Two clubs seeking promotion to the English Premier League will do battle today in a match between Derby County and Queens Park Rangers. The Championship playoff final scheduled for 10 a.m. ET will be held at Wembley Stadium in London and can be live streamed here free.
For both club's, more than just a victory is on the line today. The prize for winning the Championship playoffs and earning promotion to England's first division in 2014 has exceeded £100 million. Despite finishing third in the Championship table, Derby County manager Steve McClaren refuses to believe that prize money and promotion will just come his way (h/t to Sky Sports). "Just because we finished third and quite a few points in front of the other teams, it doesn't mean we will go up. Football isn't like that," McClaren said.
"In football, you don't always get what you deserve. We're just pleased for the club, for the likes of [chief executive] Sam Rush, the supporters and the city as a whole. We've developed very quickly and got into the playoffs and finished third with a record points total and as top goalscorers," he added.
"So in that respect, I think the right two teams have made it through. Leicester and Burnley were the top two teams in this division and it's good to see that ourselves and QPR, who finished third and fourth, have reached the final."
"You could say we both deserve to be there and we'll see how the cards fall on Saturday."
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Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: Is there a better center forward in England's second division than Chris Martin? The 25-year-old made 46 appearances for Derby County, contributing 22 goals and eight assists.
Derby County's Projected Lineup (4-3-3): Grant; Forsyth, Buxton, Keogh, Wisdom; Bryson, Thorne, Hendrick; Russell, Martin, Ward
QPR's Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1): Green; Ekotto, Dunne, Hill, Simpson; Barton, O'Neil; Kranjcar, Morrison, Hoilett; Austin
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