EFL play-offs Team of the Week: Charlie Kelman at the double despite controversial goal call

The best time of the year is upon us, the EFL play-offs – anything and everything can and will happen as four teams from each of the three English leagues battle it out for a place at Wembley to secure promotion.

With two legs being played in the semi-finals, it is a marathon and not a sprint, and over the years we have seen so many unbelievable comebacks happen.

Starting off with the first legs, there have already been countless talking points, such as Charlie Kelman’s seemingly miles offside goal against Stockport County, or Sunderland’s huge, late away victory against Coventry City.

Teams have either put themselves in good positions or have mountains to climb.

Here is Charlie Elliott’s Team of the Week from the first legs.

Leyton Orient’s Charlie Kelman goes up against Stockport County defender Fraser Horsfall
PICTURE: Alamy

Will Norris (Wycombe Wanderers)

It was far from a classic at Adams Park, but a goalless draw means the semi-final between Wycombe Wanderers and Charlton Athletic is finely balanced heading into Thursday’s return leg at The Valley.

Wycombe goalkeeper Will Norris stepped up when needed and made three big saves to keep the Addicks out.

A reaction save right at the end after Greg Docherty swung a shot towards goal following a corner was his best moment, with the stop keeping the game goalless and giving the Chairboys every chance of progression.

Wycombe losing at home would have been a huge momentum shift for Charlton, but Norris made sure that wasn’t the case.

Tommy Simkin for Walsall also had a good game, so deserves a mention.

Riley Harbottle (AFC Wimbledon)

AFC Wimbledon’s Riley Harbottle was actually deployed as a right centre back, but given the lack of a standout performer at right back and an excess of well-performing central defenders, he gets into this team technically as a full back.

Nottingham-born, formerly of Nottingham Forest and Mansfield Town, you couldn’t write the fact that he would score the winner against Notts County in the first leg of this League Two play-off clash.

Although the tie is only half finished, his goal puts Wimbledon in a hugely advantageous position, with a 1-0 lead going into the home leg at Plough Lane.

Solid defensively as well, his 59th-minute header was enough to secure the win.

Omar Beckles (Leyton Orient)

Despite Leyton Orient conceding two in their 2-2 draw at home against Stockport, Omar Beckles can be happy with his performance.

He was also at the centre of some controversy, as he was the defender who flicked it on for Kelman’s blatantly offside goal.

Whether the goal should or shouldn’t have counted, he has been credited with the assist.

The Grenada international did the basics well too, with two tackles won and 10 clearances in total.

A solid outing with a sprinkle of controversy.

Dan Ballard (Sunderland)

He may not have managed to keep a clean sheet in Sunderland’s 2-1 away win against Coventry, but Dan Ballard worked extremely hard to make sure that his side goes into the second leg with a lead to hold on to.

City striker Haji Wright was kept extremely quiet by Ballard and only managed 24 touches in the whole game, a sign that as a defender, you have done well.

A big aerial threat, the defender was very no-nonsense and was key to the victory.

Taylor Allen (Walsall)

Walsall put their end-of-season form to one side and dispatched of Chesterfield 2-0, away in Derbyshire, to put themselves in a commanding position going into the second leg.

Despite missing out on automatic promotion from League Two in the last minute, following Bradford City’s late winner against Fleetwood Town, they have shown some real character to keep going.

Defender Taylor Allen is not an orthodox centre back; he makes third man runs that are often comparable to those of a midfielder or winger, and he was at his best in this game.

It came as no surprise that he managed to score, netting a composed penalty that sent keeper Ryan Boot the wrong way.

Nearly 20 goal involvements this season from centre back is unbelievable and it is clear just how key Allen is to manager Mat Sadler’s system.

Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United)

Aided by a red card, Sheffield United put three past Bristol City at Ashton Gate to all but secure their place at Wembley for the Championship play-off final.

Harrison Burrows was the man to step up and finish the resulting penalty from the red card, whilst also getting an assist for Andre Brooks’ goal.

His left foot has been an absolute wand this season and his cross evaded plenty of players in the box before Brooks swept home.

The art of putting the ball into a good area seems to have been mastered by the left back.

Jake Reeves (AFC Wimbledon)

Midfielder Jack Reeves stood out in Wimbledon’s win at Notts County, bringing a bit of creative flair to a team that needed it.

He created three chances across the 90 minutes and got the assist for Harbottle’s goal, putting in a beautiful cross for the defender to head home from.

Composed and assured, the former Notts man showed his old club exactly what they’re missing.

Vini Souza (Sheffield United)

A different class in this Blades team, Vini Souza can do absolutely everything and could easily be playing in the Premier League – which he will be hoping to do so with United next season.

Against Bristol City, he dictated play on the ball and did the dirty work off it when needed.

A scruffy attempted finish from the six-yard box deflected off Callum O’Hare and went in for United’s third, with Souza credited as getting the assist even if it was unintentional.

Beyond that, he was a key reason behind the sheer dominance that his side had across the whole game.

Oliver Norwood (Stockport County)

Another midfielder who is too good for the level he is currently playing at, County midfielder Oliver Norwood might be 34-years-old now, but still has the technical ability that has seen him play in the Prem.

He got a goal and an assist in their 2-2 draw away at Orient, which could have been a win if Kelman’s offside goal hadn’t counted.

Both of his involvements came from set-pieces, his goal being from the spot before turning provider with a perfectly weighted cross from a free kick that landed straight on Fraser Horsfall’s head.

Five chances created also show just how effectively he can play through defences.

Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland)

The match-winner on paper, but the Black Cats striker offered little else.

Still, a goal of that magnitude earns Eliezer Mayenda his place in this XI.

The Spaniard latched onto a stray back pass, went round Ben Wilson and slotted home the winner of the first leg in the 88th minute.

Every goal counts in the play-offs, and Sunderland having a lead to hold onto at the Stadium of Light is massive.

Charlie Kelman (Leyton Orient)

Scorer of one of the most controversial play-off goals ever, Kelman bagged a brace for Orient and helped secure a 2-2 draw against Stockport.

He was miles offside for his first goal, with the assistant referee seemingly not realising that Beckles had flicked it on, but his close-range finish was very composed.

Kelman’s second was a cool penalty that sent Corey Addai the wrong way and gave the Londoners parity ahead of the return leg at Edgeley Park.

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