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Charlton Athletic are preparing to face Leyton Orient in the League One play-off final on Sunday.
Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient will battle for Championship promotion in the League One play-off final at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.
The Addicks ran out 1-0 aggregate victors over Wycombe Wanderers in their double header, courtesy of a Matt Godden strike that prompted emotional celebrations from Nathan Jones.
Orient knocked Stockport County out of the play-off semi-finals following a dramatic penalty shoot-out, in which Orient won 4-1 after the tie ended 3-3 on aggregate.
A place in the second tier of English Football awaits one side, and it is Jones’ Charlton who possess an underrated weapon in their ranks that could help define the crunch fixture.
Conor Coventry is the key to Charlton Athletic’s play-off final hopes vs Leyton Orient
Charlton defensive midfielder Conor Coventry has been one of League One’s best midfielders this season and will play a crucial role in the Addicks’ play-off final aspirations.
25-year-old Coventry has notched three goal contributions in 44 League One starts this season and has cemented himself as one of Jones’ most trusted squad members.
Coventry is the key to Charlton’s play-off final hopes, having performed admirably to keep two clean sheets across both legs against Wycombe, in keeping with his resolute and combative displays across the campaign.
According to the OPTA analyst, Coventry has made 127 tackles this season at an average of 3.0 per 90 minutes. He has made more than any other third-tier player this season by at least 16 tackles, while only two players won possession more often than the Irishman.
| Conor Coventry in 24/25 League One season |
| Games played – 44 |
| Goals + Assists – 1 + 2 |
| Yellow cards – 11 |
Addicks boss Jones waxed lyrical about Coventry earlier in the campaign, after his only goal of the season inspired Charlton’s 1-0 win over Burton Albion as they hunted for a play-off place.
Jones told Charlton’s media: “He’s a fantastic player. It’s been a good week and a bit for him. He’s had his Irish call-up. We’re really delighted for him because he’s an excellent footballer.
“We played him a little higher today after Terry Taylor came on and that proved to be a good decision. He’s a fantastic player, we love him here and hopefully that can be the first of many.”
Despite his stellar season, Coventry and his Charlton teammates have a mammoth task ahead on Sunday to try and keep at bay the third tier’s most prolific centre-forward.
Conor Coventry faces hardest task of season against Leyton Orient ace Charlie Kelman
Coventry will be tasked with nullifying the ample threat of League One top goalscorer Charlie Kelman on Sunday afternoon, while also keeping an eye on Jamie Donley, too.
Kelman admitted his controversial first leg goal was offside, however, with VAR being utilised in the play-off finals, the prolific Orient ace will not be the beneficiary of a clear offside akin to that of the first leg.
Kelman has 27 goals and six assists in all competitions for Orient this season in his loan stint from QPR, and is brimming with confidence ahead of the League One play-off final.
After the win in Stockport, Kelman told Sky Sports: “I just want to score goals so, for me, every time I go on the pitch it feels like I’m going to score and I want to give the boys that confidence that when they put me in the team, I’m going to score goals,
“I knew that when we came here [to Stockport] we were going to win. There was no doubt.”
An unstoppable force in Kelman will meet the immovable object of Coventry under the Wembley arch this weekend, and that irresistible force collision is certain to provide fireworks in the season-defining third tier fixture.