The curse of the home play-off teams
The curse of the home team looks to have struck again in this season's play-offs, with only two home sides winning in the seven play-off matches played so far.
Just Darlington, who beat Rochdale 2-1 in their League Two first-leg meeting, and Bristol City, who won 2-1 against Crystal Palace in their Championship second-leg last night, have achieved victories at home in this year's play-offs.
This poor run of home form stretches back further. In the last 31 play-off semi-final matches in the football league, dating back to 2005/06 season, there have been only seven home victories, with the away team winning 17 times and there being seven draws.
Championship:
The away team have won five of the last seven Championship play-off matches, including both of the first legs this season. The only home wins in the last 11 meetings were Bristol City's 2-1 win v Palace last night (aet) and West Brom's 1-0 win v Wolves last year.
2008
Bristol City 2-1 Crystal Palace
Watford 0-2 Hull
Crystal Palace 1-2 Bristol City
2007
West Brom 1-0 Wolves
Derby 2-3 Southampton
Wolves 2-3 West Brom
Southampton 1-2 Derby County
2006
Watford 0-0 Crystal Palace
Preston 0-2 Leeds
Crystal Palace 0-3 Watford
Leeds 1-1 Preston
Record
Played 11: home wins 2, draws 2, away wins 7
League One:
The away team has won seven of the last nine play-off matches in League One, including Carlisle's 2-1 win at Leeds on Monday. The only home win in the last three years was Blackpool's 3-1 second leg win v Oldham last season.
2008
Leeds 1-2 Carlisle
Southend 0-0 Doncaster
2007
Blackpool 3-1 Oldham
Nott'm Forest 2-5 Yeovil
Oldham 1-2 Blackpool
Yeovil 0-2 Nott'm Forest
2006
Huddersfield 1-3 Barnsley
Brentford 0-2 Swansea
Barnsley 0-1 Huddersfield
Swansea 1-1 Brentford
Record
Played 10, home wins 1, draws 2, away wins 7
League Two
The home curse is less evident in League Two, with the home side unbeaten in both matches this season. However, the away team won both of the play-off second legs last season to progress to the final at Wembley.
2008
Wycombe 1-1 Stockport
Darlington 2-1 Rochdale
2007
MK Dons 1-2 Shrewsbury
Lincoln 3-5 Bristol Rovers
Shrewsbury 0-0 MK Dons
Bristol Rovers 2-1 Lincoln
2006
Cheltenham 0-0 Wycombe
Grimsby 2-1 Lincoln
Wycombe 1-2 Cheltenham
Lincoln 1-0 Grimsby
Record
Played 10, home wins 4, draws 3, away wins 3
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