English Football League / Richard Walker / 25 May 2008 /

Richard Walker can sense an upset in the first ever all-Yorkshire play-off final

Glancing through the likely line-ups for today's League One play-off final (there's no significant potential absentees), it struck me that although this is Doncaster Rovers' first major final at Wembley, they've got plenty of players in the squad from recent seasons which have seen them traipse down to the Millennium on a regular basis.

This is the first all-Yorkshire play-off final ever, would you believe, and it's Rovers who have less to fear as they look to rise from the Conference to the second tier of the game in just five short seasons.

Without closer inspection, you'd reckon Leeds have the same but in fact there's a few novices in Gary McAllister's line-up and I feel that, combined with the massive playing surface, certainly weighs towards Sean O'Driscoll's total football ethos. Not to mention the Rovers manager has play-off winning form behind him with Bournemouth.

With a perennial shoe-string budget, O'Driscoll showed just how good a manager he was at now-relegated Cherries. With the backing of Donny-mad chairman John Ryan, he's shown he can handle increased spotlight (that admittedly their success has brought upon them) and I think his senior players will do the same to winning effect this afternoon. So, for me, back Rovers at around [3.5]. It's [2.32] against Leeds and [3.45] the draw if you take a different view of the (first) 90 minutes ahead.

And I'll go one step further. While conceding Leeds might ultimately claim their Championship place back, I reckon a neat and composed start can see Donny ahead at the break. It's odds of [4.4] to back that scenario, with the draw, [2.18], and Leeds, [2.92], the shorter-priced alternatives.

I was quite pleased with my James Coppinger goalscoring tip for Donny's second leg at home to Southend - and the mercurial winger really rammed it home with three of the best. Take him to find the requisite space on the wide-open plains of Wembley, [7.0] To Score (at any time) is price enough for me, although he's around a [13.0] shot to be first on target.

Naturally, the likes of Whites' hotshot Jermaine Beckford - [7.0] in the First Goalscorer list - and wily veteran Dougie Freedman, [7.6] to notch before anyone else, are options you must give due consideration to if you can't see past an instant return to the Championship for United.

Rovers' open style of play leads me to believe there will be goals in this one. Over 2.5 goals is at [2.4] to back in the Over/Under 2.5 goals market and, for me, should be included in your wagering. It's [1.69] to invest in the Unders option. In fact, the [4.6] return on Over 3.5 goals looks a tempting proposition, however that might just be one goal too far.

A quick leaf through the Correct Score market also had me mulling over the possibilities for much longer than is probably healthy. If Rovers score first, the game will really spread and that will be to their advantage. However a United opener could lead to a more dour affair. So...

One-nil Leeds, a [7.8] chance, should be in your shake-up, but certainly 2-1 and 3-1 to Rovers - priced to back at [14.5] and a whopping [42.0] - are scores to include in your portfolio for this League One showdown.

There's just one nagging doubt I have left over this match. We saw Dean Windass complete his fairy-tale season by getting his boyhood team promoted yesterday - and there's something tell me that all this 15 points off nonsense might just make good newspaper copy the day after this final with a picture of Ken Bates effectively sticking two fingers up to the authorities.

No offence to him, but I'd rather it was his beaming face we saw headlining the sports pages tomorrow.

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