The Football League have announced that the away goals rule will be scrapped in favour of penalties for this season's play-off semi-finals. If the aggregate scores are level after two legs, extra time will still be played but will be followed by a penalty shoot-out if necessary.
The decision appears to have been made with last season's First Division play-off semi-final in mind, when sixth-placed Bolton advanced to Wembley at the expense of third-placed Ipswich by virtue of scoring more away goals.
Football League spokesman John Nagle said, “It was felt that it was unjust for a team that finished sixth to beat a team that finished third on away goals and it would be better for it to go to a penalty shoot-out. It was a decision that was made at board level and they considered what had gone on and ways to improve things for maximum fairness in the play-offs.
Play-off line up:
Div 1: Ipswich v Bolton, Barnsley v Birmingham
Div 2: Stoke v Gillingham, Millwall v Wigan
Div 3: Hartlepool v Darlington, Barnet v Peterborough
