EFL Championship playoff final live score: Coventry vs Luton updates, lineups, result

WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON — The so-called ‘richest game in football’ sees Coventry City take on Luton Town with a place in the Premier League at stake.

Luton finished 10 points ahead of the West Midlands side in the regular season, with the Hatters securing a 3rd-placed finish despite the departure of manager Nathan Jones in December.

Rob Edwards — once in charge of local rivals Watford — seamlessly kept their promotion push on track, as they search for a first top-flight campaign in 31 years.

Coventry, meanwhile, were last in the Premier League 22 years ago, and have been through the ringer since. Financial woes and several ownership wars befell the club as they moved away from Highfield Road, but the recovery is now, finally, almost complete.

Mark Robins — best known for saving Alex Ferguson’s job during his playing career — began his second spell as Coventry boss down in League Two in 2017.

The Sporting News is live from the home of football, with pregame, live goal updates and highlights below.

MORE: How much money is the EFL Championship playoff final worth?

Coventry vs Luton live score

Coventry vs Luton live updates, highlights from EFL Championship playoff final

1 hour 30 mins to KO: Welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage from Wembley, as Luton and Coventry end a gruelling 49-game season with a glorious prize on the line. Promotion to the Premier League for just a single season could be worth as much as £200 million to the winner, and will create a lifetime of memories for the fans. 

Those fans have all seen fourth-tier football as recently as the 2017/18 campaign. Luton climbed up automatically that season from the bottom rung of the EFL ladder, while Coventry won the playoff final. The Sky Blues spent two years in League One before rising to their current Championship status, while today’s opponents impressively sealed back-to-back promotions. 

Coventry vs Luton lineups, team news

Coventry’s nine-match unbeaten run going into the playoff final has been, in part, thanks to Mark Robins’ use of the 3-5-2 formation, which he’s almost certain to deploy against Luton at Wembley. He does, however, have a few players unavailable.

Callum O’Hare will miss out with a knee injury while Kasey Palmer is sidelined with a muscle injury. Fabio Tavares has been out since January with a leg problem.

Coventry (3-5-2, right to left): Wilson (GK) — McNally, McFadzean, Doyle —  Norton-Cuffy, Allen, Kelly, Hamer, Bidwell — Gyokeres, Godden

• Injured: O’Hare, Palmer, Tavares
• Suspended: None

Luton look set to match Coventry with a 3-5-2 system of their own. And Rob Edwards also boasts a fully fit squad to choose from, a luxury not on offer to his opposite number Robins.

Luton (3-5-2, right to left): Horvath (GK) — Osho, Lockyer, Bell — Drameh, Clark, Nakamba, Mpanzu, Doughty — Morris, Adebayo

• Injured: None
• Suspended: None

How to watch Coventry vs Luton: Championship playoff final live stream, TV channel

The playoff final at Wembley Stadium in London kicks off on Saturday, May 27 at 4:45pm local time.

Coventry vs Luton odds

The bookmakers have Luton slight favourites to snatch the third promotion spot to the Premier League, but there’s not much in it.