Past pointers to play-offs for Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and Bradford City
The talk may be of the future - and hopefully a glorious Spring Bank holiday one for Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, Bradford City and Barnsley. But what of the past and their previous experiences of the end-of-season lottery?
Here’s our play-off factfile - with the high points and low points for the quartet:
HULL CITY
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Hide AdHigh points: Does May 24, 2008 ring any bells? A glorious strike from Dean Windass, fit to grace the most marquee occasion, secures a place in the top-flight for Hull for the first time in their 104-year history as they beat Bristol City 1-0.
Low point: A 2-0 second-leg loss at Leyton Orient to knock the club out at the semi-final stage in the old Division Three play-offs in May 2001 - all this after a John Eyre goal from gave Hull a first-leg advantage. It was the O’s who were destined for a Millennium Stadium date with Blackpool.
Previous results: 2007-08 (Championship) semi-final Watford v Hull (0-2, 1-4), Hull win 6-1 on aggregate. Final: Hull 1 Bristol City 0.
2000-01 (Division Three) semi-final Hull v Leyton Orient (1-0, 0-2) Orient win 2-1 on aggregate.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
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Hide AdHigh points: Promotion back to the second tier after a 4-2 victory over Hartlepool in Cardiff in May 2005 - with Drew Talbot’s strike at the end of extra-time sealing the deal in front of over 40,000 ecstatic Wednesdayites.
Low point: See above. The Owls had work to do, trailing 2-1 with twenty minutes left after Jon Daly put Pools ahead.
Previous results: 2004-05: (League One) semi-final Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford (1-0, 2-1), Owls win 3-1 on aggregate.
Final: Sheffield Wednesday 4 Hartlepool 2 (AET).
BARNSLEY
High points: A delicious 4-3 penalty-shoot out final victory over Swansea at the Millennium Stadium in May 2006, Nick Colgan making the vital save to deny Alan Tate - all this came after turning the tables by winning 3-1 in their semi-final second leg at Huddersfield.
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Hide AdLow point: Wembley pain as the Reds went down 4-2 in the Championship final against Ipswich Town in 2000, Darren Barnard missing a key penalty.
Previous results: 1999-2000: (Division One) semi-final Birmingham v Barnsley (0-4, 2-1), Barnsley win 5-2 on aggregate.
Final: Barnsley 2 Ipswich 4.
2005-06: (League One) semi-final Barnsley v Huddersfield (0-1, 1-3), Barnsley win 3-2 on aggregate.
Final: Barnsley 2 Swansea 2 AET (Barnsley win 4-3 on penalties).
BRADFORD CITY
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Hide AdHigh points: Promotion against Notts County in 1996 - and a never-to-be forgotten 3-0 semi-final second leg win at Blackpool when the hosts announced pre-Wembley travel plans in their programme.
Low point: Desperate second leg loss at Middlesbrough’s Ayresome Park in 1988 against a side they had beaten three times in that epic 1987-88 campaign. Side broken up with star players John Hendrie and Stuart McCall sold.
Previous results: 1987-88: (old Division Two) semi final: Bradford v Middlesbrough (2-1, 0-2), Boro win 3-2 on penalties.
1995-96: (Division Two) semi-final: Bradford v Blackpool (0-2, 3-0), Bradford win 3-2 on aggregate.
Final: Bradford 2 Notts County 0.
2012-13 (League Two) semi-final: Bradford v Burton (2-3, 3-1), Bradford win 5-4 on aggregate.
Final: Bradford 3 Northampton 0.