Doncaster had played in the third tier of English football since gaining promotion from the Third Division as champions in the 2003–04 season. They had not featured in a league play-off final, although they won the 2003 Football Conference play-off Final to secure their place back in the Football League. Doncaster had also never played a competitive match at Wembley Stadium. Leeds were relegated to League One the previous season, having also been deducted ten points for entering administration. The club had featured in two play-off finals prior to 2008: they lost the 1987 Football League Second Division play-off Final to Charlton Athletic and were defeated by Watford in the 2006 Football League Championship play-off Final. The last visit Leeds had paid to the national stadium was for the 1996 Football League Cup Final which they lost 3–0 against Aston Villa. During the regular season, both games between the sides resulted in away wins: Doncaster won 1–0 at Elland Road in January 2008 while Leeds secured a 1–0 victory at the Keepmoat Stadium the following April. Doncaster's top scorer going into the play-offs was Hayter with nine goals (seven in the league and two in the FA Cup). Beckford was leading scorer for Leeds with twenty goals, followed by Trésor Kandol with eleven.