Football League Championship playoffs 2013: Five more matches to go

What’s better than the Football League Championship playoffs? Not much. With England’s second tier wrapping up its 46-match season with a crazy final day, the field is now set to find out who’ll join Cardiff City and Hull City in being promoted to the Premier League. We start with two legged ties before the final on Monday, May 27th -- you can watch it all on Sky Sports (UK) or beINSport (USA).

Watford vs. Leicester City
Thursday 9th May 2013. 7:45 pm BST, 2:45 pm EDT.
Sunday 12th May 2013. 12:30 pm BST, 7:30 pm EDT.

Watford just missed an automatic promotion thanks to a bizarre final day. Although Cardiff helped them out with a 2-2 draw against Hull City, which put destiny in the Hornets’ hands, they couldn’t take advantage against Leeds United and ended up in third place after a heartbreaking loss. One can’t imagine that they’re very happy to be looking at another two matches for promotion. The opposite is true of Leicester, who scored a late goal and held on to beat Nottingham Forest and overhaul Bolton Wanderers in the race for sixth place.

Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Crystal Palace
Friday 10th May 2013. 7:45 pm BST, 2:45 pm EDT.
Monday 13th May 2013. 7:45 pm BST, 2:45 pm EDT.

There was rather less drama for fourth-place Brighton and fifth-place Crystal Palace. Brighton came into the final day knowing that a playoff spot was secure, and although Palace didn’t quite have that guarantee a late win against Peterborough secured fifth place. Should be a good one.