Max Porter’s under-21s have qualified for the end-of-season Premier League 2 play-offs after securing a top 16 finish in the league table.
Since 2023/2024, PL2 has been one big division with all category one academy sides competing for a place in the 16-team knockout bracket at the end of the season, and with this season’s qualification, we’ve continued our 100% record of securing a play-off spot.
The tournament follows an exact-seed bracket, meaning the side that finishes first in the regular season plays at home against the side that finishes 16th, and so on.
Our place in this season’s tournament was confirmed by other results during the week, but a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday kept us in the hunt for a top eight finish heading into the final round of fixtures.
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Last season’s PL2 playoff run was full of dramatic twists, starting with a 2-1 win over Newcastle United at Meadow Park, secured with a stoppage-time penalty from Khayon Edwards.
But the late goals in our quarter-final went against us, as eventual champions Manchester City forced extra time with a stoppage-time equaliser, before netting the winner in the additional 30 minutes.
Under-21s head coach Max Porter said it was “brilliant” to see his side in the knockout phase again.
“We experienced it last year,” Porter recalled, “we played Manchester City, it was one of our best performances of the season, but we still came up short.
“I think for what the players need to go into next, to feel that edge of it being all on the line for one game, you’ve got to find a way to perform under that kind of pressure.
“I think that’s what the playoffs give us, so hopefully we can get another good (run).”
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