Friday, May 20, 2011

League Two Opta Facts - Play-off Semis (Leg 2)


Shrewsbury v Torquay
* Torquay have appeared in the Playoffs at this level four times previously, winning promotion on just one occasion; they defeated Blackpool on penalties in 1991.
* This is the third successive odd year in which Shrewsbury have appeared in the League Two playoffs. The Shrews lost both the 2007 and 2009 finals.
* Since 1989, more than half (12 of 22) of the teams to have won the fourth division playoffs have finished the regular season in fourth place.
* The two previous years to have ended in one, however, have seen the seventh placed team in the league triumph in the playoffs (with Torquay doing so in 1991).
* Shrewsbury have won just one of their last 10 home games against Torquay.
* Jake Robinson, who is on loan from Shrewsbury to Torquay, attempted a third of Torquay's shots in the first leg (5/15).

Accrington Stanley v Stevenage
* Defender Phil Edwards has netted 11 penalties already this campaign for Accrington, and is his side's top scorer with 13 goals.
* Accrington's first leg defeat was their only loss in their last 14 games.
* Neither of these two sides have previously appeared in the Football League Playoffs, although Stevenage were twice defeated in the Conference Playoffs, in 2004/05 and 2008/09, before being automatically promoted last season.
* Stanley defeated Stevenage 1-0 at home in their league meeting earlier this season.
* Accrington managed just one shot on target and didn't have a corner in the first leg of this tie.
* Stanley's Jimmy Ryan attempted their only shot on target in the first leg and was responsible for four of their six shots overall.