SUNDERLAND V LUTON

Sunderland’s defensive injury crisis saw utility player Luke O’Nien filling in at centre-back and winger Patrick Roberts play full-back during the run-in.

To make matters worse, defenders Dennis Cirkin and Lynden Gooch were both forced off on their play-off clinching final-day victory over Preston.

With Danny Batth, Dan Ballard and Aji Alese all also sidelined, it’s hard to see how the Black Cats can field a defensive line with any natural defenders in it against Luton.

That Tony Mowbray’s side have managed to secure a top-six spot in their first season back at this level is impressive, but it’s hard to see beyond Luton here. The team finishing third in the Championship has reached the play-off final in 10 of the last 12 seasons, winning promotion of five occasions.

The Hatters have been relentless since Rob Edwards took over in November, winning 14 and losing just three of their 25 league matches.

Only title winners Burnley picked up more than Luton’s 44 points since the turn of the year. For context, that’s three more than second-placed Sheffield United and 12 more than Sunderland.

BEST BET: LUTON TO QUALIFY FOR THE PLAY-OFF FINAL

COVENTRY V MIDDLESBROUGH

The job done by Mark Robins at Coventry cannot be understated, having taken the club from League Two to the brink of the Premier League in six years. It’s worth remembering that that success has come with the backdrop of seemingly perpetual off-field issues as well.

Even this season, the fact they managed to finish fifth is a feat. The Sky Blues were bottom of the table in mid-October after not being able to play at home at the start of the campaign.

With plenty of eye-catching players, including goalkeeper Ben Wilson and forward Viktor Gyokeres, who were both in the Team of the Season, they will provide a stern test for Middlesbrough.

But it’s one that Michael Carrick’s side are capable of getting through. When they have needed to be, Middlesbrough have been a relentless, attacking (and winning) machine under Carrick.

In his first 22 league games in charge, the former Manchester United man oversaw 16 victories in a run that took them from 21st in the table to third.

While Boro’s form has tailed off slightly since that run, it’s worth noting that they had opened a 10-point gap between themselves and dropping out of the play-off positions. The automatic promotion spots, meanwhile, were never on in the same way given Sheffield United’s games in hand.

With attacking prongs that include Golden Boot-winner Chuba Akpom, Cameron Archer and Marcus Forss, Middlesbrough have enough quality to win any game at this level.

BEST BET: MIDDLESBROUGH TO QUALIFY FOR THE PLAY-OFF FINAL

BEST OUTRIGHT BET: LUTON TO BEAT MIDDLESBROUGH IN THE PLAY-OFF FINAL

*Was price as of 11/05/23

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