Woodgate’s decided on team for play-offs
BOURNEMOUTH boss Jonathan Woodgate has revealed that he already knows the team he’ll put out in the Championship play-offs.
The Cherries are currently fifth in the standings ahead of the final game of the regular season.
As it stands, the south coast club will face Swansea City in the two-legged fixture set to take place later this month.
Bournemouth face Stoke City on the final day, while Steve Cooper’s Swansea head to Watford.
Barnsley – currently sixth and in line to face third-placed Brentford – play host to Norwich City but could still face the Swans if results go their way.
Woodgate’s side are heading into the play-offs as the form team, having won the last three games on the spin.
And the former Real Madrid and Leeds United defender says he has already decided upon the starting XI he will field in the knockout games – but he has yet to inform his players.
Asked whether he took a strategic approach to the play-offs in terms of how he is picking his teams and where the Cherries would play their games, Woodgate told the Bournemouth Echo: “I know my team now.”
Quizzed by the same publication whether he had informed his players of that fact, the Cherries boss replied: “No, I going to keep them guessing.”
The Echo have run a poll on their website asking readers who they would prefer to face in the semi-finals, with 67% of them voting for Swansea.
The bookies certainly aren’t favouring Swansea either, making them the fourth favourites to be promoted through the playoffs.
Swansea won’t mind that they are flying under the radar at this stage - indeed, with the pressure slightly elevated, it may well play into their hands.
Cooper remained coy though when asked who he hopes to face after Watford.
“What we wanted to do before today [Derby win] was aim to get as many points as we can,” he said. “That’s been the approach from game one, so let it be the approach to game 46.
“If we finish third, fourth, fifth or sixth, take that as it comes.
“Going into today, if we lost the game, the consequences are less. We don’t want to lose a game of course, we want to go and win and play well and keep building so that when the playoffs come, we can be in the best place possible.
“We’re not sitting here thinking ‘we want to play this team or that team’ because, just like us, if you qualify for the play-offs, you’re a good team.
“Whoever we play and whoever anybody else plays, they’re going to be really difficult ties.”
The first leg of the play-off semi-finals will be held on Monday, May 17, with the second legs taking place five days later ahead of the Wembley final on Saturday, May 29.