Charlton take on Sunderland in the Sky Bet League One play-off final and Tom Carnduff thinks more than 90 minutes will be required.
1pt Match to be a draw after 90 minutes at 9/4
1pt Josh Parker to score anytime in 90 minutes at 3/1
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Two sides who have had tough recent history meet with one looking for a return to the Sky Bet Championship.
A lot has been made of Charlton and Sunderland’s fortunes in the past, particularly the latter with all to see on on-demand TV.
Sunderland are the favourites here, with many expecting them to make bounce straight back into England’s second-tier, but the value lies with Charlton emerging victorious.
Lee Bowyer has managed to keep the Addicks at the top end of the division throughout the course of his managerial career - guiding them to the play-offs last year which ended in a semi-final defeat against Shrewsbury.
They'll be better for the experience though and have kicked on with some decent recruitment. The headline addition has been Lyle Taylor, who has established himself as one of the division's top strikers during his season at the club.
Taylor looks good value at a price of 7/4 to net anytime in this game given his record throughout the season.
🏟️🔴 Charlton stormed into the play-offs and now they're heading to Wembley along with over 38,000 of their fans!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) May 24, 2019
📽️⚽️ Here's how #CAFC's momentum built, featuring goals from @lyletaylor90, @IgorVetokele, @J_Aribo19, @jpearce05, @JoshCullen and @BenReevo! @CAFCofficial pic.twitter.com/zK6XMfEZXh
My main concern for Charlton was whether or not they had the ability to kick on above that top-six finish. They had the feel of a side who could make the play-offs but don't quite have enough to get over the line.
However, their efforts in the second half of the season have done more than enough to sway that opinion. Not only in the manner of finishing in third, but the fact that they have consistently picked up results in run-up to the conclusion of the regular season.
That’s even after that second-leg tie against Doncaster, where an easy home tie ended in defeat on the night. Luckily, they came out on top on penalties.
They may have to require a similar fate here too with little separating the two sides. Both have talent throughout the squad and players who have shown already that they can handle the big occasion.
Some say that the Black Cats hold the advantage given their appearance in the Checkatrade Trophy final. That ended in defeat, but Jack Ross was eager to point out that the experience was key that day rather than the outcome.
🏟️🔴⚪️ Sunderland are gearing up for their second trip to Wembley this season...but this time it's for promotion!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) May 24, 2019
📽️⚽️ #SAFC scored over 80 goals to get there so here's some of them to get the pulses racing, including TWO Goal of the Month winning strikes! @SunderlandAFC pic.twitter.com/5CIm7GRys7
It really is a cliché ‘too close to call’ game and 90 minutes will likely not be enough to separate the teams.
This final is the one to sit on the fence on and take the draw at 9/4 when it comes to the outright markets. It’s great for the neutral, agonising for the supporters, but penalties looks like the outcome needed here.
Josh Parker can also be backed at 3/1 to score anytime in 90 minutes in this game and while he is still waiting for his first goal for the club, it feels like the time is now on the best stage of them all.
The forward joined in January from Gillingham. Taylor has, rightly, grabbed the headlines, but he seems to link-up well as a strike partnership with Parker.
His work rate is excellent and he creates play in the way a typical centre forward does. Bowyer has shown faith in him by playing him at the end of the season, and he came close to repaying that with goals in the semi-final.
Parker is getting there, and I’m convinced enough from what I saw over two legs against Doncaster that he can find the net here.
Score prediction: Charlton 1-1 Sunderland (Sky Bet odds: 5/1)
Best bet: Match to be a draw after 90 minutes at 9/4
Best bet: Josh Parker to score anytime at 3/1
Odds correct at 1800 BST (23/05/19)