Leeds United will play Derby County in the Championship play-off semi-finals, mapping out the route to the Premier League for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
The Peacocks top-six spot was confirmed after a draw with Aston Villa last weekend ended their hopes of automatic promotion, while Derby’s play-off spot was confirmed on a dramatic final day with a 3-1 victory over West Brom.
Frank Lampard’s side led at the interval but conceded an equaliser minutes into the second period which, with Middlesbrough beating Rotherham United elsewhere, the Rams were facing a premature end to their season.
However, Mason Bennett restored Derby’s lead with 20 minutes to go and Harry Wilson then converted a controversial penalty after Tom Lawrence went to ground under a challenge from Kyle Bartley - with replays showing the contact from the defender was minimal.
That win secured Derby’s spot in the play-offs and means that the semi-finals will have an intriguing sub-plot, as Lampard and Bielsa lock horns for the first time since the ‘spygate’ saga that caught headlines earlier this season.
The first-leg will be played at Pride Park on Saturday May 11 at 17:15 BST, with the reverse fixture at Elland Road taking place on Wednesday May 15 at 19:45 BST. Both games will be televised live on Sky Sports.
West Brom and Aston Villa will contest the other play-off semi-final, with the winner playing either Leeds or Derby in the final on Monday May 27 at 15:00 BST, with the venue being London’s Wembley Stadium.
