Morecambe and Newport to serve up goal blitz
Monday afternoon at Wembley Stadium will witness the EFL League Two play-off final, played out by two sides in Morecambe and Newport County that have never ascended to the third tier and not been there for 60 years respectively. The coastal Lancashire outfit were lying in 22nd last season when COVID-19 ensured the campaign was curtailed, but came roaring back up the table in 2020/2021 under Derek Adams. Their adversaries on the last day of May fell two seasons ago at this very stage, and will be hoping to do better this time. Read our preview here:
Born to be Wildig
The Shrimps have once again defied their incredibly meagre budget and low attendances to be in the mix at the right end of the table. Indeed, they only missed out on am automatic place on the last day of the regular season, with Bolton Wanderers claiming it at their expense. They've been underdogs on paper in most of their games, but have come out on top more often than not. The defensive unit is relatively porous, but has been helped out immeasurably by a potent distribution of goals in the attacking areas. Sole striker Cole Stockton has 13 to his name, but has actually been outgunned by Atlético Madrid graduate Carlos Mendes Gomes on the left flank of the offensive midfield trio. The 22 year old Spanish winger has 15 strikes and inevitably, has attracted the attention of clubs in far more vaunted positions. Aaron Wildig's contributions behind Stockton will be key to Morecambe controlling the game. His propensity to help out in deeper areas augurs well for a battle in which they might have been outnumbered in the middle otherwise.
Bench pressers
Newport have been there or thereabouts for several years now, and booked their tickets to London with a remarkable two-legged victory over Forest Green Rovers, which was precipitated from the bench. There's little doubt that Mike Flynn has greater strength in depth than his opposite number in the other dugout, and he'll be calling on the likes of 42 year old Kevin Ellison, Nicky Maynard (who scored the decisive goal at the death in extra time), and Joss Ladabie to be the difference makers if their teammates in the first XI don't cut it. Neither Ryan Taylor nor Lewis Collins have provided much of a cutting edge up front, and nobody managed more than seven in the 46 games available to them. That said, they have greater tenacity in midfield, and will ruthlessly exploit any lapses in concentration or dawdling on the ball by the men in red.
A new frontier land
For neutrals, there is a lot to admire about both clubs, and plenty to be excited about with the spectacle itself. It is very unlikely to be a dour affair like the Championship equivalent almost always is, and either way, history of a kind will be made. Whilst League One doesn't represent the same quantum leap promotion from the third to the second tier does, it will be fascinating to see which side can do it. bet365 have odds of 4.00 for over 3.5 goals in 90 minutes.
