Luton finished third in the Championship but they face a tough play-off final test against Coventry, who overcame fancied Middlesbrough in the final four.

Dan Childs' Coventry v Luton Tips

Coventry to be promoted @ 11/10 
Victor Gyokeres to score anytime @ 5/2
Gabriel Osho to be carded @ 4/1

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.

Setting the scene...

The Championship play-off final between Coventry and Luton is one for the romantics because both teams are on the brink of the big time having come through long periods of adversity. 

Coventry dropped into League Two in 2016-17 and had to endure periods of homelessness which forced them to agree ground-sharing arrangements with Northampton and Birmingham. 

But their story is no more remarkable than Luton, who have climbed from the National League to the brink of the Premier League in just nine years. 

Neither team are among the most wealthy in the Championship but they fully deserved to reach the final and it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top.

Coventry to be promoted @ 11/10

There is very little to choose between the Championship play-off finalists, but a value case can be made for Coventry, who are 11/10 to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2001. 

Luton finished third in the table, 10 points clear of the fifth-placed Sky Blues, and are 8/11 to go up - but the teams are closely-matched and both are entitled to fancy their chances. 

The Hatters approached the play-offs on a 14-match unbeaten run and, although they lost 2-1 away to Sunderland in the semi-final first leg, they responded superbly to secure a 3-2 aggregate success. 

Rob Edwards' side favour an uncomplicated, direct style and always aim to provide plenty of service into their powerful centre-forwards, Elijah Adebayo and Carlton Morris, who have been key elements of the promotion push. 

Luton's aerial threat includes central defenders Gabriel Osho and Tom Lockyer, who were both on target in the second-leg 2-0 success over the Black Cats. 

Sunderland, who were missing injured centre-backs Danny Batth and Dan Ballard, were woefully ill-equipped to deal with the threat, but Coventry should have a better chance of coping. 

The solid Sky Blues have conceded just one goal in their last four matches and their back three, marshalled by robust defender Kyle McFadzean, is unlikely to be bullied. 

In an attacking sense, Coventry will go about their work in a more considered way. They favour a possession-based style but can also be effective on the counter-attack, as they showed when Gustavo Hamer's superb goal secured a deserved 1-0 success at Middlesbrough in the play-off, semi-final, second leg. 

Dan Childs' Tip:

Having the ability to play in different ways is an asset going into such a massive game and Coventry's flexibility could be key to getting them over the line and securing promotion at 11/10.

Victor Gyokeres to score anytime @ 5/2

Coventry are a very well coached side, thanks to the sterling work of their long-term manager Mark Robins, but they also possess one of the Championship's top players in centre-forward Victor Gyokeres. 

The Swede arrived in English football in January 2018 after a transfer from Brommapojkarna to Brighton, but he failed to make a single Premier League appearance for the Seagulls and was moved on to Coventry, initially on loan and then permanently, during 2021. 

Brighton don't make too many mistakes in the transfer market, but allowing Gyokeres to leave is certainly one of them. The 24-year-old contributed 17 goals in his first full season with the Sky Blues and a further 21 this term to finish second to Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom in the scoring charts. 

He is much more than a goalscorer and has contributed 10 assists, making him the only second-tier player this season to reach double figures in each of the main goal involvement metrics. 

Dan Childs' Tip:

Gyokeres' finishing prowess will be the main concern for Luton and his chances of a Wembley goal are strong enough to justify an anytime punt at 5/2.

Gabriel Osho to be carded @ 4/1

Luton's right-sided central defender Osho has been reasonably well behaved in recent months, but he is one of just five players to collect two red cards during the Championship season and looks a strong candidate for a booking at Wembley. 

Osho's chances of a caution are greater because he is likely to come into plenty of contact with Gyokeres. 

Despite being described as a centre-forward, Gyokeres often likes to create space for himself out on the left flank and that tendency should bring him into plenty of contact with Luton's number 32. 

Gyokeres draws a lot of fouls and was flattened by Middlesbrough's right-sided centre-back Paddy McNair during the semi-final, second leg at the Riverside Stadium – resulting in a booking for his opponent. 

Dan Childs' Tip:

Osho will be faced with trying to stop Coventry ace Gyokeres and his prospects of a caution are enough to warrant a wager at 4/1.

Coventry to be promoted @ 11/10 
Victor Gyokeres to score anytime @ 5/2
Gabriel Osho to be carded @ 4/1

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.

Dan Childs

• Coventry City F.C.
• Luton Town F.C.
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