Championship play-off semi-final kick-off times CONFIRMED with last minute date switch ‘due to Premier League clash’

THE date for one of the first legs of the Championship play-off semi-finals has been CHANGED due to a Premier League clash.

The fifth-vs-fourth place game was initially set to take place at 8pm on Monday, May 13.

PA

The dates for the Championship play-off semi-finals have been confirmed[/caption]

But the match will now take place on the SAME DAY as the sixth-vs-third place match on Sunday, May 12.

The former will now kick off at 2:15pm, with the latter being staged a few hours earlier at 12:30pm.

According to reports, a Premier League match is to blame for the rescheduling of the match.

It’s claimed Aston Villa‘s home game with Liverpool at Villa Park has resulted in the change of date.

That’s on account of the fact nearby West Brom are currently on course to finish the Championship season in fifth place.

Hosting the fifth-vs-fourth-placed match the same day as Liverpool’s visit to Villa Park would put an incredible strain on local police and is likely why it has been moved to the day before.

The reverse fixture will be held on Friday, May 17, with the match getting underway at 8pm.

The second meeting of the fourth and fifth-place finishers will take place 24 hours earlier.

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Luton Town won last season’s Championship play-off final

The play-off final – the richest game in all of football – will take place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, May 26

Ipswich Town, Southampton, West Brom and Norwich City are set to be the four teams vying for the third and final promotion spot.

Last season’s final promotion spot was secured by Luton Town, who beat Coventry 6-5 on penalties to reach the Premier League for the first time in their history.