2001 Football League play-offs

Football League play-offs 2000–01 Bolton Wanderers(First Division)Walsall(Second Division)Blackpool(Third Division) Bolton 3–0 WBA(First Division) Hartlepool 1–3 Blackpool(Third Division) Walsall 4–2 StokeBlackpool 4–2 Leyton Orient(6 goals) 15 43 54,328 – Bolton v Preston(First Division final) 5,720 – Blackpool v Hartlepool(Third Division semi-final) 21,183 2000 2002 The Football League play-offs for the 2000–01 season were held in May 2001, with the finals taking place at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The play-off semi-finals will be played over two legs and will be contested by the teams who finish in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Football League First Division and Football League Second Division and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the Football League Third Division table. The winners of the semi-finals will go through to the finals, with the winner of the matches gaining promotion for the following season. Background The 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. In the First Division, Bolton Wanderers, who are aiming to return to the top flight after nearly 3 seasons outside the top flight, finished 4 points behind second placed Blackburn Rovers, who in turn finished 10 points behind champions Fulham, who returned to the top flight for the first time since 1968. Preston North End who are aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1961, finished in fourth place in the table. Birmingham City, who are aiming to return to the top flight after 15 years outside the top division, finished in fifth place. West Bromwich Albion, who are also aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1986, finished 4 points behind Birmingham City and Preston North End in sixth place. First Division 2000–01 Football League First Division Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Bolton Wanderers46241577645+31874Preston North End46239146452+12785Birmingham City46239145948+11786West Bromwich Albion462111146052+874 Semi-finals First leg 13 May 2001 15:00 West Bromwich Albion 2–2 Report Bolton Wanderers Roberts 44Hughes 55 pen. Bergsson 81Frandsen 88 pen. The Hawthorns, West Bromwich 18,167 David Laws 13 May 2001 15:30 Birmingham City 1–0 Report Preston North End Eaden 55 St Andrew's, Birmingham 29,072 David Pugh Second leg 17 May 2001 19:45 Bolton Wanderers 3–0 Report West Bromwich Albion Bergsson 10Ricketts 63Gardner 90 Reebok Stadium, Bolton 23,515 Roy Pearson Bolton Wanderers won 5–2 on aggregate. 17 May 2001 19:45 Preston North End 2–1 yes Report Birmingham City Healy 24 Rankine 90 Horsfield 59 Deepdale, Preston 16,928 Paul Danson Alexander Healy Gregan Edwards McKenna 4–2 Marcelo Purse Lazaridis Eaden Preston North End 2–2 Birmingham City on aggregate. Preston North End won 4–2 on penalties. Final 2001 Football League First Division play-off final 28 May 2001 15:00 Bolton Wanderers 3–0 Report Preston North End Farrelly 17Ricketts 89Gardner 90 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 54,328 Uriah Rennie Second Division 2000–01 Football League Second Division Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Reading462511108652+34864Walsall462312117950+29815Stoke City462114117449+25776Wigan Athletic46191896052+875 Semi-finals First leg 13 May 2001 15:00 Stoke City 0–0 Report Walsall Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent 23,689 Uriah Rennie 13 May 2001 15:00 Wigan Athletic 0–0 Report Reading JJB Stadium, Wigan 12,638 Roy Pearson Second leg 16 May 2001 19:45 Reading 2–1 Report Wigan Athletic Butler 86Forster 90 Nicholls 26 Madjeski Stadium, Reading 22,034 David Laws Reading won 2–1 on aggregate. 16 May 2001 19:45 Walsall 4–2 Report Stoke City Ward 42 o.g.Matías 47 61Keates 50 Kavanagh 31Thorne 85 Bescot Stadium, Walsall 8,993 Eddie Wolstenholme Walsall won 4–2 on aggregate. Final 2001 Football League Second Division play-off final 27 May 2001 15:00 Reading 2–3 yes Report Walsall Cureton 31Butler 91 Goodman 48Rougier 107 o.g. Byfield 109 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 50,496 Eddie Wolstenholme Third Division 2000–01 Football League Third Division Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points4Hartlepool United462114117154+17775Leyton Orient462015115951+8756Hull City461917104739+8747Blackpool46226187458+1672 Semi-finals First leg 13 May 2001 15:00 Blackpool 2–0 Report Hartlepool United Ormerod 61 78 Bloomfield Road, Blackpool 5,720 William Burns 13 May 2001 15:00 Hull City 1–0 Report Leyton Orient Eyre 69 Boothferry Park, Kingston upon Hull 13,310 Eddie Wolstenholme Second leg 16 May 2001 19:30 Hartlepool United 1–3 Report Blackpool Henderson 48 Ormerod 21 68 Hills 50 Victoria Park, Hartlepool 5,836 Uriah Rennie Blackpool won 5–1 on aggregate. 16 May 2001 19:45 Leyton Orient 2–0 Report Hull City Watts 44 Lockwood 70 Brisbane Road, London 9,419 David Pugh Leyton Orient won 2–1 on aggregate. Final 2001 Football League Third Division play-off final 26 May 2001 15:00 Blackpool 4–2 Report Leyton Orient Hughes 35Reid 45 Simpson 77Ormerod 88 Tate 1Houghton 37 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 23,600 David Pugh External links Football League website Category:English Football League play-offs play-offs Category:May 2001 sports events in the United Kingdom