Source: Daily_Mail
Gloom for Leeds, Reading and Shrews - if play-off history repeats itself
Form is temporary, class permanent.The play-offs were slated by critics when they were first introduced for penalising the side that had finished in a promotion spot in previous seasons only to see their third (or fourth) place only good enough from 1987 to clinch a place in a dreaded mini-league.But fans of Sheffield United, MK Dons and Bury - those teams who would have promoted automatically in ye goode olde days - can take heart that they are favourites to go up. History to be made as new play-off winner guaranteed in every divisionSpotlight on the play-off semi-finalistsA complete history of Division One play-offsA complete history of Division Two play-offsA complete history of Division Three play-offsThere have been 22 play-offs and on eight occasions, the side finishing third in the second tier has gone through. You beauty: James Hayter celebrates scoring Doncaster's winner v Leeds last year That's the same number from the third tier while at level four it is far more clear cut with 12 teams who finished fourth (the top three go up) triumphing at Wembley.Incredibly, the statistics are exactly the same for Divisions 2 and 3 with only the 4th providing clear-cut winners.Ann based on those stats, Reading, Leeds and Shrewsbury have absolutely no chance. So, given that, Sportsmail's (hard-fact) play-off final predictions are:Championship: Sheffield United v Burnley.League One: MK Dons v MillwallLeague Two: Bury v Rochdale.The facts don't lie - Where play-off winners have finishedDivision 13rd: 8 times4th: 3 times5th: 5 times6th: 5 timesOther: Once (Charlton finished 19th in the top flight in 1987 and beat Leeds in a play-off to stay up)Division 23rd: 8 times.4th: 3 times5th: 5 times6th: 5 timesDivision 3 (top three go up automatically)4th: 12 times5th: 3 times6th: 5 times7th: 2 times History to be made as new play-off winner guaranteed in every divisionSpotlight on the play-off semi-finalistsA complete history of Division One play-offsA complete history of Division Two play-offsA complete history of Division Three play-offs