Summary

  • FT: Salford 1-0 Stockport in League Two semi-final first leg

  • Smith bundles in first-half winner to give Salford edge in tie

  • FT: Sunderland 2-1 Luton in Championship semi-final first leg

  • Adebayo gives Hatters lead but Diallo & Hume reply for hosts

  • FT: Bolton 1-1 Barnsley in League One semi-final first leg

  • Tykes lead through Cadden but Charles levels for Wanderers

  • Get involved using #bbcefl

  1. The play-off action continuespublished at 19:38 British Summer Time 13 May 2023

    Salford v Stockport (19:45 BST)

    Stockport fanImage source, Rex Features

    The time has come for making your mind up, but which team is going to be in euphoria tonight?

    Which team will be running scared? Or will one chase a fairytale start to their play-off campaign?

    Will Salford rise like a phoenix or will Stockport be up in space, man?

    The League Two play-off semi-final first leg between the Ammies and Hatters gets under way soon.

    Also, in unrelated news, it's also the Eurovision Song Contest final tonight.

  2. Postpublished at 19:35 British Summer Time 13 May 2023

    Salford v Stockport (19:45 BST)

    SalfordImage source, Getty Images

    Let's turn our attentions to League Two, now.

    Salford take on Stockport in a Greater Manchester derby in the fourth-tier play-off semi-finals.

  3. 'Relief as much as euphoria'published at 19:32 British Summer Time 13 May 2023

    FT: Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Matt Newsum
    BBC Sport at the Stadium of Light

    Sunderland celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    There were some strained nerves for the fans around us here in the press box as the final seconds were played out, and the roar that coincided with the referee's full-time whistle was as much hoarse with relief as it was with euphoria.

    Expectations are swiftly changing. Fans might well have initially thought it was a bonus to be here. Now they're dreaming of Wembley again.

    Luton's supporters are just starting to file out. It's a long trip back tonight but it's not over yet. Not that it will feel much better. They didn't get a chance to play.

    Sing song time. Wonderwall being belted out by Sunderland fans who aren't moving just yet. Soak it up.

  4. Luton struggle to trouble hostspublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 13 May 2023

    FT: Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Simon Oxley
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Sunderland looked the better side but didn't create too much other than the goals.

    However, Luton's defence though was much more stretched than Sunderland's.

    Luke O'Nien was outstanding for them - who was your Luton man of the match? You wouldn't even know where to start.

  5. 'Sunderland favourites for second leg'published at 19:30 British Summer Time 13 May 2023

    FT: Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Gary Bennett
    Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

    Sunderland grew into the game and that was quite a second half.

    Amad Diallo was excellent today and what a strike that equaliser was.

    On their away form you have to say Sunderland are going into that second leg as favourites.

    Luton will have to come out to get back into the tie.

  6. FULL-TIMEpublished at 19:27 British Summer Time 13 May 2023

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Sunderland celebrateImage source, PA Media

    Advantage Sunderland in the first Championship play-off semi-final.

    The home side had to see out one final set piece and, for the second time in two days, the team who finished sixth beats the team that finished third.

    The Hatters took the lead when Elijah Adebayo thumped home from a couple of yards out after Sunderland's lack of height was exposed on a set piece.

    Luton were firmly on top but a moment of brilliance from Amad Diallo levelled it. The Manchester United loanee curling home a wonderful shot after Alex Pritchard rolled a free-kick to him 25 yards out.

    That totally changed the flow of the game and Sunderland justifiably hit the front in the second half through Trai Hume's quality header.

    All to play for in the second leg at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday.

  7. Postpublished at 90+3 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Luton boss Rob Edwards is trying to gee his players up for these last few minutes.

    It's been a difficult second half for them but they're still firmly in the tie.

  8. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 90 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    It's game over for Sunderland midfielder Alex Pritchard.

    They'll hope it's nothing major but he looks uncomfortable to say the least as he hobbles off.

    Abdoullah Ba comes on.

    We're into six minutes of time added on.

  9. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 88 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Alfie Doughty can't carry on.

    The Luton defender looks to be really struggling with cramp. (I think, I'm not a doctor).

    Reece Burke is on in his stead.

  10. YELLOW CARDpublished at 84 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Ah, not good.

    Sunderland forward Amad Diallo has been great today but that's not brilliant.

    He looks to go by Gabriel Osho in the penalty area and goes to ground under no contact.

    Booking for diving.

  11. Postpublished at 83 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Sunderland v LutonImage source, Getty Images

    Can Sunderland muster one more meaningful attack?

    They've been excellent since levelling shortly before half-time and they'd love to take a two-goal lead to Bedfordshire.

  12. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 81 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Sunderland bring on Niall Huggins for Patrick Roberts.

    Just a third appearance of the season for Huggins.

    That's the Black Cats' first sub.

  13. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    ManagersImage source, Getty Images

    Luton have not had a sniff this half.

    Carlton Morris uses his body well to roll his man 30 yards out and thinks why not.

    It flies into the stand.

  14. Luton made changes too late?published at 19:09 British Summer Time 13 May 2023

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Geoff Doyle
    BBC Three Counties Radio sport

    Luton almost need to survive these last 10-15 minutes.

    Rob Edwards has seen enough - maybe he's used his subs a bit too late.

    Easy to say in hindsight, of course.

  15. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 79 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Second Luton sub.

    Jordan Clark, who had just been booked, is off and Luke Berry is on.

  16. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    How is Marvelous Nakamba still on the pitch?

    The Aston Villa loanee, on a booking, takes Jack Clarke out as he motors down the Sunderland left.

    The referee waves play on.

    Lucky boy.

    Sunderland v LutonImage source, Rex Features
  17. YELLOW CARDpublished at 77 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    BookingImage source, PA Media

    Jordan Clark gets turned inside out by Amad Diallo on the halfway line and the Luton man just drags him to the turf.

  18. Postpublished at 76 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Sunderland have had to box clever to score from two set-pieces today.

    Alex Pritchard swings in a teasing ball to the back post for Trai Hume, scorer of their second, but he can't quite get a touch.

  19. YELLOW CARDpublished at 74 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Luton's Alfie Doughty is booked for a bodycheck on the marauding Patrick Roberts.

  20. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 72 mins

    Sunderland 2-1 Luton

    Luton can not get the ball to stick at all at the moment.

    Cody Drameh goes off and Fred Onyedinma is on for the away side.