THE Championship playoffs always throw up a surprise, so it is said. As dramatic and thrilling as this may sound, it is not entirely true. 

Historically, teams who finish third or fourth have fared the best in the pressure cooker of the playoffs. 

In the last 10 finals, four of the winners ended the regular season in third place and four finished fourth. The other two winners (Aston Villa and Huddersfield) came fifth.

Those figures hold true when you cast an eye back to 2007, the first playoff final at the current Wembley Stadium.

A further four third-place teams have lifted the trophy in the capital. Two more fifth-place teams join the honours list, while the sole sixth-place winner Blackpool won in 2010.

More important than final league position is pre-playoff form. Although Southampton boss Russell Martin has played down the importance of momentum, most winners have rocked up at Wembley in a groove.

Huddersfield, who won in 2016-17, remain the only team in the last 10 years to get promoted having lost three of their last four league games.

That is the same form Saints and West Brom enter the playoffs with.

Across the last five years, the team that went on to achieve glory did so having lost three or fewer games across a much longer stretch.

2022-23 winners Luton Town only lost two of their last 24 games.

2021-22 winners Nottingham Forest lost just three of their last 21 games

2020-21 winners Brentford only lost seven games all season. Only one of those came in their last 15 games.

2019-20 winners Fulham lost three of their last 20 games.

2018-19 winners Aston Villa lost one of their last 13 games. 

However, none of the teams entering this year's playoffs do so in the greatest vein of form.

As mentioned, West Brom and Saints have only won one of their last four.

In the other semi-final, Leeds United claimed just four points from their final six games. Norwich City have the most momentum having only been beaten once in their last six.

Daily Echo: Norwich were beaten by Birmingham on the final day of the seasonNorwich were beaten by Birmingham on the final day of the season (Image: PA)

However, they did draw with Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City and Swansea City while losing to Birmingham City on the final day.

But what about how many goals you need to score to win the playoffs?

Traditionally, playoff games are cagey and are often won by a single goal. On average, teams that reach the final scored 2.75 goals across the first and second legs in the last 10 years.

Twelve out of the 20 teams to reach the final have won their home leg. Eleven teams won their away game.

In the final itself, only two of the last 10 winners have achieved that glory with a margin of two goals - Martin's Norwich being one of those in 2014-15.