Are we unlucky in the playoffs?

We'll be taking part in our 7th playoff campaign. Only 10 sides will have appeared in the playoffs more often since they started in 1987, so I think that suggests we've done quite well over the last 33 years.

To start off, how well have the other playoff contenders done in the playoffs? Well, we've appeared in 6, won 1, got to 2 finals. Swansea have the best record, getting to 4 finals and winning 2 from 6 campaigns. Fulham have made 4 playoff campaigns, winning the only final they took part in. Brentford have appeared 8 times, never won one and have been knocked out in the semis on 5 occasions.

We've won half of the finals we've taken part in. 26 sides have worse records than that, 36 have better records.

We've won 16.7% of all the playoffs we've taken part in. 41 sides have worse records than that, 58 have better records.

In terms of making the final, 68 sides have better records than us, 21 have worse.

Overall, our record is below average in the playoffs. Given that there's a 50% chance of making a final and 25% chance of winning it from the outset, that's unsurprising. On the law of averages, perhaps it's now our turn again.

Some teams seem to thrive in the playoffs. 22 sides have won every final they've taken part in. Charlton and Peterborough have won 3 finals out of 3. On the flip side, Reading and Sheffield Utd have lost all 4 finals they've played. Arguably, king of the playoffs (sorry) are Blackpool. Taken part 8 times, made 7 finals, won 5. Ipswich took part in 8 playoffs and only got to 1 final, which they won. Forest and Portsmouth have taken part 4 times and never got to a final.