Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City have already clinched a spot in the English Premier League for next season by finish one-two in the Championship, but there is still one promotion spot left. That spot will be determined by a playoff between the teams that finished third through sixth in the league. A two-legged playoff will be held for the semifinals beginning on Thursday and Friday before two teams take to the pitch at Wembley Stadium with the glory of the Premier League on line. Well, that and millions of pounds, of course.
Nottingham Forest vs. Swansea City
Thursday, 7:45 pm GMT (2:45 pm EST)
Once top division and back-to-back European Cup winners under Brian Clough in the , Nottingham Forest is looking to make their first appearance in the Premier League since 1999. The spell since their relegation from the top division saw them drop to League One and spend three years there before being promoted back to the Championship in 2008. A win over Crystal Palace in their final match of the season saw them clinch sixth place and a spot in the playoff. Lewis McGugan leads the attack with 13 goals from the midfield, but with just 50 goals surrendered in 46 matches this season it is the defense that Forrest lean upon.
One of the odd Welsh clubs in the England pyramid Swansea is looking to make their first ever appearance in the Premier League. They last played in the top division in 1983 and as recently as 2000 were in the fourth tier. That said, the Jacks charged to third place in the Championship this season with a clear gap between them and fourth place, making them favorites in the playoff. Only QPR allowed fewer goals this season so Swansea are stingy at the back and with Scott Sinclair leading the way with 19 goals there is firepower in the attack. The lone concern for Swansea may be the way Forest played them evenly this season. Swansea won 3-2 at home, but when they went to Forest they fell 3-1 so Thursday's playoffs opener will most certainly challenge the Jacks.
Reading vs. Cardiff City
Friday, 7:45 pm GMT (2:45 pm EST)
It's to be expected that the difference between fourth place Cardiff and fifth place Reading isn't that great, but if their two matches this season are any indication then this semifinal tie will be about as close as can be. The two clubs drew 1-1 at Reading before drawing 2-2 in Cardiff. Both clubs rank in the top five in the Championship in goals so fun, attacking football is to be expected in this tie with Shane Long, the league's second scorer and Irish international grabbing the headlines for Reading. The Royals set a Championship record with 106 points to gain top divison promotion for the first time in the club's history in 2006 and finished eighth place in their first season, but were relegated the next season.
Cardiff joins Swansea as one of the unusual Welsh clubs in the England pyramid with an opportunity to reach the top in the playoff. The club got lucky when Craig Bellamy was desperate to get out of Manchester City and the club was willing to pay his wages so he could play this season for his hometown club. The club captain and former captain of Wales has scored 11 times this season and has partnered well with Jay Bothroyd, who has 15 goals of his own. Cardiff's luck with Bellamy is only fair play after they reached the playoff final a year ago and twice went ahead, only to lose 3-2 in devastating fashion to miss out on the top division for the first time since 1962.