While the regular EFL Championship season may have concluded, with Norwich City and Watford having bounced straight back up to the Premier League following relegation last season, the identity of the third team to join them will take the scenic route through the playoffs, with Brentford, Swansea, Barnsley and Bournemouth competing to make it to the English top flight.
The first leg of the semi-finals were played this week, with Bournemouth hosting Brentford before Saturdays return leg, and the home side will go into that match with a slender 1-0 lead courtesy of an Arnaut Danjuma goal in the second half of this match.
We will aim to dissect both sides tactics in this tactical analysis of the first leg, and point out areas that could be crucial for both Jonathan Woodgate and Thomas Frank to consider for the upcoming second leg, which will decide who gets to face either Swansea or Barnsley at Wembley for the chance to enter the promised land of the Premier League.
Lineups
Having rotated heavily across the last few games of the regular Championship season, Woodgate put out what can probably be considered his first-choice side here.
Lloyd Kelly was the more reserved of the two full-backs, often staying deep to form a back three while Adam Smith pushed on on the opposite flank, while Ben Pearson and Jefferson Lerma played in a midfield pivot, behind Danish international Philip Billing.
Danjuma, David
