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Charlton Athletic take on Leyton Orient in the 2024/25 League One play-off final on Sunday.
Charlton Athletic will battle with Leyton Orient on Sunday in the League One play-off final clash at Wembley.
Nathan Jones’ Charlton beat Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 on aggregate over the two semi-final ties thanks to a Matt Godden strike that inspired emotional celebrations from Jones.
Leyton Orient beat Stockport County 4-1 on penalties after the second leg ended with the tie 3-3 on aggregate, to set up the clash against Charlton this weekend.
With the season-defining League One fixture approaching, EFL Analysis has dissected how the last five third tier play-off final winners have fared in their subsequent return to Championship football.
How last five League One play-off final winners fared in Championship
2023/24 winners – Oxford United
In last season’s League One play-off final, Oxford United beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at Wembley to clinch a return to the second tier, thanks to a first-half brace from Josh Murphy.
Murphy departed for Portsmouth the following summer ahead of the 24/25 season, but his absence had little impact on their second tier survival, with Gary Rowett’s side ending the recent campaign in 17th-place.
Oxford claimed some big scalps this season, with their 2-0 victory against Sunderland late in the campaign, as they nervously looked over their shoulders at the relegation zone towards the end of the campaign.
Oxford could lose key talent Ciaron Brown this summer, and will need to spend wisely in the transfer window to ensure a successive season in the second tier.
2022/23 winners – Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday returned to the second tier of English football in 2023, following their dramatic play-off final victory over Barnsley, after Josh Windass won it in the 123rd minute.
The Owls began last season with Xisco Munoz at the helm, before he was sacked following a disastrous short stint in charge, which ended with nine defeats in 11 games.
German Danny Rohl took the reins at Hillsborough, masterminding their survival in the second tier, and has led them to a 12th-place finish this term.
Rohl’s coaching acumen saved the Owls from instant demotion, and his pedigree in Europe has thrust his Wednesday future into doubt, with Fulham taking an interest in Rohl.
2021/22 winners – Sunderland
Sunderland returned to the Championship after a four-year absence following their 2-0 win over Wycombe in the 2021/22 League One play-off final.
Six Sunderland players are still at the club who won the final, under now-Millwall boss Alex Neil. Elliot Embleton and Ross Stewart – who have both since departed – scored either side of half-time to send the Black Cats back to the Championship.
Since their rise from League One, Sunderland endured a turbulent two seasons, with four different head coaches taking the job.
This term, summer appointment Regis Le Bris has taken the club from 16th to fourth, and will hope to mastermind a victory over Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United in Saturday’s approaching Championship play-off final.
2020/21 winners – Blackpool
Blackpool beat Lincoln City 2-1 in the 2020/21 League One play-off final to gain promotion back to the Championship courtesy of a Kenny Dougall brace.
In Neil Critchley’s second full season in charge at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool finished the season in 16th place as they comfortably dodged any fears of instant demotion by a margin of 23 points.
Their early-season form saw the Tangerines end October in sixth place, but they failed to continue that positive trend throughout the campaign.
2019/20 winners – Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe beat Oxford United 2-1 in a behind-closed-doors League One play-off final clash in the 2019/20 campaign.
Gareth Ainsworth’s side clinched promotion to the second tier following a Joseph Jacobson penalty-kick with 11 minutes left on the clock.
The 2-1 win for Wycombe secured their promotion to the Championship for the first time in their 133-year history, however the celebrations were to be short-lived.
Wycombe suffered instant demotion back down to League One the following season, ending in 22nd-place, only one point behind Derby County.
Charlton Athletic must not repeat fate after last League One play-off final win
In the 2018/19 League One play-off final, Sunday’s hopefuls Charlton beat Sunderland 2-1 at Wembley, to gain promotion back to the Championship at the Black Cats’ behest.
However, in the following campaign they suffered instant relegation, finishing one point adrift of safety in 22nd which condemned them to the third tier.
Jones and his Addicks have one key strength that Leyton Orient will struggle against this weekend as they battle to conclude their five-year absence from Championship football.