Championship play-offs: Leicester City look to return to Premier League

Leicester City's Anthony Knockaert (left) and Matty James (2nd right) celebrate as the final whistle blows against Nottingham Forest. Credit: Nigel French/EMPICS Sport

Despite struggling for form in recent months, Leicester City have snuck into the play-offs and will face Watford in the semi-final as both teams look to return to the Premier League.

The Foxes booked their play-off spot at the expense of East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest who they beat in a thrilling last game of the season. With both sides knowing a win would put them into the play-offs, Anthony Knockaert scored with one of the last kicks of the game to seal it for Leicester.

It has been a rollercoaster season for City who were top of the table 12 games in. But they have ended the season poorly, winning just two of their last 12 including a run of nine games without a win.

Leicester's owners will be expecting promotion however, with a net spend of more than £18m in players in the last three seasons.

Watford have been boosted by their controversial influx of Italian signings, with 14 players on loan including nine from Udinese alone.

But they will have to recover from the devastation of the final day, where they blew a huge opportunity to go up automatically. Watford had 15 minutes to score a winner against Leeds but conceded late to send Hull up.

FIXTURES:

  • Thursday 9 May - Leicester City v Watford (19:45)

  • Sunday 12 May - Watford v Leicester City (12:30)