When it comes to the play-offs, there aren't many sides who have had more experience - good and bad - than Sunderland in recent years. Just a year on from beating Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley to return to the Championship, the Black Cats were again preparing for the end-of-season showdown, this time with a Premier League place up for grabs.
Of course Luton Town had other ideas, and while the Hatters prepare for life in the top-flight, Tony Mowbray's side must regroup and look to launch a second promotion campaign. Many felt the Wearsiders were ahead of schedule last year and, while it won't be easy with the likes of Leeds United, Leicester, Southampton, Middlesbrough and West Brom to contend with this term, confidence remains high around the Stadium of Light.
But how do those sides who miss out on promotion via the play-offs usually deal with that set-back? Some have reached the pinacle of promotion to the Premier League after previous play-off failures, while others have experienced a very different tale…
Here are some examples for Sunderland to emulate - and others to avoid.
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Luton Town
No stranger to the Black Cats, Luton Town found themselves in the play-offs for the second time in a row this year. Similarly to Sunderland, the Hatters finished sixth during the 2021-22 season and were up against third-placed Huddersfield Town.
Luton were knocked out by Huddersfield 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 home draw in the first leg was not enough to stop the Terriers after Jordan Rhodes netted just eight minutes from full-time. This season, of course, they defeat Sunderland 3-2 over the two-legged play-off semi-final final, booking a place at Wembley against Coventry.
Jordan Clark's goal gave Rob Edwards' side the lead, only for Gustavo Hamer to level and send the game to penalties - but Fankaty Dabo's miss from the spot sent Luton to the Premier League for the first time in their history - just 10 years after they were playing non-league football.
Sheffield United
After finishing bottom of the Premier League during the 2020-21 campaign, Sheffield United looked to bounce straight back up after finishing fifth in the Championship the following season.
In the first play-off leg, Sheffield United were defeated 2-1 by Nottingham Forest at Bramall Lane. However, afer a valiant performance that saw the Blades bring the scoreline back to 3-3 on aggregate, Forest defeated the Yorkshire club 3-2 on penalties.
The Blades' blues did not last long, having finished second in the league the following season, earning themselves promotion back to the Premier League for the 2023-24 campaign.
Brentford
During the 2019-20 season, Brenford finished third in the league just two points behind West Brom who finished in an automatic spot. Having gone 1-0 down in the play-off first leg away to Swansea City through an Andre Ayew goal just nine minutes from full-time, the Bees pulled it back in the second leg in a 3-1 victory which saw them face Fulham in the final.
Brentford were ultimately defeated 2-1 by Scott Parker's side with all goals being scored in extra-time. However, 12 months on another third-placed finish and a semi-final win over AFC Bournemouth gave them a ticket to the final which saw them beat Swansea 2-0 at Wembley.
Since then, The Bees have finished 13th and ninth in the Premier League, seeing them defeat Arsenal 2-0 in their first ever Premier League match and defeat Manchester United 4-0 at home.
Swansea City
The Swans finished sixth in the 2019/20 season, the exact same position the Black Cats finished last season. Having beaten Brenford 1-0 in the first leg, The Jacks were defeated 3-1 in the second-leg after two quick fire goals from Olly Watkins and Emiliano Marcondes.
That following season, the Welsh club finished fourth in the Championship earning themselves another chance at achieving promotion into the Premier League.
The first leg saw them defeat Barnsley through Ayew, who had scored in the first leg for Swansea for two consecutive seasons. The Jacks went on to reach the final at Wembley but were once again defeated by Brenford. This was the last time Swansea reached the play-offs, finishing 15th in the 2021-22 season and tenth last season.
Barnsley
After surviving on the last day of the season by just one point, Barnsley outdid themselves during the 2020-21 season when they finished fifth in the Championship.
Similar to Sunderland, they reached the play-offs with the youngest squad in the Championship. With high hopes after narrowly avoiding the third tier of English football to potentially 270 minutes away to being promoted and playing against England’s most prestigious clubs.
It unfortunately, wasn’t meant to be for the Tykes, who were defeated by Swansea 2-1 on aggregate.
After a valiant display last season to finish fifth, Barnsley looked to bounce back the following season – which did not turn out to be the case. Barnsley only amounted six wins the whole season, finishing below Derby County who were deducted 21 points after the club entered administration, and were relegated from thesecond tier of English football.
Huddersfield Town
Having finished third in the league during the 2021-22 campaign, Huddersfield looked to make a return to the Premier League since the 2018-19 season.
Finishing in the highest play-off spot would surely make you favourites to be promoted, right? Well, the luck and the draw of the play-offs worked its magic once again with Huddersfield unfortunately not making their grand return to the topflight.
Afer defeating Luton 2-1 on aggregate, The Terriers conceded on the stroke of half-time in the final against Nottingham Forest. They have since fallen, with the club finishing 18th in the Championship just nine points off relegation last season.
Cardiff City
Cardiff City earned themselves a play-off place after the Bluebirds finished fifth during the 2019/20 campaign. They faced up against eventual play-off winners Fulham who beat Neil Warnock’s side 3-2 on aggregate.
The following season, Cardiff were nine points off a play-off place when they finished eighth in the second tier. However, they have not had a sniff of a play-off place since the 2019-20 campaign when they finished 18th, only winning one and three straight defeats out of their final five games. The Welsh club avoided relegation from the second tier of English football last season when they finished 21st and just five points above Reading.
