Former England defender Michael Gray has tipped Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson to have "his name in lights" at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Gray predicts Forest will beat Huddersfield to earn promotion to the Premier League and singled out Johnson as someone who will shine. He was quick to warn the Forest squad, though, not to get themselves too wrapped up in the occasion.
The former left-back was speaking from experience after he lost a play-off final with Sunderland via a penalty shootout at the end of the 1997-98 season. His words of wisdom will likely echo those of head coach Steve Cooper, a calm and composed man-manager.
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Speaking to BetfredTV, Gray said: "Play the game of football. Don’t play the occasion. I think that’s the big worry for certain players. I think you’ve got to try and block it out. If you can block it out, you’ve just got to go there and focus on what’s in hand.
"There’s going to be VAR involved as well, as there has been with the other League One and League Two [play-off games]. So that’s going to be interesting for the players, and if they’re going to have to adapt to it a little bit as well.
"But what you’ve got in front of you is two good sides. Two organised sides. Entertainment with Nottingham Forest. Huddersfield look organised but when they do break, they’ve got some top stars.
“I said before that this is going to be a really tight game, tightly contested as they always are when you get into that final of the Championship. You know what’s at stake, getting to the final, and then obviously jumping into the Premier League.
"I’ve gone for Nottingham Forest to win 1-0. Could go to extra time when we get this goal, but I think Brennan Johnson, after the season he’s had, I think is going to have his name in lights.”
