2001 Football League play-offs

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.

Football League play-offs
Season2000–01
ChampionsBolton Wanderers
(First Division)
Walsall
(Second Division)
Blackpool
(Third Division)
Matches played15
Goals scored43 (2.87 per match)
Biggest home winBolton 3–0 WBA
(First Division)
Biggest away winHartlepool 1–3 Blackpool
(Third Division)
Highest scoringWalsall 4–2 Stoke
Blackpool 4–2 Leyton Orient
(6 goals)
Highest attendance54,328 – Bolton v Preston
(First Division final)
Lowest attendance5,720 – Blackpool v Hartlepool
(Third Division semi-final)
Average attendance21,183
← 2000
2002 →

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
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3Bolton Wanderers 46241577645+3187
4Preston North End 46239146452+1278
5Birmingham City 46239145948+1178
6West Bromwich Albion 4621111460520+874

Semi-finals
First leg
West Bromwich Albion2–2Bolton Wanderers
Roberts  44'
Hughes  55' (pen.)		 Report Bergsson  81'
Frandsen  88' (pen.)
Attendance: 18,167
Referee: David Laws
Birmingham City1–0Preston North End
Eaden  55' Report
Attendance: 29,072
Referee: David Pugh
Second leg
Bolton Wanderers3–0West Bromwich Albion
Bergsson  10'
Ricketts  63'
Gardner  90'		 Report
Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Attendance: 23,515
Referee: Roy Pearson

Bolton Wanderers won 5–2 on aggregate.

Preston North End2–1 (a.e.t.)Birmingham City
Healy  24'
Rankine  90'		 Report Horsfield  59'
Penalties
Alexander
Healy
Gregan
Edwards
McKenna 		4–2 Marcelo
Purse
Lazaridis
Eaden
Attendance: 16,928
Referee: Paul Danson

Preston North End 2–2 Birmingham City on aggregate. Preston North End won 4–2 on penalties.

Final
Main article: 2001 Football League First Division play-off Final
Bolton Wanderers3–0Preston North End
Farrelly  17'
Ricketts  89'
Gardner  90'		 Report
Attendance: 54,328
Referee: Uriah Rennie

Second Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3Reading 462511108652+3486
4Walsall 462312117950+2981
5Stoke City 462114117449+2577
6Wigan Athletic 461918960520+875

Semi-finals
First leg
Stoke City0–0Walsall
Report
Attendance: 23,689
Referee: Uriah Rennie
Wigan Athletic0–0Reading
Report
Attendance: 12,638
Referee: Roy Pearson
Second leg
Reading2–1Wigan Athletic
Butler  86'
Forster  90'		 Report Nicholls  26'
Attendance: 22,034
Referee: David Laws

Reading won 2–1 on aggregate.

Walsall4–2Stoke City
Ward  42' (o.g.)
Matías  47', 61'
Keates  50'		 Report Kavanagh  31'
Thorne  85'
Attendance: 8,993

Walsall won 4–2 on aggregate.

Final
Main article: 2001 Football League Second Division play-off Final
Reading2–3 (a.e.t.)Walsall
Cureton  31'
Butler  91'		 Report Goodman  48'
Rougier  107' (o.g.)
Byfield  109'
Attendance: 50,496

Third Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
4Hartlepool United 462114117154+1777
5Leyton Orient 4620151159510+875
6Hull City 4619171047390+874
7Blackpool 46226187458+1672

Semi-finals
First leg
Blackpool2–0Hartlepool United
Ormerod  61', 78' Report
Attendance: 5,720
Referee: William Burns
Hull City1–0Leyton Orient
Eyre  69' Report
Attendance: 13,310
Second leg
Hartlepool United1–3Blackpool
Henderson  48' Report Ormerod  21', 68'
Hills  50'
Attendance: 5,836
Referee: Uriah Rennie

Blackpool won 5–1 on aggregate.

Leyton Orient2–0Hull City
Watts  44'
Lockwood  70'		 Report
Attendance: 9,419
Referee: David Pugh

Leyton Orient won 2–1 on aggregate.

Final
Main article: 2001 Football League Third Division play-off Final
Blackpool4–2Leyton Orient
Hughes  35'
Reid  45'
Simpson  77'
Ormerod  88'		 Report Tate  1'
Houghton  37'
Attendance: 23,600
Referee: David Pugh
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