National League Play-off stats

This is the 20th season of play-off at this level. In the 19 previous campaigns…

2nd placed team promoted 6 times & 5 Final defeats.
3rd placed team promoted 8 times & 4 Final defeats.
4th placed team promoted 5 times & 2 Final defeats.
5th placed team promoted 0 times & 8 Final defeats.
6th & 7th place teams have not reached a Final in the 4 previous seasons since play-offs expanded to 6 clubs.

Some other stats…

3rd placed team reaching the Final has only ever lost to the team finishing 2nd.

The Finalist finishing highest has won 14 out of the 19 previous Finals.

However…

The lower ranked team winning has historically happened in pairs. 2009 & 2010. 2016 & 2017. 2021 & …

The more stats I read the more nervous i get.In every indicator Solihull beat town .
Head to head
Goals scored
Goals conceded 1 in it
League position
Current form over last 10 games

Even the bookies have them very strong favourites .Never see a bookie on a bike .

Good! We play better as underdogs.

Quoted from Norseman

The more stats I read the more nervous i get.In every indicator Solihull beat town .
Head to head
Goals scored
Goals conceded 1 in it
League position
Current form over last 10 games

Even the bookies have them very strong favourites .Never see a bookie on a bike .

Remember the 2006 League 2 Final? We had beaten Cheltenham twice in the league to nil and still managed to lose the Final.

My memory of the home game was we were crusing at 1-0 up when Efete got injured. Smith got moved to RB after Pearson came on and both goal got put in from moves down that side.

The factor that you can’t quantify is Solihull are suddenly under huge pressure. The prize is there right in front of them. Can they deal with it? I think the last 2 matches shows we definitely can.

Soli who ?

No doubt that Solihull are a good side, they’re effective and grind out results but we’re a very different side to the one that lost to them in the season. We don’t ever stop now. We keep going. Each and every player dies for the cause and that makes a massive difference.

The last two games have proven that were a good side and can play different styles should we need to.

There’s equally as much pressure on Solihull as there is us, again, they’ve spent some cash so the people footing that bill will want something in return, that can add a pressure they’ve possibly never experienced before.

If we can double up and contain them down the flanks, start fast and press every inch of space then we’ll have a chance. We must keep the ball better and defend better at set pieces.

A big task, a lot to do, but when has that scared this current set of players. Stats are against us but it’s on the day that matters.

We’re the underdogs for the 3rd time in a fortnight and, tbh, the way that PH has conducted himself and the way the team have played they should be nothing more than proud of themselves. That also goes to the 000’s of fans that have made the journey to Nottingham, the rough part of Chester and those that are going to London.

The pressure is off. We all want a win and to get back in the league but after the mid season ‘wobble’, the team have galvanised themselves and the signings made have fitted in so well. If anything, and we don’t go up, if we can keep this squad together then I would say next season the future is bright. Plus we’d have the chance to spank the caravan dwellers down the a180 twice at least.

All the team, the squad, the management, the club staff, grounds man and tea lady. The programme sellers, the club shop staff, the owners and those that support the team near or far. Hold your heads up high. Every person has played a part this season.

Have faith our name is on it after the two previous play off games . As was Real Madrid in Champions League .

All the team, the squad, the management, the club staff, grounds man and tea lady. The programme sellers, the club shop staff, the owners and those that support the team near or far. Hold your heads up high. Every person has played a part this season. [/quote]

100% this!! Whatever happens on the pitch on Sunday and whatever league we play in we’ll be unstoppable as a club and ultimately that will take us where we want to get to.