Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit has “no doubt” over favourites for Charlton Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers play-off second leg | OneFootball

Don Goodman has revealed who he thinks will be heading to Wembley exclusively to Football League World

The finalists of the League One play-offs will soon be decided, with four clubs evenly poised in two fixtures heading into the second legs of their respective clashes.

Charlton Athletic must overcome Wycombe Wanderers at home, following a draw in the first leg, to determine who will face either Stockport County or Leyton Orient at Wembley Stadium on May 25.

That first leg at Adams Park was a tight affair, ending scoreless, so it will be all to play for at The Valley on Thursday evening.

Charlton Athletic backed to overcome Wycombe Wanderers test in play-off second leg

With little to separate the pair, we asked Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman which side he could see advancing to Wembley.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman said: “I think Charlton have undoubtedly made themselves favourites now to progress, but Wycombe will have something to say about it.

“But Charlton did the double over them in the regular league season and then, obviously, the 0-0 draw in the first leg was a very tight, cagey affair with chances at a premium.

“But Charlton, when you look at their home record, you have to go back to December 3 since they lost the home game in League One, and that was surprisingly against Crawley Town.

“So, there's no doubt about it, Charlton Athletic will be the favourites, but it is the play-offs, and you just never know.”

Form is everything in the play-offs, and Wycombe are some way off it.

Including regular-season games, the Chairboys are now without a win in four games. Who did that poor run start against? Their play-off opponents, Charlton, with a damaging 4-0 loss at home.

Given that context, they may feel a 0-0 draw in the knockout game last weekend wasn’t the worst result but, as pointed out by Goodman, the Addicks have a great record at home.

Even if Wycombe find a way to buck their current trend, the signs for the final could be a lot better too.

They ended the League One season with three consecutive losses, the first against Charlton and the remaining two against Orient and Stockport, one of whom they’d be up against in the final.

As preparations go, it couldn’t look much worse for Wycombe, but it is important to caveat that, as Goodman does, that anything can happen in the play-offs.

Charlton must utilise key man Matty Godden to get past Wycombe

Finishing the season with 18 goals, Matty Godden has undoubtedly been Charlton’s most important player throughout this campaign.

That means that if the Addicks are to get over the line, he’s likely to have something to do with it.

He managed just two shots all game against Wycombe in the first leg, but got both of them on target, a hint at the sharpshooter that he is when presented the chance.

It’s much easier said than done, but Charlton must focus everything on presenting Godden with shooting opportunities; on the evidence of this season, he’ll do the rest. Wycombe will be looking to do exactly the same for their talisman, Richard Kone, who has proven to be just as lethal this season.

Nerves are high, with a lot on the line, so teams are generally less adventurous in these games. Often, they’ll be decided by one goal.

For that reason, it could go either way, but looking at the form charts, it will feel like an opportunity missed if Charlton aren’t making their way to Wembley towards the end of this month.