Football: Garner going for a play-off treble: Trevor Haylett on the weekend's play-off games
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.EVEN for a seasoned goal-digger, it must rank as a unique hat-trick; three successive play-off victories, all with different clubs. That distinction will be Simon Garner's today if he can help Wycombe overcome Preston in the first of the finals to decide the outstanding Endsleigh League promotion places.
A Wembley celebration would be a suitable reward for the impact Martin O'Neill's Wanderers have made in this, their first year in the League, and Garner, who was with Blackburn when they climbed from the First Division, and West Brom, when they rose from the Second, can show them the way.
Wycombe know Wembley better than the away grounds they have discovered this season. In two of the three years prior to their step up, they were successful in the FA Trophy competition. Now the newcomers return to confront one of the founders of the Football League, and the first-ever champions.
Preston overturned a two-goal deficit to trip up Torquay in their semi-final, with all four second-leg strikes coming from headers. That vindicated John Beck's faith in direct methods and wingers who can supply frequent and accurate crosses, and they have already served him well on this stage before when with Cambridge. The 30,000 Deepdale devotees set off today in anticipation of victory, but not vaudeville.
Tomorrow brings another huge exodus south from Lancashire when Burnley make their first return to Wembley six years to the day since they lost the Sherpa Van final to Wolves.
Stockport completed the Second Division programme with an advantage of 12 points over them, but so, too, did Plymouth, and after being held at Turf Moor, Jimmy Mullen's side demonstrated their mettle in the away leg. They will also be encouraged that the hallowed greensward has not been helpful to County, who three times in the last four years have come to grief there, twice in the Autoglass Trophy and then at the hands of Peterborough in the old Third Division play-off final.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments