| We all know, though, that it is impossible to predict the winner once the play-off lottery kicks off. |
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| We feel we are worthy of a play-off place this year and we want to push on and achieve that. |
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| We were delighted to win the Cup, but the play-off match with Saints was possibly one game too far. |
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| But they have made it to the play-off final so they still have a good chance of joining us in League One. |
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| The main thing is that we are in the play-off position and it is now in our own hands. |
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| We're doing okay in the league and are one of several clubs fighting for the final play-off spot. |
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| Preston secured their play-off spot at the weekend and they travel to Derby who need one point to join them. |
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| We also want to go up automatically as losing in the play-off final is the worst feeling ever. |
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| The club managed to get to the play-off final a few years ago and we will be hoping to improve on last season and get into the top six. |
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| Sven Goran Eriksson was told at the start of his quest to achieve a play-off place. |
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| We could end up with a scenario in which the Republic of Ireland can lay claim to a play-off place. |
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| It's important we make a strong start but at this stage we have to be setting our sights on a play-off spot. |
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| It's not that bad because we are only four points of a play-off spot so it's hardly as if we are in a poor position. |
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| That shocking statistic is the reason Todd's side are just on the fringe of the play-off race and not in the thick of it. |
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| Anyone who can win three games in a row will probably get into a play-off spot. |
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| It would be my first medal apart from the play-off final with Birmingham in 2002 and it would be nice to add to it. |
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| We were in and around the play-off zone all year but couldn't push on and get ourselves right in the mix. |
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| It may be a bit optimistic to talk about a play-off spot, but I think that is a reasonable target. |
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| Now it is Morecambe who ride high in their division, pressing for a play-off place into the league. |
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| After finishing second to Bulgaria in their qualifying group, Croatia beat Slovenia 2-1 on aggregate in a Balkan play-off. |
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| Over the next few weeks the Clarets will have a hectic schedule with plenty of midweek games as they continue to chase the play-off dream. |
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| Moreover, the play-off series was the first sports event to be televised from coast to coast. |
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| They had previously finished fourth in the Concacaf final round qualifiers to earn a play-off against Bahrain. |
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| Venturing into relatively unknown territory started to prove too much, though, and they failed to maintain their play-off push, finishing 10th. |
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| Reluctant at first, he eventually acquiesced and has since taken the club from a lowly 20th to one of the four play-off spots. |
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| Louisburgh were edged out by Ballinrobe in the division 2 play-off and must face into another season in the lower division. |
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| Summerbee has been a major factor in the club's surge into the play-off places as the season approaches the halfway mark. |
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| Blackpool's play-off hopes took a battering in a miserable midweek defeat at Bloomfield Road. |
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| Should the Barbadians overcome El Salvador, they will qualify for a September Group 2 play-off with either Peru or Mexico. |
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| After such a dry season goal-wise, it was no surprise that both legs of the play-off final between Pohang and Suwon finished goalless. |
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| The form-book has certainly been torn to shreds in the play-off stages of this fascinating intermediate championship. |
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| All geared up for a crucial play-off clash, the Reds failed to provide as stern a test as they needed to against the Cumbrains. |
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| Currently lying 12 th in the league, they still harbour hopes of a play-off push but have been hindered by a failure to go on and win games. |
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| City lie in tenth place in Division Three, just three points of the play-off positions and just five points off third place. |
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| Silsden must now win their final away match to force a play-off for the runners-up spot. |
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| This convincing win sets the club up for a successful season and the first step towards a play-off promotion place. |
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| In 1924, the British team won gold after a three-way play-off for the Olympic title with France and Sweden. |
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| His victory was bizarre, with a double bogey on the third extra hole of a three-way play-off. |
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| Without question it was being knocked out of the play-off semi-final by Cardiff. |
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| Both Sabre teams finished third in their respective pools after round robin play and advanced to their respective divisional play-off rounds. |
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| Mark Sertori admits he has a point to prove tonight as York City go head to head with his new club and play-off chasers Cheltenham Town. |
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| Banstead Athletic were cruelly denied three points at play-off chasers Burgess Hill Town because of a late penalty on Saturday, writes Ray Best. |
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| The runners-up, and the best third placed team, will then play sudden-death play-off games to decide the three other clubs in the quarter-finals. |
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| Germany's Marcel Siem claimed his maiden Tour victory when he defeated Frenchmen Gregory Havret and Raphael Jacquelin in a sudden-death play-off. |
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| We predict they will win their semi-final play-off game, and the Mad Butcher will go berko and drop dead of a heart attack. |
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| Defeats to City's fellow strugglers Torquay and Carlisle had seen Orient's stock fall from automatic promotion contenders to play-off chancers. |
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| The 37-year-old led from the front in an inspiring swansong that included two crucial interception tries in the play-off final. |
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| It was a gamble that paid off in the most golden of coinage when Fletcher netted the play-off clincher four minutes later. |
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| The winners of the National League Two elimination play-off will go through to the Grand Final next Sunday. |
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| We've still got four games to put it right and, in my opinion, we need four points to secure a play-off place. |
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| Will be hard to beat at home, although they won't have the Springbok loosie for their play-off game. |
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| I know the play-off system has its critics but it definitely keeps the season alive. |
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| Sixteen of the 29 NBA franchises are granted invitations to the play-off party, so you only need to win half your games to make it. |
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| There'll be gripping and competitive games of play-off football going on all over Europe next weekend. |
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| They only finished second to Switzerland, before beating Wales 1-0 on aggregate in a nervy play-off. |
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| During his ultimately ill-starred tenure in Manchester, Brandon's only achievement of note was taking Britain's best-supported side to the play-off semi-finals. |
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| He qualified the team for Euro 2004 and repeated the trick, in tough circumstances, for the World Cup, following an ill-tempered play-off against Turkey. |
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| The 18-hole play-off followed a similar fashion to that of the last round. |
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| Of the countless players he has nurtured he cited Neil Grayson, currently starring in Cheltenham's Third Division play-off push, as the best he has worked with. |
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| The play-off triumph was also achieved despite half of the side being unavailable because of a school trip and the team falling 2-0 behind after just five minutes. |
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| Farrelly played a leading role when Bolton were promoted to the Premiership in 2001, netting the first goal in their play-off final win over Preston. |
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| And caretaker manager Viv Busby recognises the value of a tight back line especially against the likes of Conference play-off hopefuls Aldershot Town. |
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| Hendry's Reebok team-mate, Leam Richardson, has also played a major role in the revival that has taken Blackpool to the edge of the play-off zone. |
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| Our last exit from an international tournament, losing on aggregate to England in the Euro 2000 play-off, was similarly splendid as we won at Wembley. |
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| More to the point, who is kidding who when you have to purchase your ticket to finals now grossly inflated in scale via the humiliations of a play-off? |
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| If two teams end level for second place there will be a straight play-off. |
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| Nelson had a chance to force a play-off with a birdie on the final hole but pulled a sand wedge into a green-side bunker on his way to dropping a shot. |
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| Given that the Russians only victory on their travels in reaching the finals was in the play-off in Wales, the omens don't look terribly encouraging for success in Portugal. |
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| City were edged out of the play-off places by the Swindon loss last week. |
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| And despite heading for Kingfield three points adrift of the play-off places, Coleman believes the fixture list means the Reds still hold their destiny in their own hands. |
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| He was one of five in a play-off for three places at Princes and went through in considerable style by holing a chip from seventy feet at the first tie hole. |
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| A victory in the play-off final two years ago did salve some wounds, however, and the expected 400,000 windfall from Sky for the Newcastle game should heal a few more. |
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| They have failed to win any of the seven games since, a slump which has seen them pick up only three points and crash out of the reckoning for a play-off finish. |
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| To do that, though, they must beat Paviors, who finished second in Midlands One in a play-off on Saturday. |
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| The victory in Tiraspol gave unbeaten England their ninth win from 10 qualifiers, with the draw for the play-off round taking place on Friday. |
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| The Gwent region failed to qualify for the Heineken Cup after losing in a play-off to Overmarch Parma last season. |
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| The bmibaby Elite League champions and British Knockout Cup winners were denied the play-off trophy by Sheffield Steelers. |
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| The Championship title will be determined by the winners of a top-eight play-offs series, which next week also sees Featherstone host Halifax in a qualifying play-off. |
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| However, after the seventh round there was no clear winner, so an exciting play-off took place between May B Gems and The Iron Maidens. |
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| Mark Burchill's side are looking to move clear of the play-off place with just one point to make up on fellow strugglers Cowdenbeath. |
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| The only doubt left is which of three NFC teams will claim the last, wild-card play-off spot. |
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| Stevenage and Sheffield United played out a goalless draw in their League One play-off semi-final first leg. |
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| A BRAZILIAN physio had to run for his life after making a last minute double save during his side's crucial play-off game last Sunday. |
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| Celtic are locked in a tense threeway battle with fellow strugglers Glenavon and Larne to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off spot. |
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| The fit-again Scotland star insisted the Warriors can bounce back from their Pro12 fadeout in Wales to beat Ulster and book a home play-off semi-final. |
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| The Portuguese striker bust a gut to get on the end of a Carlton Cole lay-off to settle the Championship play-off final and send Hammers into the big time. |
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| The Irishman needed a birdie on the last to secure his place in the play-off with a 70 after a double bogey on 17 had given Berger the outright lead. |
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| Estonia were struggling to get to grips with the game while Ireland were showing a composure and guile that demonstrated their experience in play-off ties. |
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| Then the agony for Heswall's Sandeep Grewal, beaten in a play-off and now facing an anxious wait to see if anyone drops out this week to grant him a late re prieve. |
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| Agar made some shrewd signings, but with 20 new faces at the club it looked to be too difficult for them to be in contention for a play-off berth. |
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| Algeria's Fennecs pipped the Pharaohs in a play-off in Sudan after both teams were tied on the same points and same goal difference at the end of their group campaign. |
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| Lewis had missed from long range to force a play-off and had to settle for a closing 69, with Spain's Carlota Ciganda a distant third, seven shots adrift. |
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| The one consolation on the night was Sligo Rovers losing at home to St Pat's which means Derry remain out of the relegation play-off place on goal difference. |
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| There he was involved in a marathon five-man, five-hole play-off. |
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