League One play-off preview

By Paresh Soni

League One review

Luton boss Mike Newell believes this year's play-offs will show a contrast in styles and feels Brentford will join Hull and his title-winners in going up.

Newell was impressed by the attractive football played by Tranmere and former club Hartlepool in the regular season.

But he says that Martin Allen's battling Bees are a hard nut to crack.

"The way they play they could be very difficult to beat. They are a threat at set-pieces and have people who can annoy you," Newell told BBC Sport.

He added: "Tranmere against Hartlepool will be the best football games - I know which semi-final I'd rather see. And I'd always favour a footballing side at a place like the Millennium Stadium.

"But a team that competes, never gives you a rest and never gives up is always going to be a threat - and Brentford are that team.

"With the form they are in and the way it works against the third-placed team, I have a sneaky feeling for them."

As a player, Newell experienced the elation that victory in the play-offs can bring - but he does not envy the players of the four contenders in League One.

"I played for Blackburn against Derby in the semi-finals and the final against Leicester - when we won after I scored the dodgy penalty won by David Speedie," he recalled.

"As a neutral they are terrific occasions but as a player and a fan the whole of the season you've just played in - and the next one - depend on those games, particularly the final.

"That is the most pressurised game you could play in and, while it has been good for football, it is an absolute nightmare for players and supporters."

TRANMERE (3rd)

Promotion odds: 7-4
Key man: Iain Hume

Newell's verdict: They're well-organised, strong and difficult to break down. I was pleased to draw both our games.

They had a lot of the game at Tranmere and were also in good form when they came to our place.

I didn't feel we deserved to win either game and on that showing they would rightly be favourites to go up.

But history says the team finishing third struggles because they are deflated after not going up automatically.

Hume can turn a game, whether he's making or scoring a goal. He competes well in the air for someone who is not a big lad, he has good ability and is a pest.

He never lets defenders have a minute's rest and is always putting them under pressure.

Play-off record:

1994-95 (Division 1) - Tranmere 1-3 Reading; Reading 0-0 Tranmere
1993-94 (Division 1) - Tranmere 0-0 Leicester; Leicester 2-1 Tranmere
1992-93 (Division 1) - Swindon 3-1 Tranmere; Tranmere 3-2 Swindon
1990-91 (Division 3) - Brentford 2-2 Tranmere; Tranmere 1-0 Brentford; Tranmere 1-0 Bolton
1989-1990 (Division 3) - Bury 0-0 Tranmere; Tranmere 2-0 Bury; Notts County 2-0 Tranmere

BRENTFORD (4th)

Promotion odds: 3-1
Key man: Deon Burton

Newell's verdict: They've done remarkably well, considering the position they were in last year when Martin Allen took over.

They are not an easy side to play against. In my playing days, Wimbledon and Crystal Palace played long-ball football and tried to intimidate you but, like those teams, Brentford have got results.

In fact, out of the four teams they are probably in the best form and that might just count for a lot going into the play-offs.

Burton up front has experience and does a really good job for them. With Marcus Gayle's height and experience and Michael Turner, they are always a threat. They gave us a rough time at our place.

Play-off record:

2001-02 (Division 2) - Huddersfield 0-0 Brentford; Brentford 2-1 Huddersfield; Brentford 0-2 Stoke
1997-98 (Division 2) - Bristol City 1-2 Brentford; Brentford 2-1 Bristol City; Brentford 0-1 Crewe
1994-95 (Division 2) - Huddersfield 1-1 Brentford; Brentford 1-1 Huddersfield (Huddersfield won 4-2 on penalties)
1990-91 (Division 3) - Brentford 2-2 Tranmere; Tranmere 1-0 Brentford

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (5th)

Promotion odds: 9-4
Key men: Strikers Steven McLean and Lee Peacock

Newell's verdict: In terms of football, they are actually not one of the better sides. I saw them against Torquay and they were knocking it long.

I don't think anyone would fancy playing against Brentford over two games so they will have their work cut out.

Like Tranmere and Hartlepool, they have not been in the best of form over the last five or six weeks so it will be a really hard one to pick.

Lee Peacock is very important for them. If Peacock is fit - and he has struggled with his fitness - he does put himself about.

Play-off record: No previous play-off experience

HARTLEPOOL (6th)

Promotion odds: 7-2
Key men: Strikers Adam Boyd and Joel Porter

Newell's verdict:

We won both our games but they are still a decent football side. When we won 3-0 at our place they could well have been 2-0 up by half-time - if they had converted a couple of their chances.

At their place we probably played the best football we've played all season. We won 3-2 but if we had won by four or five it would not have been an injustice.

Boyd and Porter are very lively, they are good footballers and Tranmere will have to watch them very carefully. I knew when I was manager there the potential Boyd had. He's a good link man and scores good goals.

I don't know how Neale Cooper leaving as manager will affect them. All I know is that it was a really strange time for it to happen.

My gut feeling says Hartlepool, even though neither side has been in the best form of late. Hartlepool have really struggled in the last six weeks, which won't help them, and Tranmere have stuttered a bit.

Play-off record:

2003-04 (Division 2) - Hartlepool 1-1 Bristol City; Bristol City 2-1 Hartlepool
2001-02 (Division 3) - Hartlepool 1-1 Cheltenham; Cheltenham 1-1 Hartlepool (Cheltenham won 5-4 on penalties)
2000-01 (Division 3) - Blackpool 2-0 Hartlepool; Hartlepool 1-3 Blackpool
1999-2000 (Division 3) - Hartlepool 0-2 Darlington; Darlington 1-0 Hartlepool