download All Football App

The most iconic play-off final moments as Brentford prepare to face Fulham

  /  autty

London rivals Fulham and Brentford will go head-to-head in the Championship play-off final this evening to earn a place in next season's Premier League.

Having won their place in the Premier League through the play-offs in 2018, Fulham boast plenty of experience with many members of that team still in Scott Parker's side.

Brentford might be lacking in experience but are favourites to win after finishing the season just two points off of automatic promotion and topping the table in goals scored.

Play-off finals regularly provide drama with players looking to establish themselves in club folklore with the winning goal to secure Premier League promotion.

From Bobby Zamora's last-minute winner to Clive Mendonca's hat-trick, Sportsmail has taken a look at the top six magic moments in Championship play-off final history.

2017: Schindler sends Terriers up against the odds

Huddersfield Town were promoted to the Premier League for the first time after beating Reading 4-3 on penalties at Wembley in 2017.

After 120 minutes of play the game ended in a 0-0 draw, seeing the two sides taking to the spot to determine their fate.

Christopher Schindler won it for Huddersfield Town after Liam Moore blazed it over the bar and Jordan Obita's effort was been saved by Danny Ward.

This was Town's second successive shootout win after defeating Sheffield Wednesday by penalties in the semi-finals and promotion was all the more impressive for David Wagner's men considering they had scraped a 19th-place finish the season before.

2014: Zamora strikes late for QPR

Bobby Zamora scored the dramatic late winner against Derby at Wembley to secure promotion for QPR back in 2014.

Zamora, who had scored only three goals all season for QPR after another injury-ravaged campaign, found the net in the final minute of the game to leave Derby heartbroken.

The ball was played to Junior Hoilett after Zamora's good work won a throw-in. Hoilett battled down the touchline before playing the ball into the box.

Richard Keogh failed to clear the ball and Zamora was quick to react, curling the ball home beautifully from the penalty spot.

2010: Never-say-die Blackpool reach the big time

In 2010 Blackpool came from behind twice to defeat Cardiff and reach the Premier League for the first time.

The Tangerines won the game 3-2, with all the goals coming during the opening half of the match

Michael Chopra and Joe Ledley twice gave Cardiff the lead with impressive strikes but a Charlie Adam free-kick and a close-range finish from Gary Taylor-Fletcher saw Blackpool come back on each occasion.

It was Brett Ormerod who finished the game off and secured Blackpool's promotion to the Premier League with a low strike into the bottom corner in first half stoppage time.

The result completed a fairy-tale season for Blackpool, who entered the top-flight for the first time since their 1970-71 campaign.

2008: Evergreen Windass sends 40,000 Tigers wild

Dean Windass wrote his name into Hull folklore in 2008 after he scored a stunning volley to send his club flying into the Premier League. Windass's rocket also saw his side bank a total of £60million.

Frazier Campbell provided Windass with the perfect cross that allowed him to volley the ball into the top corner.

The 40,000 Tigers fans in attendance went wild as the 39-year-old Windass provided the all-important goal to stylishly secure their promotion.

Windass was overcome with emotion once the final whistle was blown and was left in tears on the pitch.

2009: Elliott stunner ends Burnley's 33-year wait

Burnley secured a place in the Premier League after a powerful strike from Wade Elliott earned a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.

United went into the game as favourites, but Elliott curled the ball past Paddy Kenny from 25 yards out in the 13th minute of the game to ensure Owen Coyle's side - who reached the semi-finals of the Carling Cup and last 16 of the FA Cup - achieved promotion.

The midfielder's goal saw Burnley promoted into the top-flight for the first time in 33 years.

1998: Mendonca hat-trick helps Charlton snatch victory on penalties

Regarded as arguably the greatest play-off final, Charlton beat Sunderland on penalties to steal promotion into the Premier League.

Charlton striker Clive Mendonca scored the first hat-trick in a play-off final to force the game to a penalty shootout after coming back from behind three times.

The first 13 penalties were all scored before Charlton keeper Sasa Ilic saved Michael Gray's to secure a dramatic victory for the Addicks.