|36

| +17

|60

|1.71

| align="left" |Fleetwood Town

|35

|16

|12

|51

|38

| +13

|60

|1.71

= League One semi-finals =

First leg{{footballbox

| date = 3 July 2020

| event =

| location =

| penalties2 =

| penalties1 =

| penaltyscore =

| score2 = 1

| score1 = 1

| round =

| referee = Gavin Ward

| time = 17:30 BST

| attendance = 0{{efn|name=Behind closed doors}}

| stadium = Fratton Park, Portsmouth

| goals2 = Browne {{goal|43}}

| goals1 = Curtis {{goal|32}}

| team2 = Oxford United

| report = https://www.skysports.com/football/portsmouth-vs-oxford-utd/report/425071

| score =

| team1 = Portsmouth

| aet =

}}

{{footballbox

| date = 3 July 2020

| event =

| location =

| penalties2 =

| penalties1 =

| penaltyscore =

| score2 = 4

| score1 = 1

| round =

| referee = Tony Harrington

| time = 19:30 BST

| attendance = 0{{efn|name=Behind closed doors}}

| stadium = Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood

| goals2 = Ofoborh {{goal|2}}
Jacobson {{goal|6}}
Wheeler {{goal|45+3}}
Samuel {{goal|57}}

| goals1 = Evans {{goal|4|pen.}}

| team2 = Wycombe Wanderers

| report = https://www.skysports.com/football/fleetwood-vs-wycombe/report/425070

| score = 1–4

| team1 = Fleetwood Town

| aet =

}}

Second leg

{{footballbox

| date = 6 July 2020

| event =

| location =

| penalties2 = {{pengoal}} Marquis
{{pengoal}} Evans
{{pengoal}} Brown
{{penmiss}} McGeehan
{{pengoal}} Hawkins

| penalties1 = Woodburn {{pengoal}}
Forde {{pengoal}}
Taylor {{pengoal}}
Mousinho {{pengoal}}
Brannagan {{pengoal}}

| penaltyscore = 5–4

| score2 = 1

| score1 = 1

| round =

| referee = Darren England

| time = 17:00 BST

| attendance = 0{{efn|name=Behind closed doors}}

| stadium = Kassam Stadium, Oxford

| goals2 = Harness {{goal|38}}

| goals1 = Harrison {{goal|45+3|o.g.}}

| team2 = Portsmouth

| report = https://www.skysports.com/football/oxford-utd-vs-portsmth/report/425072

| score = 1–1

| team1 = Oxford United

| aet = yes

}}2–2 on aggregate, Oxford United won 5–4 on penalties.

{{footballbox

| date = 6 July 2020

| event =

| location =

| penalties2 =

| penalties1 =

| penaltyscore =

| score2 = 2

| score1 = 2

| round =

| referee = Darren Bond

| time = 19:30 BST

| attendance = 0{{efn|name=Behind closed doors}}

| stadium = Adams Park, High Wycombe

| goals2 = Andrew {{goal|23}}
Evans {{goal|60|pen.}}

| goals1 = Onyedinma {{goal|47||90+4}}

| team2 = Fleetwood Town

| report = https://www.skysports.com/football/Wycombe-vs-Fleetwood/report/425073

| score =

| team1 = Wycombe Wanderers

| aet =

}}Wycombe Wanderers won 6–3 on aggregate.

= League One final =

League Two

{{Main|2019–20 EFL League Two}}After suspending play due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, EFL League Two clubs voted to curtail the season, and they used points per game (PPG) to decide the final standings.{{Cite web |last=EFL |date=June 9, 2020 |title=EFL statement: League Two opts to curtail |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2020/june/efl-statement-league-two-opts-to-curtail/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=EFL |language=en}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan="10" \|Final league position – League Two !
width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|Pos\|Position}} ! width="175" \|Team ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|Pld\|Played}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|W\|Won}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|D\|Drawn}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|L\|Lost}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|GA\|Goals against}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|GD\|Goal difference}} ! width="30" \|{{Tooltip\|Pts\|Points}} !PPG
4 \| align="left" \|Cheltenham Town \|36 \|17 \|13 \|6 \|52 \|27 \| +25 \|64 \|1.78
5 \| align="left" \|Exeter City \|37 \|18 \|11 \|8 \|53 \|43 \| +10 \|65 \|1.76
6 \| align="left" \|Colchester United \|37 \|15 \|13 \|9 \|52 \|37 \| +15 \|58 \|1.57
7 \| align="left" \|Northampton Town \|37 \|17 \|7 \|13 \|54 \|40 \| +14 \|58 \|1.57

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="10" |Final league position – League Two

width="30" |{{Tooltip|Pos|Position}}

! width="175" |Team

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|Pld|Played}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|W|Won}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|D|Drawn}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|L|Lost}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}

! width="30" |{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}}

!PPG

| align="left" |Cheltenham Town

|36

|17

|13

|52

|27

| +25

|64

|1.78

| align="left" |Exeter City

|37

|18

|11

|53

|43

| +10

|65

|1.76

| align="left" |Colchester United

|37

|15

|13

|52

|37

| +15

|58

|1.57

| align="left" |Northampton Town

|37

|17

|13

|54

|40

| +14

|58

|1.57

= League Two semi-finals =

; First leg{{cite web|title=Sky Bet EFL Play-off dates confirmed|url=https://www.espn.com/espnplus/schedule/_/type/upcoming/channel/ESPN_PLUS/startDate/20200618}}

{{footballbox

| date = 18 June 2020

| score2 = 0

| score1 = 1

| referee = Josh Smith

| time = 17:15 BST

| attendance = 0{{efn|name=Behind closed doors}}

| stadium = Colchester Community Stadium, Colchester

| goals2 =

| goals1 = Bramall {{goal|81}}

| team2 = Exeter City

| report = https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53063380

| score =

| team1 = Colchester United

}}
{{footballbox

| date = 18 June 2020

| score2 = 2

| score1 = 0

| referee = Marc Edwards

| time = 19:45 BST

| attendance = 0{{efn|name=Behind closed doors}}

| stadium = Sixfields Stadium, Northampton

| goals2 = Raglan {{goal|26}}
Thomas {{goal|86}}

| goals1 =

| team2 = Cheltenham Town

| report = https://www.skysports.com/football/northampton-vs-cheltenham/report/425053

| score =

| team1 = Northampton Town

}}

;

;Second leg{{cite web|title=Sky Bet EFL Play-off dates confirmed|url=https://www.espn.com/espnplus/schedule/_/type/upcoming/channel/ESPN_PLUS/startDate/20200622}}

{{footballbox

| date = 22 June 2020

| score2 = 1

| score1 = 3

| referee = Charles Breakspear

| time = 17:15 BST

| attendance = 0{{efn|name=Behind closed doors}}

| stadium = St James Park, Exeter

| goals2 = Senior {{goal|78}}

| goals1 = Martin {{goal|10}}
Richardson {{goal|58}}
Bowman {{goal|111}}

| team2 = Colchester United

| report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/06/22/england/league-two/exeter-city-fc/colchester-united-fc/3277183/