2018 EFL League Two play-off Final
View of Wembley Stadium prior to the final
Event2017–18 EFL League Two
Coventry City Exeter City
3 1
Date28 May 2018
VenueWembley Stadium, London
Man of the MatchMarc McNulty
RefereeDavid Webb
Attendance50,196
WeatherHot, sunny, 30 °C (86 °F)

The 2018 EFL League Two play-off Final was an association football match played on 28 May 2018 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Coventry City and Exeter City. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from EFL League Two, English football's fourth tier, to EFL League One. The top three teams of the 2017–18 EFL League Two season gained automatic promotion to League One, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2018–19 season in League One. Exeter finished in fourth place while Coventry ended the season in sixth position. Lincoln City and Notts County were the losing semi-finalists.

The game, which was refereed by David Webb, was played on a hot sunny day in front of a crowd of 50,196. After a goalless first half, Coventry took the lead four minutes into the second half through Jordan Willis. Five minutes later they doubled their lead with a goal from Jordan Shipley. Midway through the half, Jack Grimmer made it 3–0 to Coventry. Kyle Edwards scored a consolation goal in the closing minutes of the game, but Coventry won 3–1 to earn promotion to the 2018–19 EFL League One. It was their first promotion for 51 years since being guided by Jimmy Hill into the 1967–68 Football League First Division. Marc McNulty, the Coventry striker was named the man of the match.

Three days after the final, the Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale left the club after twelve years, having failed to agree a new contract. At the time of his departure, he was the longest serving manager in English football's top four divisions. Exeter's new manager and former player Matt Taylor led them to ninth place in the 2018–19 League Two table in their next season, two places and a single point below the play-off positions. In their following season, Coventry finished in eighth place in the 2018–19 League One table, two places and eight points outside the play-offs.

Route to the final

EFL League Two final table, leading positions[1]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Accrington Stanley 46 29 6 11 76 46 +30 93
2 Luton Town 46 25 13 8 94 46 +48 88
3 Wycombe Wanderers 46 24 12 10 79 60 +19 84
4 Exeter City 46 24 8 14 64 54 +10 80
5 Notts County 46 21 14 11 71 48 +23 77
6 Coventry City 46 22 9 15 64 47 +17 75
7 Lincoln City 46 20 15 11 64 48 +16 75

Exeter City were playing their sixth consecutive season in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system, having been relegated from EFL League One in 2012.[2] They had missed out on promotion the previous season, losing to Blackpool in the 2017 EFL League Two play-off final.[3] For Coventry City it was their first season in the league's bottom tier since the 1958–59 season, following relegation from League One in 2017.[4] They had, however, played in a Wembley final the previous season, winning the 2017 EFL Trophy Final.[5] Exeter finished the regular 2017–18 season in fourth place in League Two, two places ahead of Coventry. Both therefore missed out on the three automatic places for promotion to League One and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the fourth promoted team. Exeter City finished four points behind Wycombe Wanderers (who were promoted in third place), eight behind Luton Town (who finished second) and thirteen behind league winners Accrington Stanley. Coventry City ended the season in sixth, two places and five points behind Exeter.[1][6]

Coventry City's opponents in the play-off semi-finals were Notts County and the first leg was played on 12 May 2018 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Described by the BBC's Ged Scott as an "exciting tussle, which produced an ultimately fair result", the match ended 1–1. After a goalless first half, Jonathan Forte put the visitors into the lead on 49 minutes. With three minutes of the match remaining, Matt Tootle was adjudged to have fouled Tom Bayliss and Marc McNulty scored the resulting penalty to level the tie.[7] The second semi-final leg took place six days later at Meadow Lane in Nottingham. Coventry dominated the first half with Maxime Biamou opening the scoring with a bicycle kick on six minutes. McNulty then doubled the visitors' lead eight minutes before the break, before Jorge Grant pulled one back for Notts County a minute before half time. Biamou scored his second and Coventry's third mid-way through the second half, and a deflected shot from Bayliss made it 4–1 to Coventry. This meant they progressed to the play-off final, winning 5–2 on aggregate.[8]

Exeter City faced Lincoln City in their play-off semi-final, with the first leg taking place on 12 May 2018 at Sincil Bank in Lincoln. The home team saw two claims for penalties denied and both sides spurned opportunities to score as the game finished goalless.[9] The second leg of the semi-final was played five days later at St James Park in Exeter. Jayden Stockley put the home team ahead mid-way through the first half and Lincoln's Elliott Whitehouse had a goal disallowed five minutes before half time. Hiram Boateng made it 2–0 to Exeter after curling a shot in off the post following a run from inside his own half. Ryan Harley's 25-yard (23 m) strike extended Exeter's lead, and with a consolation goal from Matt Green, the match ended 3–1 and Exeter progressed to the final.[10]

Match

Background

In the matches played between the two sides during the regular season, each team won their home game, with Coventry winning 2–1 at the Ricoh Arena in September 2017 and Exeter victorious at St James Park 1–0 the following January.[11] McNulty was the highest scorer for Coventry with 23 league goals during the season while Stockley was Exeter's top marksman with 19 goals during the league campaign.[12]

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale was confident in his team's chances of victory, reflecting on their previous season's failure at Wembley, suggesting that his players had "experience of the build-up, the logistics, the preparations and what it felt like to lose".[13] His counterpart Mark Robins was cautious, noting that Coventry were "one step away but you don't want to tempt fate".[13] During the build-up to the final, Tisdale was linked to a move away from Exeter, in particular to Milton Keynes Dons.[14] He was the longest-serving manager in England's top four divisions following the retirement of Arsène Wenger, having been at Exeter for twelve years. Tisdale's contract was due for renewal in November 2018 and Richard Foster of The Guardian reported that Tisdale was "keeping his options open" in order to make a decision after the play-offs.[15] Steve Perryman, Exeter's director of football was to retire after the final having fulfilled the role at the club for fifteen years.[16] Coventry City sold around 37,000 tickets for the match, substantially outnumbering the opposition fans.[13]

The referee for the match was David Webb, who had officiated Coventry once during the regular season, a 2–1 home win over Cheltenham Town in December. He had also officiated Exeter City in the previous year's play-off semi-final at Carlisle United. The assistant referees were Adrian Waters and Dean Treleaven, with John Brooks named as the fourth official. Sam Lewis was the reserve assistant referee.[17]

Robins named an unchanged side from the team that won the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Notts County. Tisdale made one change to the Exeter squad, with Craig Woodman starting and Robbie Simpson dropping into the substitutes.[14] Coventry wore a one-off kit commissioned for the match as the club had run out of their regular season home strip.[13] Prior to the match, Exeter fans commemorated their former player Adam Stansfield with a giant number nine shirt. Stansfield had died in 2010 at the age of 31 from cancer and the club retired his shirt for the following nine years.[14] After the players were introduced to a group of dignitaries, the national anthem was sung by Faryl Smith.[14]

First half

Coventry City kicked the match off at around 3:00 p.m. on 28 May 2018 in hot and sunny conditions, with a pitchside temperature of 30 °C (86 °F), in front of a Wembley Stadium crowd of 50,196. McNulty won an early corner for Coventry but Exeter cleared the ball. In the sixth minute, McNulty attempted a volley from outside the Exeter penalty area, but his shot went over the crossbar. Nine minutes later, Coventry had another chance but Jordan Storey's tackle on McNulty neutralised the threat.[14] On 18 minutes Christy Pym saved a low 25-yard (23 m) shot from McNulty before a Shipley strike was deflected out for a corner. In the 23rd minute, a cross from Jack Grimmer was mishit by Bayliss, going out for an Exeter goal kick. Two minutes later, Coventry were temporarily reduced to ten men when Chris Stokes was forced to leave the pitch for medical attention after he was accidentally struck in the face by Stockley. Exeter won a corner on 29 minutes but Stockley's header was gathered by the Coventry goalkeeper Lee Burge. On 31 minutes, Harley's strike was also caught by Burge, before Shipley's long-distance shot was saved by Pym. After three minutes of additional time, the half was brought to a goalless end.[18]

Second half

Coventry City players celebrate after scoring their third goal

No changes were made to either team during half time and Exeter kicked off the second half. Two minutes in, a pass from Bayliss found McNulty whose shot from close range was saved by Pym. A minute later, the deadlock was broken as Coventry took a 1–0 lead through Jordan Willis who turned and shot from outside the box, his strike curling past Pym. Three minutes later, Coventry made their first substitution of the afternoon with Biamou being replaced by Jonson Clarke-Harris. On 53 minutes, they doubled their lead as a deflected shot from Shipley beat Pym in the Exeter goal. Two consecutive corners for Exeter came to nothing while a 40-yard (37 m) strike from Shipley went wide. In the 62nd minute, Exeter made a double substitution, with Woodman and Dean Moxey being replaced by Lloyd James and Matt Jay. On 68 minutes, Grimmer made it 3–0 to Coventry with a curling shot from the edge of the area. Six minutes later, both sides made further substitutions, Shipley replaced by Kyel Reid for Coventry and Kyle Edwards coming on for Boateng for Exeter. In the 75th minute, Exeter went close with Harley's dipping shot saved by Burge.[16] With twelve minutes of regulation time remaining, Pym was forced to make a save from a curling Bayliss shot before Jay's long-range strike for Exeter was gathered by Burge. In the 83rd minute, Coventry made their final change, with Jordan Ponticelli coming on for McNulty. Five minutes later Clarke-Harris' shot from distance went astray before Edwards scored a consolation goal for Exeter with another curled strike. Four minutes into additional time, Stockley's header was saved by Burge before another shot from the Exeter striker went wide of the Coventry post. The match ended 3–1 to Coventry who were promoted to League One.[19]

Details

Coventry City3–1Exeter City
 [20][21]
Attendance: 50,196
Referee: David Webb
Coventry City
Exeter City
GK1Lee Burge
RB2Jack Grimmer
CB4Jordan Willis
CB15Dominic Hyam
LB3Chris Stokes
RM30Tom Bayliss
CM6Liam Kelly
CM8Michael Doyle (c)
LM26Jordan Shipleydownward-facing red arrow 73'
CF10Marc McNultydownward-facing red arrow 82'
CF9Maxime Biamoudownward-facing red arrow 51'
Substitutes:
GK13Liam O'Brien
DF5Rod McDonald
DF39Jordon Thompson
MF17Jordan Maguire-Drew
MF32Kyel Reidupward-facing green arrow 73'
FW18Jonson Clarke-Harrisupward-facing green arrow 51'
FW38Jordan Ponticelliupward-facing green arrow 82'
Manager:
Mark Robins
GK1Christy Pym
RB2Pierce Sweeney
CB38Jordan Storey
CB15Jordan Moore-Taylor (c)
LB3Craig Woodmandownward-facing red arrow 63'
RM25Jake Taylor
CM44Hiram Boatengdownward-facing red arrow 73'
CM6Jordan Tillson
CM21Dean Moxeydownward-facing red arrow 63'
LM7Ryan Harley
CF11Jayden Stockley
Substitutes:
GK12Paul Jones
DF5Troy Archibald-Henville
DF22Kane Wilson
MF4Lloyd Jamesupward-facing green arrow 63'
FW8Robbie Simpson
FW20Matt Jayupward-facing green arrow 63'
FW28Kyle Edwardsupward-facing green arrow 73'
Manager:
Paul Tisdale

Statistics

Statistics[20]
Coventry
City		 Exeter
City
Total shots 14 13
Shots on target 8 3
Corner kicks 5 4
Fouls committed 6 5
Possession 44% 56%
Yellow cards 0 0
Red cards 0 0

Post-match

Robins was proud of his team's achievements: "We've played at a level no one expected us to and the pressure that comes with that is immense. The players have been magnificent."[19] His counterpart, Tisdale, said in his post-match press conference that "it wasn't the best performance, two very good goals against us and really disappointed" but also expressed pride in the club and its players for the season as a whole.[22] The Coventry defender Willis said "It means everything, especially with the season we had last year ... I've not scored many and they all came last season but this one is definitely up there."[19]

It was Coventry City's first promotion for 51 years since they were guided into the 1967–68 Football League First Division by Jimmy Hill,[23] and the team celebrated the achievement with their fans through an open-top bus tour of Coventry on 31 May, followed by a civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor.[24] Two seasons later Coventry were promoted again, to the EFL Championship, being named 2019–20 EFL League One champions after the season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25]

On 1 June 2018, following a failure to agree a new contract, Tisdale left Exeter City after twelve years at the club. At the time of his departure, he was the longest serving manager in English football's top four divisions.[26] He was replaced by the former Exeter City player Matt Taylor,[27] who led them to ninth place in the 2018–19 League Two table in their next season, two places and a single point below the play-off positions.[28] They reached the League Two play-off final again in the curtailed 2019–20 season but lost once again, 4–0 against Northampton Town, their third defeat in the event in four seasons.[29] In their following campaign, Coventry finished in eighth place in the 2018–19 League One season, two places and eight points outside the play-offs.[30]

References

  1. 1 2 "League Two end of season table for 2017–18 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  2. ↑ "Exeter City". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  3. ↑ Law, James (28 May 2017). "Blackpool 2–1 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "Coventry City". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  5. ↑ Scott, Ged (2 April 2017). "EFL Trophy final: Coventry City 2–1 Oxford United". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "League Two – 2017/18 – regular season". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  7. ↑ Scott, Ged (12 May 2018). "Coventry City 1–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  8. ↑ Garry, Tom (18 May 2018). "Notts County 1–4 Coventry City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  9. ↑ Phillips, Owen (12 May 2018). "Lincoln City 0–0 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  10. ↑ Pilnick, Brent (17 May 2018). "Exeter City 3–1 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Coventry City football club: record v Exeter City". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  12. ↑ "League Two – 2017/18". Soccerbase. Centurycomm Limited. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Freeman, Jay (28 May 2018). "How Coventry won promotion to League One (5 of 5)". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Freeman, Jay (28 May 2018). "How Coventry won promotion to League One (4 of 5)". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  15. ↑ Foster, Richard (11 May 2018). "Paul Tisdale takes over as the longest-serving manager in England – for now". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  16. 1 2 Freeman, Jay (28 May 2018). "How Coventry won promotion to League One (2 of 5)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  17. ↑ "Play-Off Final: Match officials confirmed for League Two showdown". English Football League. 27 May 2018. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  18. ↑ Freeman, Jay (28 May 2018). "How Coventry won promotion to League One (3 of 5)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  19. 1 2 3 Freeman, Jay (28 May 2018). "How Coventry won promotion to League One (1 of 5)". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  20. 1 2 Law, James (28 May 2018). "Coventry City 3–1 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  21. ↑ "Coventry City v Exeter City, 28 May 2018". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  22. ↑ Byrom, David (28 May 2018). "Every word of Paul Tisdale's post-match press conference as the Exeter City boss speaks out on his and the club's future". Express & Echo. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  23. ↑ Winrow, Ian (28 May 2018). "Coventry beat Exeter in League Two play-off final to win first promotion in 51 years". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  24. ↑ Chapman, Joseph (30 May 2018). "Open top bus parade details revealed as chairman issues Sisu stance on Coventry City's promotion". Coventry Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  25. ↑ Hornby, Mark (9 June 2020). "Coventry City confirmed as League One Champions and promoted to the Championship!". Coventry City F.C. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  26. ↑ Pilnick, Brent (1 June 2018). "Paul Tisdale leaves Exeter City after 12 years in charge of Devon club". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  27. ↑ "Exeter appoint Matt Taylor as manager after Paul Tisdale exit". BBC Sport. 1 June 2018. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  28. ↑ "League Two table at close of 2018–19 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  29. ↑ Pilnick, Brent (29 June 2020). "Exeter City 0–4 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  30. ↑ "League One table at close of 2018–19 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
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