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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Matt Abbott

Finally - Nottingham Forest aim to set record straight after sorry saga of play-off failures

Nottingham Forest will be hoping it's fifth time lucky when they play Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium in the Championship play-off final on Sunday.

It will be the first time the Reds have been involved in a play-off final since the end-of-season promotion deciders were first held in 1987, falling at the first hurdle the last four times they have been involved. Those initial failures came in the space of eight seasons, but more than a decade now separates Steve Cooper 's side from the defeat suffered by Billy Davies' Forest in 2011.

Their past play-off experiences date back to 2003, when David Johnson - dad of Brennan - and Marlon Harewood led the line for Paul Hart and company. Here is a rundown of Forest's four previous forays in the play-offs...

READ: What happened the last time Nottingham Forest played at Wembley Stadium

READ: Nottingham Forest Wembley kit hint dropped as Huddersfield decision revealed

2002/03

After three seasons in the second-tier, the Reds reached the play-offs for the first time after finishing sixth in what was then the First Division, edging out East Anglian rivals Ipswich Town and Norwich City. Their reward for claiming the final place in the post-season promotion decider was a two-legged tie against third-placed Sheffield United, who even back then had an infamously dismal play-off record. That looked set to be continuing in the semi-final first leg after Johnson gave the Reds a lead 10 minutes into the second-half at the City Ground, but Michael Brown equalised less than two minutes later from the penalty spot after being brought down by Mathieu Louis-Jean.

That set-up a second leg for the ages. After leading 2-0 in the match after another Johnson opener was added to by Andy Reid, Brown and Steven Kabba equalised at Bramall Lane to take the tie to extra-time. It was then that a Paul Peschisolido effort and a Des Walker own goal gave the Blades a two-goal advantage of their own which eventually proved unassailable, despite a late Rob Page own goal to give Forest fans hope. Revenge for the Reds came the best part of 20 years later following a penalty shoot-out at the City Ground to reach this year's final.

2006/07

Forest ended their second season after relegation from the Championship with a spot in the League One play-offs after finishing fourth, three points adrift of Bristol City in the second and final automatic promotion place. That set up a tie with Yeovil Town after finishing three points ahead of the side from Somerset, who were enjoying just their second-ever season in the second tier. After a pair of penalties converted first by Kris Commons and then James Perch, Colin Calderwood's Forest looked to have one foot in the final. But one foot was not enough as Forest came out on the wrong side of another second leg epic, losing 5-4 at the City Ground after extra time. Yeovil eventually lost the final 2-0 to Blackpool.

2009/10

Back in the Championship after automatic promotion in 2008, Forest finished third in the table to claim a play-off place by being the best of the rest behind runaway leaders Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion. That meant, in theory, a more favourable opponent in the semi-finals, and Blackpool were the team between the Reds and a Wembley showdown. Again, they took the lead in the first leg, this time through Chris Cohen, only for Keith Southern and a Charlie Adam penalty to complete a turnaround on the seaside for Ian Holloway's side. Back at the City Ground, Forest again started quickly with Robbie Earnshaw scoring inside seven minutes, but they could not overcome a second-half hat-trick from DJ Campbell which put Blackpool on course to a 6-4 aggregate win. They continued a fine play-off record in the final by beating Cardiff City to reach the Premier League for the first time.

2010/11

A strong finish to the following season with four straight wins ensured back-to-back play-off berths for Forest, this time ahead of Leeds United, after claiming sixth place. As a result, they faced Brendan Rodgers' Swansea City with the first leg set for the City Ground. Davies' side were given a helping hand Trentside after visiting full-back Neil Taylor was sent off for fouling Lewis McGugan, but could not take full advantage as the Swans held on for a 0-0 draw. The second leg was rather more one-sided with Swansea restored to their full complement of players, and midfielders Leon Brittain and Stephen Dobbie gave them a two-goal half-time advantage. Earnshaw did halve the deficit but Darren Pratley ensured the Swans' progress to the final with a 90th-minute third. The side from South Wales were also winners in the final after beating Reading 4-2 to seal a first-ever promotion to the top-flight.

Can Forest go one better and win this year's play-off final? Have your say in the comments section...

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