Are the play-offs really a lottery?

Because of the unpredictability of the play-offs, they're usually referred to as a lottery. Are they really, though?

Obviously they are unpredictable and it's an unusual season if there isn't an upset somewhere in the football league play-offs, but I think it's down to the pressure more than anything.

Dagenham and Redbridge surprised everyone when they finished 7th on the final day of the 2009/10 season and were promoted as play-off winners beating Rotherham 3-2 at the national stadium. But was that lucky? I don't think so, I think it was mostly down to their fine end of season form and confidence having reached the play-offs - something no one expected them to do!

The same could be said about our opponents next Saturday. They were favourites to go down 2 years ago yet they were promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs, only to be relegated by the Champions at Old Trafford on the final day last year. They pulled off a mighty shock by beating Nottingham Forest emphatically in the semi-finals and came from behind twice to beat Cardiff 3-2 in the final.

I don't think the play-offs really are a 'lottery', they're different from anything else in English football - especially in the Championship given how much is at stake. To win a play-off campaign, no matter what level you're playing at requires consistency, confidence and experience. Something we have plenty of at the moment!

We only have one player left from our last play-off success in our very own Mark Noble, but Sam Allardyce has a good record in the play-offs and we have players who have not only played at the highest level but have been promoted from the Championship at some point in their career.

So we have some good omens and we all know we have what it takes (touch wood!) to win at Wembley next Saturday, but will they be able to hold their nerve and deliver one last time? Even though we missed out on automatic promotion I have really enjoyed this season and I think overall it's been a very good season, which will obviously be better of we're celebrating next weekend!

COME ON YOU IRONS!