The Lower League Thread

Fulham beat Reading 5-0 in the league fixture, wonder if they'll match that now in the first leg of the play off?!

No pressure today. Been in poor form after a great season - nobody expected us to be here, and all the pressure falls onto Sheffield Wednesday. We might lose, but at the end of the day this is a real free hit at the Premier League. If we don't do it, we don't do it.

One thing is for certain, however: Fernando Forestieri will fall over in our penalty area.

It's weird going into play-offs wanting to lose.

Took Forestieri all of 56 seconds to dive for the first time. Never in our area, though, because they simply never got anywhere near our area. Pleased with today's performance - just lacked a goal. They kept shape and were difficult to break down, but we should have scored through Brown in the first half and Wells in the second. They were masters of the tactical foul to break up play at dangerous times and that was another reason we didn't create a lot of clear cut chances.

On to Hillsborough and a straight shoot-out. 90 minutes, us or them. All the pressure is on them. They're at home, they've spent squillions, their fans will expect them to turn us over. We can just look forward to another evening out - I'll be there, one of the 2,000 lucky souls who got tickets. It's going to be a heck of a night.

Congrats to Forest Green, into the football league for the first time.

Away days there should be fun, falafels and houmous with vegan salads instead of steak and kidney pies.

We're one division above Forest Green

3-2 Blackpool and 3-3 between Carlisle and Exeter in the League Two play offs first legs.

Penalties it is

terriersmad must be creaming his pants at the sight of his favourite player missing the final penalty.

Huddersfield Town one win from the Premier League. And to think a fair few pundits said they'd be lucky to stay in the Championship in pre-season.

Still, would be quite something to see them in the top flight.

Tbh, the idea of a journey to the arse end of nowhere to see a team owned by a new age traveller turned energy billionaire and eating vegan things actually sounds like a more interesting experience than trotting to identikit stadiums next to retail parks.

If its bad enough for Blackburn fans knowing they're division above FGR, fuck knows how Coventry fans must be feeling. Maps at the ready and everything.

Hey, Fernando: karma.

Jesus. Football. Bring on Reading.

That experience may well help the Huddersfield players as I can see the final going all the way too.

Different game. Two mentally tough sides, written off so many times by people in the media (not so much by other fans - though having predicted Reading for a battle against the drop I'll look very silly if they go up at our expense now), two clear footballing philosophies, two sides based on teamwork and togetherness. It'll be a very interesting and probably low-scoring affair.

I do have to say, I don't mind Reading going up at our expense, if it happens that way. They've grown on me this season. Their footballing style isn't everyone's cup of tea, but Jaap Stam has been excellent, they've not been cocky, they've been a really good bunch all season. As have Fulham and the majority of Wednesday fans (just not their number 45). I suspect it'll be more of a Sheffield United final than a Peterborough one.

What drama in the League Two playoffs!

And now we have all the idiots gathering at Wembley to show they're just "glory" hunters and couldn't give two shits about the club. Funny how a trip to Wembley seems to help people forget their morals.

No EFL action to be taken against Huddersfield.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40004399

Correct decision.

Dum, dum, dum... another one bites the dust

Monk leaves Leeds

Sunderland? Watford? Barca?

My guess is Palace.

Forgot about them! Wasn't expecting Fat sam to leave.

Think you could well be right.

Maybe Hull if Silva goes, not too far from Leeds - I say not too far, it's the same county at least

Silva's as good as gone, he's activated a relegation release clause in his contract.

Weren't Boro interested in Monk before? Could see him go there. Don't think he'd be the right call for Palace just now.

Read something earlier that Leeds' owner wanted a DoF or something who used to work at Boro, so I could see Karanka going Leeds

The more interesting story would've been Exeter completing the turnaround from bottom in November to play-off success in May for their fan-owned club.

Alas, not today.

Reading look like a Boro in the making from what I'm seeing, Stam will need to show more ambition if they do win this one.

Huddersfield up, what an amazing season under David Wagner. Delighted for them!

Impressively done. Great story to see Huddersfield Town in the Premier League.

Must be gutting for Reading to miss out courtesy of the pain in the arse way that is penalties.

@terriersmad my friend, well done mate!!! Chuffed for your lot. Play-off defeat vs Peterboro at Old Trafford seems all so far away now, eh? Will miss your referee ramblings in this part of the form but wish you the best of luck for next season. I hope you will think of us Bury, Blackpool, Plymouth, Blackburn lads when Hefele scores bullet headers at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates xxx

Congratulations Huddersfield. I imagine Terriersmad will have a sore head tomorrow.

It wasn't a great playoff final but 'grats to Huddersfield nonetheless.

What a surprise, the German team won the penalty shoot out!

Well done to the dog botherers, they've now matched us in being promoted from every full time league via the play offs

The quality of refereeing doesn't improve, if anything you'll be getting even less decisions as you visit the flounces that play for the big Premier League teams. Let's hope you do a Burnley and a Bournemouth ando enjoy a few seasons of crashing the party.

Promoted with a negative goal difference, has that ever happened before?