Why recent history is against Peterborough United in the 2023-24 League One play-offs, plus the club's complete play-off record
No team finishing fourth in the table has gone on to win the play-offs since Rotherham United in the 2017-18 season. And that’s the only time it’s happened in the last nine seasons.
The team finishing third has won four of the last five play-off campaigns – and five of the last nine – which is good news for Bolton Wanderers, although one of them was Wycombe Wanderers whose high finish was secured by some bizarre EFL logic.
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Hide AdSunderland were fifth when they were successful in the 2021-22 season. Millwall and Barnsley finished sixth when they won the play-offs in 2016-17 and 2015-16 respectively.
The good news for Posh though is they finished fourth when they last won the play-offs in the 2010-11 season. They had finished fifth when winning the 1999-2000 League Two play-offs (essentially the second seed which they are this season) and sixth in Third Division when winning the play-offs at the first attempt in the 1991-92 season.
Posh had finished sixth in League One and then bowed out in the semi-finals in their last two play-off appearances in 2013-14 and 2022-23.
FULL POSH PLAY-OFF RECORD
P13 W8 D2 L3 F26 A16Posh have been involved in five previous play-off campaigns.
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Hide AdThey won their first three, twice in finals at Wembley and once at Old Trafford, but have failed to get past the semi-final stage on the last two occasions.
Posh have won eight of their 13 play-off matches and are unbeaten at home as well as at Wembley, Old Trafford and in finals!
1991-92
Semi-final
Posh 2 (Charlery, Halsall), Huddersfield 2
Huddersfield 1, Posh 2 (Sterling, Cooper).
Final
Posh 2 (Charlery 2), Stockport 1.
1999-2000
Semi-final
Barnet 1, Posh 2 (Clarke, Lee).
Posh 3, Barnet 0 (Farrell 3).
Final
Posh 1 (Clarke), Darlington 0
2010-11
Semi-final
MK Dons 3, Posh 2 (Mackail-Smith, McCann).
Posh 2, MK Dons 0 (McCann, Mackail-Smith).
Final
Posh 3 (Rowe, Mackail-Smith, McCann), Huddersfield 0.
2013-14
Semi-final
Posh 1 (Assombalonga), Orient 1
Orient 2, Posh 1 (Washington).
2022-23
Semi-final
Posh 4 (Taylor, Ward, Poku, Clarke-Harris), Sheff Wed 0
Sheff Wed 5, Posh 1 (og) – Sheff Wed won 5-4 on penalties
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