The regular EFL season has wrapped up in style, and now it's time for the annual chaos of the playoffs. Twelve teams across the Championship, League One, and League Two are set to battle it out for the final promotion spots—a shot at glory that means everything to clubs and their fans.
For Championship sides, the prize is the golden ticket to the Premier League, while League One and League Two teams are driven by the chance to test themselves on a bigger stage next season. But as the playoffs enter their 40th year, what does history tell us about the path to success? And, more importantly, what pitfalls should teams avoid?
BBC Sport has crunched the numbers, stared at spreadsheets until our eyes hurt, and uncovered some key patterns. Let's break down what it takes to come out on top.
Win the first leg, keep a clean sheet
It might sound obvious, but in the Championship, avoiding a first-leg deficit is crucial. Teams that lose the opening leg face an uphill battle—even if they strike first in the second leg. Since the current format (two-legged semifinals followed by a one-off final) was introduced, only three clubs have managed to overturn a first-leg loss and go on to win promotion.
Bolton Wanderers were the first to pull it off in 1994-95, trailing 2-1 to Wolves after the first leg. John McGinlay equalized in the second leg to force extra time, then scored again in the 109th minute—despite escaping a red card for an apparent punch—to send his side to Wembley. Bolton went on to beat Reading and secure a spot in the Premiership.
It took 23 years for another team to repeat the feat. Fulham scored first in their second leg against Derby County in 2017-18, then defeated Aston Villa in the final. Five years later, Luton Town followed suit: Gabriel Osho gave the Hatters the lead after losing to Sunderland in the first leg, and they never looked back.
So, what's the takeaway? Winning the first leg and keeping a clean sheet gives you a massive edge. But if you do fall behind, history shows it's not impossible—just incredibly rare. The playoffs are a test of nerve, strategy, and a little bit of luck. Which team will write their name in the history books this year?