Leeds United are still looking for an instant return to the Premier League this season but may have to earn Championship promotion the hard way.
The Whites can confirm second place in the second tier, but they require a win over Southampton while rivals Ipswich Town must lose against Huddersfield Town.
It makes a route through the Championship play-offs much more likely for the Elland Road outfit if they are to return to the Premier League.
That comes as a huge blow to manager Daniel Farke, given the random chance associated with making it through the play-offs.
However, the winners of the competition may not be as random as it appears, with plenty of reasons for Leeds fans to be hopeful ahead of a likely trip towards promotion the long way round.
Championship play-off history
The past ten years of the play-offs have brought about drama galore, but there has been one overwhelming theme for the winners.
The majority of clubs to lift the trophy at Wembley Stadium in recent history finish either third or fourth in the division.
Four out of the last ten winners of the Championship play-offs have finished third, while fourth place has also had four winners in that time frame.
Outsiders in fifth have won the mini tournament twice, while sixth place hasn’t won one since 2007.
With Leeds likely to finish third, they will face off with sixth, which will be one of Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion or Hull City.
Since Blackpool’s win in 2007, only two other sixth-placed teams have reached a play-off final in the Championship – Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County.
It sets everything up for Leeds to make the final and possibly even further, though history is always writing itself.
Leeds United play-off history
While the recent Championship play-off record may be on Leeds’ side, their own history won’t necessarily make for a comforting read.
Defeat in the 2019 semi-final against Derby came as heartache for The Whites, while failures in 1987, 2006, 2008 and 2009 has left Farke with a task to do what no other Leeds manager has done before.
With a team more than capable of showing up on their day, Leeds will be hoping to put their ghosts of play-offs past behind them.