English League Championship Promotion Playoffs: Road Draw Earns Seasiders Wembley Encounter With Hammers For Shot At Return To Premiership

At Birmingham, City:

Stephen Dobbie (45') and Matthew Phillips (48') provided the scoring that enabled Blackpool to gain a 2-2 Wednesday road draw with Birmingham City in game two of their English League Championship promotion playoff semifinal series, resulting in the Seasiders winning the series 3-2 on aggregate.  Sunday, May 20 will see a battle of two clubs----Blackpool and West Ham United----playing each other at Wembley Stadium in London, looking to end their one-year absences from the Premier League.  Reading and Southampton had already won automatic promotion.

English League Championship Promotion Playoffs: Hammers One Win Away From Return To Premiership

At London:

Kevin Nolan (15'), Ricardo Vaz Te (40'), and Nicky Maynard (90') provided the scoring as West Ham United dominated visiting Cardiff City 3-0 in the second game of their two-match English League Championship promotion playoff semifinal series on Monday, enabling the Hammers to handily take the series 5-0 on aggregate.  West Ham will have the Birmingham City-Blackpool winner in the promotion final at London's Wembley Stadium on May 19 with the winner joining already-promoted Reading and Southampton in gaining promotion to the English Premier League.

English League Championship Promotion Playoffs: Seasiders Edge Brumbies In Semifinal Series Opener

At Blackpool, England:

Curtis Davies' own goal in the 45th minute as Blackpool blanked visiting Birmingham City 1-0 in the opening game of their English League Championship promotion playoff semifinal series.  The return match will take place this coming Wednesday at the Brumbies' home pitch at Birmingham.

Both clubs were relegated from the English Premier League on the final day of last season.

League Championship Promotion Playoffs: Hammers Take Semifinal Series Opener On Road

At Cardiff, Wales:


Jack Collison scored both goals (9', 41') as West Ham United took the opening game of their English League Championship promotion playoff semifinal series on the road with Cardiff City 2-0 on Thursday.