Premier League Promotion 2015: Latest Play-off Scores, Prediction for Final
Middlesbrough and Norwich City will face each other in the battle for promotion to the Premier League in the Championship play-off final on May 25.
Dubbed the "richest game in football," the winner can expect to receive around £120 million thanks to promotion to the top tier of English football, BBC Sport.
Middlesbrough were the first to secure their place in the final as they swatted Brentford aside over two legs, winning 5-1 on aggregate.
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Norwich enjoyed two "Old Farm" derbies with arch-rivals Ipswich Town. After drawing 1-1 in the first leg, a deserved red card for Christophe Berra in the second swung the tie in favour of the Canaries, who ran out 3-1 winners as they bid for an immediate return to the top flight.
Here is how the second legs played out and a look at what to expect in the final.
| Friday, May 15 | Middlesbrough | 3-0 (5-1) | Brentford |
| Saturday, May 16 | Norwich City | 3-1 (4-2) | Ipswich Town |
| Monday, May 25 | Middlesbrough | v | Norwich City |
Attack vs. Defence
The final is set for a classic "attack vs. defence" matchup.
Norwich possess the Championship's third-best attack having scored 88 goals this season, while Boro boast the meanest defence with just 37 goals conceded.
The pair last faced off in April, where Middlesbrough's valiant defence saw them squeeze out a 1-0 victory at Carrow Road.
Per Anthony Vickers of the Evening Gazette, Boro have lost just once this season when first-choice pairing Daniel Ayala and Ben Gibson have started together in central defence—the 4-3 epic with Fulham in the penultimate game of the campaign.
Ayala in particular has impressed, winning 52 per cent of his tackles and 136 aerial duels this season, per Squawka.
Aitor Karanka's side will prove tough to break down, but Norwich have goals throughout their team.
Bradley Johnson has netted 15 times from midfield this season, while forwards Cameron Jerome, Gary Hooper and Lewis Grabban—who will return from suspension for the final—have all reached double figures as well.
It's going to be a thrilling, closely contested match in the final.
Nathan Redmond Could Be Key
Nathan Redmond has had a fine season for Norwich, and he could end the campaign on the high of gaining his team promotion to the Premier League.
The winger scored five goals and made 13 assists in the Championship this season, as well as creating an incredible 116 chances. Redmond is also a quick and tricky dribbler, successfully completing 106 take-ons, per Squawka.
The 21-year-old's efforts saw him rewarded with a Young Player of the Year nomination, per sports reporter Ian Abrahams.
Redmond was conspicuously benched for the Canaries' match against Middlesbrough in April, as noted by BT Sport commentator Ian Darke:
After playing such a key role in Norwich's second leg with Ipswich, there's little chance of Redmond not starting.
It was Redmond's goal-bound shot that Berra handled on the line to produce a red card and a penalty in Norwich's favour, before the youngster scored his side's second goal and assisted the third with an outstanding through ball:
"Norwich on their way. 3-1. #jerome https://t.co/btsPdEVXfP
— Copa90 (@Copa90) May 16, 2015"
Middlesbrough will have to take precautionary measures against Redmond or he could tip the balance in Norwich's favour.
Redmond's vision and creativity make him a strong threat for the entire match, and Neil will likely use him as the team's counter-attacking outlet thanks to his pace.
In a game of fine margins, Redmond could prove the decisive factor that clinches promotion for Norwich.
