2001 Football League Second Division play-off final

English association football match in 2001 January 2021 June 2015 2001 Football League Second Division play-off final File:Principality Stadium May 3, 2016.jpg The final took place at the Millennium Stadium. Walsall 3 Reading 2 After extra time 27 May 2001 Millennium Stadium Cardiff Eddie Wolstenholme 50,496 2000 2002 The 2001 Football League Second Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 27 May 2001 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Walsall and Reading. It was to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Second Division to the First Division. The top two teams of the 2000–01 Football League Second Division league, Millwall and Rotherham United, gained automatic promotion to the First Division, while the teams placed from third to sixth place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2001–02 season in the First Division. The losing semi-finalists were Wigan Athletic and Stoke City who had been defeated by Reading and Walsall respectively. It was the first season that the play-off finals were contested at the Millennium Stadium during the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium. The match was refereed by Eddie Wolstenholme in front of a crowd of 50,496. Reading took the lead through Jamie Cureton half an hour into the game with a volley that crept over the line having struck Jimmy Walker in the Walsall goal. The half ended with the score 1–0 to Reading. Three minutes into the second half, Walsall levelled the game after Don Goodman scored from an Andy Tillson header. With the score 1–1 after 90 minutes, the match went into extra time. Less than a minute into the first half of extra time, Martin Butler's header from a James Harper throw-in put Reading 2–1 ahead. In the 107th minute, substitute Tony Rougier was credited with an own goal after a clearance from Barry Hunter deflected off him into the Reading goal. Two minutes later, Ian Brightwell passed to Darren Byfield who turned and scored with a low shot which beat Phil Whitehead in the Reading goal. The match ended 3–2 and Walsall were promoted to the First Division. Walsall ended the following season in 18th place in the First Division table, four places and two points above the relegation zone, securing safety with three wins in their last four games. Reading's next season saw them gain automatic promotion to the First Division after finishing in second place. Route to the final 2000–01 Football League Second Division main WDL Q right auto Football League Second Division final table, leading positions MIL Millwall ROT Rotherham United REA Reading WAL Walsall STK Stoke City WIG Wigan Athletic 28 9 9 89 38 27 10 9 79 55 25 11 10 86 52 23 12 11 79 50 21 14 11 74 49 19 18 9 53 42 complete https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/2000-2001/regular-season/r2169/ Soccerway 30 January 2021 League One – 2000/2001 – Regular season Perform Group 3 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140103121124/http://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/2000-2001/regular-season/r2169/ live Reading finished the regular 2000–01 season in third place in the Second Division, the third tier of the English football league system, one place ahead of Walsall. Both therefore missed out on the two automatic places for promotion to the First Division and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the third promoted team. Reading finished five points behind Rotherham United (who were promoted in second place) and seven behind league winners Millwall. Walsall ended the season five points behind Reading. Walsall faced Stoke City in their play-off semi-final with the first match of the two-legged tie taking place at the Britannia Stadium on 13 May 2001. Both sides had numerous chances to score, with Walsall's Don Goodman missing at least three opportunities. Stoke substitute Ben Petty who had come on as a substitute for Stoke was sent off in the 84th minute for a foul on Pedro Matías, and the game ended goalless. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/1325152.stm Stoke hang on as Walsall misfire BBC Sport 13 May 2001 30 January 2021 28 July 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20030728114018/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1325152.stm live The second leg of the semi-final was played three days later at the Bescot Stadium in Walsall. In the 31st minute, Stoke's Graham Kavanagh scored with a volley from a Ríkharður Daðason header. Tom Bennett's inswinging corner was fumbled by Gavin Ward, the Stoke goalkeeper, and ended in the goal to level the scores. Two minutes after half time, Matías put Walsall ahead and three minutes later, a free kick from Dean Keates eluded Ward to make it 3–1. Matías scored his second of the match before a consolation goal from Peter Thorne ended the match 4–2 and Walsall progressed to the final. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/1332523.stm Walsall too strong for Stoke City BBC Sport 16 May 2001 30 January 2021 25 December 2002 https://web.archive.org/web/20021225132202/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1332523.stm live Reading's opposition for their play-off semi-final was Wigan Athletic and the first leg was played at the JJB Stadium in Wigan on 13 May 2001. Andy Liddell missed a number of chances for the home side before Roy Carroll saved headers from Reading's Barry Hunter and Phil Parkinson within the space of a minute; the match ended 0–0. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/1325155.stm BBC Sport Luckless Latics held by Reading 13 May 2001 30 January 2021 2 March 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20030302004032/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1325155.stm live The second leg of the semi-final took place at the Madejski Stadium in Reading three days later. Kevin Nicholls put Wigan ahead midway through the first half with a shot from 20 yd after being set up by Scott Green. Their side held the lead until the 86th minute when Martin Butler scored from close range after Carroll had deflected Nicky Forster's cross. In the last minute of the game, Forster was awarded a penalty after being fouled by Kevin Sharp. Jamie Cureton took the spot kick but his shot was saved by Carroll, and Forster scored, to make it 2–1 and ensured Reading qualified for the final. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/1332366.stm BBC Sport Reading comeback thwarts Wigan 16 May 2001 30 January 2021 28 July 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20030728082408/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1332366.stm live Match Background Reading had played in the third tier of English football since they were relegated from the First Division in the 1997–98 season. https://www.fchd.info/READING.HTM Football Club History Database 30 January 2021 Reading 18 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200918175534/http://www.fchd.info/READING.HTM live They had featured in a play-off final on one previous occasion when they lost 4–3 to Bolton Wanderers in the 1995 Football League First Division play-off final.Foster, p. 205 Walsall had been relegated to the Second Division the previous season. https://www.fchd.info/WALSALL.HTM Football Club History Database 30 January 2021 Walsall 18 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200918193006/http://www.fchd.info/WALSALL.HTM live They had also played in one play-off final, winning the 1988 Football League Third Division play-off final against Bristol City after a replay.Foster, p. 197 Reading's top scorers during the regular season were Cureton with 28 goals (26 in the league, 1 in the FA Cup and 1 in the League Cup) and Butler with 26 (24 in the league and 2 in the FA Cup). https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2125&season_id=130&teamTabs=stats Soccerbase Centurycomm 30 January 2021 Reading squad details – 2000/01 – Player appearances 31 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210131150107/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2125&season_id=130&teamTabs=stats live For Walsall, Leitão had scored 21 (18 in the league, 1 in the FA Cup and 2 in the League Cup) while Angell had 13 (12 in the league and 1 in the FA Cup). https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2737&season_id=130&teamTabs=stats Soccerbase Centurycomm 30 January 2021 Walsall squad details – 2000/01 – Player appearances 31 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210131150108/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2737&season_id=130&teamTabs=stats live During the regular season meetings between the sides, Walsall won the game at the Bescot Stadium 2–1 in November 2000 while the clubs played out a 2–2 draw at the Madejski Stadium the following April. https://www.11v11.com/teams/walsall/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Reading/ 11v11 30 January 2021 Walsall football club: record v Reading 31 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210131150109/https://www.11v11.com/teams/walsall/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Reading/ live According to Martin Thorpe writing in The Guardian, Walsall had spent £185,000 on players compared to £3.1million by Reading. The referee for the match was Eddie Wolstenholme. Both teams adopted a 4–4–2 formation. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/68902355/the-guardian/ Newspapers.com The Guardian 30 January 2021 Manic minute sends happy Walsall into wonderland Martin Thorpe 28 May 2001 25 subscription As a result of the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium, it was the first time the English Football League play-offs had taken place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/68990979/the-guardian/ The Guardian Newspapers.com 31 January 2021 4 January 2001 28 Paul Rees Vivek Chaudhary subscription Cardiff to host next three FA Cup finals Summary right|thumb|upright|alt=Jamie Cureton|Jamie Cureton (pictured in 2014) scored the opening goal of the final for Reading. The match kicked off around 3p.m. on 27 May 2001 in front of a crowd of 50,496. The game was goalless for the first half-hour and then Reading took the lead through Cureton. James Harper crossed the ball into Walsall's six-yard area, and it was headed on by Jim McIntyre. It fell to Cureton 8 yd out and he volleyed it straight at Jimmy Walker in the Walsall goal. Walker parried the ball but it rolled into the goal to make it 1–0. Soon after, McIntyre's header from Sammy Igoe's cross hit the Walsall crossbar with Walker beaten. The half ended with the score 1–0 to Reading. No personnel changes were made by either side during the interval. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A75068430/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=65c2bf04 Gale 31 January 2021 Football: Walsall shame rich neighbours; Reading 2 Walsall 3 aet: score at 90min 1–1 Phil Shaw 28 May 2001 The Independent 5 subscription 31 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210131150111/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA75068430&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=65c2bf04 live In the 45th minute, Walsall's Tony Barras was shown the first yellow card of the match. Three minutes into the second half, Walsall levelled the game. Matías' cross was headed back across goal by Andy Tillson and Goodman sidefooted it into the Reading goal. In the 65th minute, Reading made their first substitution of the game with Igoe being replaced by Forster. https://www.11v11.com/matches/reading-v-walsall-26-may-2001-7325/ 11v11 31 January 2021 Reading v Walsall, 26 May 2001 AFS Enterprises 31 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210131150148/https://www.11v11.com/matches/reading-v-walsall-26-may-2001-7325/ live Sixteen minutes later Tony Rougier came on in place of Reading's McIntyre. With five minutes of regular time remaining, Parkinson became the first Reading player to be booked. With the score 1–1 after 90 minutes, the match went into extra time. Less than a minute into the first half of extra time, Butler's header from a Harper throw-in found the back of the Walsall net to put Reading 2–1 ahead. Midway through the half, Walsall made a triple substitution, Paul Hall, Leitão and Bennett being replaced by Matt Gadsby, Darren Byfield and Gábor Bukrán respectively. In the 107th minute, Rougier was credited with an own goal after a clearance from Hunter deflected off him into the Reading goal. Two minutes later, Ian Brightwell passed to Byfield who was 25 yd away from goal. He turned and advanced on goal, and struck a low shot which beat Phil Whitehead in the Reading goal. The match ended 3–2 and Walsall were promoted to the First Division. Details 27 May 2001 15:00 BST Walsall 3–2 Report Reading Goodman 48Rougier 107 o.g.Byfield 109 Cureton 31Butler 91 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 50,496 _blackborder _black_collar _blackborder 000000 FF0000 000000 000000 FF0000 Walsall _whitehoops _thinwhitestripes 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF FFFFFF 003cc3 Reading GK 1Jimmy Walker DF 3Ian Brightwell DF 15Zigor AranaldeDF 25Tony Barras 45DF 5 Andy Tillson MF 10Dean KeatesMF 27Pedro MatíasMF 4 Tom Bennett 98MF 19Paul Hall 98FW 9 Don GoodmanFW 14Jorge Leitão 98Substitutes:GK 17Carl EmbersonDF 21Matt Gadsby 98FW 8 Darren Byfield 98FW 11Brett AngellMF 26Gábor Bukrán 98Manager:Ray Graydon GK 1 Phil WhiteheadDF 7 Graeme MurtyDF 3 Matthew RobinsonDF 5 Adi Viveash 120 DF 29Ady Williams 105MF 40James HarperMF 14Sammy Igoe 65MF 16Phil Parkinson 85FW 22Jim McIntyre 81FW 9 Martin ButlerFW 12Jamie CuretonSubstitutes:GK 21Scott Howie DF 6 Barry Hunter 105MF 8Darren CaskeyMF 37Tony Rougier 81FW 10Nicky Forster 65Manager:Alan Pardew Post-match The Walsall manager Ray Graydon said: "it was not a classic game but it was a fantastic day." His opposite number Alan Pardew suggested his team should "come through it stronger". Graydon left Walsall in January 2002 with the club in 22nd place in the First Division table. The club's owner Jeff Bonser described the victory at the Millennium Stadium as the greatest day in the history of Walsall F.C. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/walsall-reluctantly-part-company-graydon-9147190.html The Independent 31 January 2021 Walsall reluctantly part company with Graydon Alan Nixon 23 January 2002 Walsall ended the following season in 18th place in the First Division table, four places and two points above the relegation zone, securing safety with three wins in their last four games of the season. https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/championship/2001-2002/regular-season/r531/ Soccerway Perform Group Championship – 2001/2002 – Regular season 30 January 2021 31 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210131150114/https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/championship/2001-2002/regular-season/r531/ live Reading's next season saw them gain automatic promotion to the First Division after finishing in second place. https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/2001-2002/regular-season/r93/ Soccerway Perform Group League One – 2001/2002 – Regular season 30 January 2021 6 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201006161859/https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/2001-2002/regular-season/r93/ live References The Agony & The Ecstasy Richard Foster 978-1-910906-00-2 Ockley Books 2015 2 Category:Football League Second Division play-off finals Category:EFL League One play-off finals play Play-off Final 2001 Play-off Final 2001 Football League Second Division play-off final Category:Football finals in Wales