Not a bad result Saturday which saw us the first team mathematically confirmed in this season's playoffs. Think all the games are likely to be tight, it's the first time for a while I can remember where no-one has confirmed they final position in the playoffs ahead of final day. The fact the current 4 have just 3 points between them indicates how tight the division has been this year. Normally have at least one team a few points ahead having given the automatics a real challenge like us 2 years ago, but having said that I'm glad we aren't coming into them this season having been pipped to autos and having that disappointment hanging over us.

I suppose the questions are:

1) Will we finish 3rd/4th and nick that home advantage for the 2nd leg?

2) Who else gets in?

3) Who would you rather face?

1 minute ago, Duck Egg said:

Sorry to be picky...we didn't go 2 down at Wolves. McAteer equalised, very much against the run of play, before they got a late winner (Venus?).

One thing that does show ^ - they're always tight affairs  😬 

Wolves should’ve been out of sight before the 2nd leg at Burnden too.

what an atmosphere that night by the way, one of the best

10 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Rumours flying about that Blackett-Taylor could be fit for at least the 2nd semi and final if we make it.

Could potentially see the final although he wouldn’t be “match fit” but 2nd leg is only what 11 days away? Big ask that 

1 hour ago, barrycowdrill said:

If we did get to Wembley I’ve a right mind to fuck it off for the greater good of the club my record there is absolutely abysmal. Aside from my very first experience ( and my first ever away game) whenever I’ve gone we’ve lost. The 2 that I’ve missed, we’ve won 🤦🏻‍♂️

Torquay - went won

Tranmere - went lost 

Liverpool - went lost 

Reading - missed won

watford - went lost 

Villa - went lost 

Stoke - went lost 

Plymouth - missed won 

Oxford - went lost 

So I’ve not actually seen us win there in 37 yrs! how’s your luck 🤣

Been 10 times to Wembley or Millenium watching the Whites.

Won 3, Lost 7.

2 hours ago, Burndens Bogs said:

Been 10 times to Wembley or Millenium watching the Whites.

Won 3, Lost 7.

Been 10 times and won 4, lost 6

 4 and 8 for me

Even Reading, one of the greatest things ever in the end, was a fuck up really. Two down and a penalty coming up - at that stage you could repeat the game umpteen times and we'd not win.

Edited May 1May 1 by SatanGreavsie

4 minutes ago, SatanGreavsie said:

 4 and 8 for me

Even Reading, one of the greatest things ever in the end, was a fuck up really. Two down and a penalty coming up - at that stage you could repeat the game umpteen times and we'd not win.

You must have done them all since 1958 then; fortunately I missed Tranmere and Watford

Been every trip to Wembley final and semi finals starting in the 1980s . Not that  keen this time though 

I have a 50% or 33% win rate for watching us in cups and playoffs depending if you count the millennium stadium or not (shit fan).

Liverpool and Villa = loss

Reading and PNE (Cardiff) = win.

I work it out at 12 attended with the two at Cardiff 

Bristol , Torquay tranmere reading Liverpool villa Watford preston boro  stoke Plymouth Oxford 

4 wins  8 defeats 

Edited May 1May 1 by Farnywhite

3 hours ago, barrycowdrill said:

If we did get to Wembley I’ve a right mind to fuck it off for the greater good of the club my record there is absolutely abysmal. Aside from my very first experience ( and my first ever away game) whenever I’ve gone we’ve lost. The 2 that I’ve missed, we’ve won 🤦🏻‍♂️

Torquay - went won

Tranmere - went lost 

Liverpool - went lost 

Reading - missed won

watford - went lost 

Villa - went lost 

Stoke - went lost 

Plymouth - missed won 

Oxford - went lost 

So I’ve not actually seen us win there in 37 yrs! how’s your luck 🤣

My record is worse... missed Torquay, Reading & Plymouth so I've never seen us win at Wembley.

As a result, my family have banned me from going!

2 minutes ago, Dimron said:

My record is worse... missed Torquay, Reading & Plymouth so I've never seen us win at Wembley.

As a result, my family have banned me from going!

“I’ll always have Torquay” 🤣

Just now, barrycowdrill said:

“I’ll always have Torquay” 🤣

I was working in London, wanted to get home for the weekend so didn't go!!!!!!!!!!!

Tranmere scarred me for life

One of my best mates was a massive PNE fan, he was 14 for the playoff final at the Millenium stadium. Said it was the worst car journey home he ever did.

My lads went to the Oxford game, really hope they get to experience a winning trip to Wembley this year.

4 hours ago, barrycowdrill said:

If we did get to Wembley I’ve a right mind to fuck it off for the greater good of the club my record there is absolutely abysmal. Aside from my very first experience ( and my first ever away game) whenever I’ve gone we’ve lost. The 2 that I’ve missed, we’ve won 🤦🏻‍♂️

Torquay - went won

Tranmere - went lost 

Liverpool - went lost 

Reading - missed won

watford - went lost 

Villa - went lost 

Stoke - went lost 

Plymouth - missed won 

Oxford - went lost 

So I’ve not actually seen us win there in 37 yrs! how’s your luck 🤣

Ive never seen us win at Wembley. 

95 v Reading - I was on a school trip to Spain 

23 v Plymouth - I was in the middle of moving house that weekend

I also don't remember much of the Preston win at Cardiff but that was self inflicted 😂🍻🍻🍻 

I’ve only missed Oxford and that was because I was getting married. 

Shit planning or dodged a bullet? The football not the wedding 

18 minutes ago, BeeversLeftPeg said:

One of my best mates was a massive PNE fan, he was 14 for the playoff final at the Millenium stadium. Said it was the worst car journey home he ever did.

That’s really lifted my spirit for the playoff 😄 what a day that was. 

4 hours ago, barrycowdrill said:

Wolves should’ve been out of sight before the 2nd leg at Burnden too.

what an atmosphere that night by the way, one of the best

Definitely. Bruce issuing a rallying call before the game and the crowd really responded.  The grief the Wolves players got each time they touched the ball definitely rattled a few.

The Barnsley home game 2 years ago is the best atmosphere I've ever seen at the Reebok.  The place was jumping that night.  No wonder there was a pitch invasion. Typical of an Evatt side to lose that one though 🙄 

Been to every Wembley/Cardiff game since Liverpool except for Plymouth

So think the list is

Liverpool (L)

Reading(W)

Watford (L)

Villa (L)

Preston (W)

Boro (L)

Stoke (L)

Oxford (L)

Think that's it

 

My sorry sorry record at Wembley/cardiff is won 2 lost 8 !    Ffs

I admit to being scarred by the play offs from the start... remember when we went down in the "relegation play off"?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_Football_League_Fourth_Division_play-off_final

Thankfully we don't do that anymore, then not long after came Tranmere and I vowed not to be part of it again! I went to the Watford game and I can only describe the atmosphere as "weird".

I enjoyed Liverpool even though we lost. We should have had Villa.

Edited May 1May 1 by Dimron

4 hours ago, Duck Egg said:

Sorry to be picky...we didn't go 2 down at Wolves. McAteer equalised, very much against the run of play, before they got a late winner (Venus?).

One thing that does show ^ - they're always tight affairs  😬 

Course, and I was there, don't know why I said 2 down.  It was one of the most intimidating atmospheres I've seen Bolton in, away.  We packed our allocation but it was impossible to make ourselves heard over the din, as we were in that lower tier down the side that makes no noise. 

Steve Bull terrorising 40 odd year old Peter Shilton, god knows how we got out of there only 2-1 down!

We’ve all seen pleasure and pain at Wembley over the years but when we get there this year as I’m sure we will, it’s definitely our turn for some pleasure. Let’s face it, other than the big boys how,any other clubs have even got there as many times as we have which surely win or lose counts for something?

12 hours ago, Krimzon said:

This will be our 10th time in the play-offs we have got promotion twice

I just thought of those I could remember TBH.

The two promotions were after we'd beat Wolves (95) and WBA (2001) in the semis.

So the other two must have been years we didn't get promotion, happy for you to fill in the gaps.

At Wembley, 3 wins, 7 defeats
Bristol City L
Torquay W
Tranmere L
Liverpool L
Reading W
Watford L
Villa L
Stoke L
Plymouth W
Oxford L

plus a win and a defeat at Cardiff

Liverpool my first, everyone since so my record is:

LWLLWLLWL