2015 Football League Championship play-off final

Association football match in London December 2017 December 2017 2015 Football League Championship play-off final 2015-05-25 -45 - Wembley, London.JPG Panorama of Wembley prior to the 2015 play-off final 2014–15 Football League Championship Norwich City 2 Middlesbrough 0 25 May 2015 Wembley Stadium London Mike Dean 85,656 Sunny 2014 2016 The 2015 Football League Championship play-off final was an association football match which was played on 25 May 2015 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Middlesbrough and Norwich City. The match was to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football, to the Premier League. The top two teams of the 2014–15 Football League Championship season gained automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the teams placed from third to sixth place in the table partook in play-off semi-finals; Norwich ended the season in third place while Middlesbrough finished fourth. The winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2015–16 season in the Premier League. Winning the game was estimated to be worth around £120million to the successful team. The 2015 final, refereed by Mike Dean, was watched by a crowd of more than 85,000 people in relatively sunny conditions. Norwich City won 2–0, with goals from Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond within the first fifteen minutes of the first half. It was Norwich's first game at Wembley since winning the 1985 Football League Cup Final and marked their return to the Premier League for the first time since their relegation in the 2013–14 season. Norwich were relegated back to the Championship the following season, as they finished 19th in the 2015–16 Premier League. Middlesbrough finished the following season in second place and were automatically promoted to the Premier League for the 2016–17 season. Route to the final 2014–15 Football League Championship main WDL Q right auto Football League Championship final table, leading positions BOU WAT NOR MID BRE IPS Bournemouth Brentford Middlesbrough Norwich City Watford Ipswich Town 26 12 8 98 45 27 8 11 91 50 25 11 10 88 48 25 10 11 68 37 23 9 14 78 59 22 12 12 72 54 complete Norwich City finished the regular 2014–15 season in third place in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system, one place ahead of Middlesbrough. Both therefore missed out on the two automatic places for promotion to the Premier League and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the third promoted team. Norwich finished three points behind Watford (who were promoted in second place) and four behind league winners Bournemouth. Middlesbrough ended the season one point behind Norwich.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/2015/ League Championship end of season table for 2014–15 season 11v11.com 1 May 2020 Middlesbrough faced Brentford in their play-off semi-final, with the first leg being held at Griffin Park. Jelle Vossen gave the visitors a first-half lead with a header from an Adam Clayton cross but Andre Gray equalised eleven minutes into the second half after taking the ball from Middlesbrough goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos. Brentford dominated the second half but deep into injury time, Fernando Amorebieta struck the winner and the game ended 2–1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32566915 Brentford 1–2 Middlesbrough 1 May 2020 8 May 2015 Rob Stevens BBC Sport The second leg, at the Riverside Stadium, once again saw Brentford dominate possession, but goals for Middlesbrough from Lee Tomlin, Kike and Albert Adomah meant the game ended 3–0 and the Teesside club qualified for the final 5–1 on aggregate. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32636569 Matt Newsum 1 May 2020 15 May 2015 BBC Sport Middlesbrough 3–0 Brentford Norwich City's semi-final opponents were local rivals Ipswich Town with the first leg being held at Portman Road. Jonny Howson put Norwich in the lead but Paul Anderson equalised in first-half injury time, and with no further goals, the match ended 1–1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32566914 Ipswich Town 1–1 Norwich City 1 May 2020 9 May 2015 BBC Sport Phil Shepka The second leg, at Carrow Road, was goalless at half time, but four minutes into the second half, Ipswich's defender Christophe Berra conceded a penalty after he deliberately blocked Nathan Redmond's shot with his hand. Berra was shown a red card and Norwich took the lead through Wes Hoolahan's successful spot kick. Tommy Smith equalised with half an hour to go but goals from Redmond and Cameron Jerome ensured a 3–1 win on the day and a 4–2 aggregate victory for Norwich. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32670810 Norwich City 3–1 Ipswich Town 1 May 2020 16 May 2015 Phil Shepka BBC Sport https://web.archive.org/web/20200305103727/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32670810 5 March 2020 live MiddlesbroughRound Norwich CityOpponentResultLegsSemi-finalsOpponentResultLegsBrentford5–12–1 away; 3–0 home Ipswich Town4–2 1–1 away; 3–1 home Match right|thumb|upright|alt=Cameron Jerome|Cameron Jerome was Norwich's leading scorer. Background This was Norwich's second Championship play-off final, having lost the 2002 Football League First Division play-off final at the Millennium Stadium against Birmingham City on penalties. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1979806.stm Birmingham reach Premiership 12 May 2002 1 May 2020 BBC Sport https://web.archive.org/web/20160112224237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1979806.stm 12 January 2016 live Middlesbrough were making their fifth trip to Wembley Stadium, having lost three previous matches all 2–0, the 1990 Full Members' Cup Final, the 1997 FA Cup Final and the 1998 Football League Cup Final. Their only goal at Wembley, came in the draw, in the 1997 Football League Cup Final, which went to a replay at Hillsborough. https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/12956599.can-middlesbrough-make-fifth-time-lucky---look-clubs-previous-heartbreaks-wembley/ The Northern Echo Can Middlesbrough make it fifth time lucky – a look at the club's previous heartbreaks at Wembley Scott Wilson 19 May 2015 1 May 2020 However they did win the 1988 Football League Second Division play-off final on aggregate against First Division Chelsea, which was determined over two legs, at their respective grounds. https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/the-battle-stamford-bridge-violent-9783533 TeessideLive 1 May 2020 'The Battle of Stamford Bridge': Violent scenes on a victorious day for Boro Sophie Barley 3 August 2015 During the regular season, Norwich had lost both times against Middlesbrough: a 4–0 defeat at the Riverside in November 2014, their heaviest of the season, was followed by a 1–0 loss at Carrow Road in April 2015, a game which consigned Norwich to the play-offs. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29797388 Middlesbrough 4–0 Norwich City BBC Sport 1 May 2020 17 April 2015 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32245348 Norwich City 0–1 Middlesbrough 17 April 2015 1 May 2020 BBC Sport https://web.archive.org/web/20160326022644/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32245348 26 March 2016 live Patrick Bamford, on loan from Chelsea, was Middlesbrough's top scorer with 17 goals and had also been recently selected as the "Championship Player of the Year" at the recent Football League Awards, https://www.efl.com/news/2015/april/winners-announced-at-the-football-league-awards-2015/ English Football League Winners announced at The Football League Awards 2015 20 April 2015 1 May 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200415145046/https://www.efl.com/news/2015/april/winners-announced-at-the-football-league-awards-2015/ 15 April 2020 live while Norwich's Jerome had scored the most for his team with 20. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/24/norwich-alex-tettey-play-off-middlesbrough-championship The Guardian Norwich's Alex Tettey seeks play-off redemption against Middlesbrough Paul Doyle 24 May 2015 1 May 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20150820171244/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/24/norwich-alex-tettey-play-off-middlesbrough-championship 20 August 2015 live The Teesside club's Konstantopoulos had also kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper. https://news.coral.co.uk/football/championship/corals-championship-team-of-the-season-201415_73955.html Coral Coral's Championship Team of the Season 2014/15 1 May 2020 On 19 May Wembley Stadium apologised to Middlesbrough supporters for issuing tickets with the team's name misspelled as "y Middles borough".https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32797912 Wembley sorry for misspelling Middlesbrough play-off tickets BBC Sport 19 May 2015 19 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150522012829/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32797912 22 May 2015 live Norwich received an allocation of 38,888 tickets in the East End of Wembley which were sold exclusively to season ticket holders and club members,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-32811743 Norwich fans 'gutted' over Wembley match ticket sale decision BBC News 21 May 2015 20 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150523032705/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-32811743 23 May 2015 live while Middlesbrough were allocated 38,000 in the West End. The final was refereed by Mike Dean, with assistant referees Stuart Burt and Simon Long, and Roger East acting as the fourth official. https://www.efl.com/news/2015/may/sky-bet-championship-play-off-final-key-information/ Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final key information 18 May 2015 1 May 2020 English Football League It was reported in the media and press that the match was worth around £120million to the winning club over three years through sponsorship and television deals.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32650872 Championship: Who will prevail in the play-offs? BBC Sport 8 May 2015 17 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150510210609/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32650872 10 May 2015 live https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/32563515 BBC Sport 1 May 2020 25 May 2015 Middlesbrough 0–2 Norwich City – as it happened Phil Cartwright https://web.archive.org/web/20190803141828/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/32563515 3 August 2019 live Norwich were considered narrow favourites by bookmakers to win the match which was broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2474189-championship-play-off-final-preview-which-club-will-reach-the-premier-league Championship Play-Off Final Preview: Which Club Will Reach the Premier League? Matt Clough Bleacher Report 1 May 2020 24 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160129025538/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2474189-championship-play-off-final-preview-which-club-will-reach-the-premier-league 29 January 2016 live Middlesbrough's team bus was delayed and required a police escort to assist its passage to Wembley, where it arrived shortly after 2p.m. Norwich City's starting eleven was unchanged from their second semi-final leg victory over Ipswich, and Lewis Grabban was named as a substitute, returning from suspension. Bamford returned to Middlesbrough's starting lineup having recovered from an ankle injury picked up in the first leg of the semi-finals against Brentford and replaced Kike. First half Norwich kicked the match off at around 3p.m. in relatively sunny conditions in front of a crowd of 85,656. In the 3rd minute, Norwich's Bradley Johnson narrowly missed Redmond's cross. Five minutes later Steven Whittaker's ball into the box evaded Johnson, who then struck the bar from 18 yd. Middlesbrough broke away and Vossen hit Norwich's bar from 25 yd. Former Leicester City player Steve Claridge, working on BBC Radio 5 Live suggested that "you will not get two sweeter strikes. They were marvellous strikes! What a brilliant passage of play." In the 12th minute, Jerome took the ball from Middlesbrough's Daniel Ayala and took it into the box, bringing Konstantopoulos out and allowing the Norwich striker to beat him at the near post. Three minutes later, Whittaker passed the ball into Middlesbrough's penalty area, allowing Redmond to run on to it and score, making it 2–0. Former Blackpool manager Ian Holloway opined: "Norwich's play looks like Premier League... Middlesbrough seemed to have been knocked sideways." In the 23rd minute, Middlesbrough won their first corner but the delivery from their captain Grant Leadbitter was cleared by Norwich. Vossen headed wide for Middlesbrough on 27 minutes and nine minutes later, he was off-target with another header. Two minutes of additional time were played before the half ended, with the East Anglian club leading 2–0. Second half Middlesbrough made a half-time substitution, the first replacement of the match, with Emilio Nsue coming on for Dean Whitehead. The first opportunity of the half fell to Norwich's Hoolahan whose shot was tame. Ayala then headed over from a corner after a cross from Adomah was deflected out by Sébastien Bassong. In the 56th minute, Vossen was booked for diving, and three minutes later, Bamford's shot was saved by the Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy. Howson was then shown a yellow card for a foul on Tomlin, before another Adomah cross is cleared by Norwich. In the 68th minute, Middlesbrough made their second substitution, replacing Vossen with Kike. Two minutes later, after Bamford missed a chance on a through ball, Kike's ball into the box failed to find any teammates. Norwich made a double substitution in the 74th minute, with Grabban and Graham Dorrans coming on for Jerome and Hoolahan. Five minutes after his introduction, Dorrans' advance was stopped illegally by Kike and the resulting free kick was sent wide of the post by Redmond. Middlesbrough's claim for a penalty in the 81st minute after an alleged handball were dismissed by the referee Mike Dean. Ayala's header then beat Ruddy but was cleared off the line by Grabban to maintain Norwich's advantage. With three minutes of regular time remaining, Norwich made their third and final substitution, with Redmond being replaced by Gary O'Neil. Four minutes of additional time were played and the match ended with Norwich winning 2–0 and promotion back to the Premier League. Details 25 May 2015 15:00 Middlesbrough 0–2 Report Norwich City Jerome 12Redmond 15 Wembley Stadium, London 85,656 Mike Dean _boro1415h _boro1415h _boro1415h _boro1415h _3_stripes_white FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FFFFFF FF0000 Middlesbrough _norwich1415h _norwich1415h _norwich1415h _yellow_stripes _greentop 009933 FFFF00 009933 03964D FFFF00 Norwich City GK 13 Dimitrios KonstantopoulosRB 18 Dean Whitehead 46CB 4 Daniel AyalaCB 6 Ben GibsonLB 3 George FriendRM 27 Albert AdomahCM 7 Grant Leadbitter (c)CM 8 Adam ClaytonLM 10 Lee TomlinSS 21 Jelle Vossen 56 68CF 23 Patrick BamfordSubstitutes:GK 12 Connor RipleyDF 24 Emilio Nsue 46DF 29 Fernando AmorebietaDF 39 Jonathan WoodgateMF 20 Adam ReachMF 34 Adam ForshawFW 9 Kike 68Manager:Aitor Karanka GK 1 John RuddyRB 2 Steven WhittakerCB 5 Russell Martin (c)CB 30 Sébastien BassongLB 23 Martin OlssonDM 27 Alexander TetteyRM 22 Nathan Redmond 87CM 8 Jonny Howson 62CM 14 Wes Hoolahan 75LM 4 Bradley JohnsonCF 10 Cameron Jerome 74Substitutes:GK 26 Declan RuddDF 24 Ryan BennettMF 17 Elliott BennettMF 28 Gary O'Neil 87MF 41 Graham Dorrans 75FW 7 Lewis Grabban 74FW 11 Gary HooperManager:Alex Neil Match rules: 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Seven named substitutes. Maximum of three substitutions. Statistics Statistic https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32776552 Middlesbrough 0–2 Norwich City 1 May 2020 25 May 2015 Phil Shepka BBC Sport https://web.archive.org/web/20200201153158/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32776552 1 February 2020 live MiddlesbroughNorwich CityTotal shots87Shots on target14Ball possession57%43%Corner kicks62Fouls committed85Yellow cards11Red cards00 Post-match The Norwich captain Russell Martin described his team's performance as "our best of the season so far". https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/may/25/middlesborough-norwich-championship-play-off-final-live The Guardian 1 May 2020 25 May 2015 Middlesbrough 0–2 Norwich: Championship play-off final – as it happened Barry Glendenning Barry Glendenning https://web.archive.org/web/20171203013956/https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/may/25/middlesborough-norwich-championship-play-off-final-live 3 December 2017 live His teammate Jerome noted that Norwich and Middlesbrough "were both unlucky to miss out on automatic promotion... We moved the ball well and we were deserved winners." Their manager, Alex Neil observed that "big players arrive on the big stage and you saw that in the first 20 minutes – we were unbelievable." Middlesbrough's head coach Aitor Karanka was graceful in defeat, acknowledging that Norwich "played better, they didn't make mistakes, we made two mistakes, and in a final you pay for those mistakes." Norwich ended the next season in 19th position in the 2015–16 Premier League, and were relegated back to the Championship. https://www.11v11.com/teams/norwich-city/tab/leagueTables/2016/ 11v11.com 1 May 2020 Premier League table at close of 2015–16 season Middlesbrough finished the following season in second place in the 2015–16 Football League Championship, securing automatic promotion to the Premier League for the 2016-17 season. https://www.11v11.com/teams/middlesbrough/tab/leagueTables/2016/ 11v11.com 1 May 2020 League Championship table at close of 2015–16 season References C Category:EFL Championship play-off finals 1 play Play-off Final 2015 Play-off Final 2015 Football League Championship play-off final Football League Championship play-off final