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Sky Bet Championship play-off preview: Will it be Brentford, Middlesbrough, Norwich or Ipswich?

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After a keenly contested battle at the top of the Championship, it's Brentford against Middlesbrough and an East Anglian derby between Ipswich and Norwich in the play-off semi-finals.

Will form coming into the play-offs prove crucial or is a team's league finish the real indicator of quality?

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How about the record between the sides and with the stats showing that 36 per cent of teams that finish third go on to get promoted via the play-offs, how much will history be a factor?

With a bit of help from Opta and the views of our resident Football League experts Don Goodman and Peter Beagrie, we've got all the information you need ahead of an exciting race to make it to the Premier League...

Norwich

Alex Neil's side stuttered just when it seemed they might be on course to power their way to the Premier League, but having had time to digest that disappointment they did at least warm up for the play-offs with a 4-2 victory over Fulham on the final day of the regular season. They go into their semi-final against Ipswich as clear favourites to make the final having won both league meetings, 1-0 at Portman Road and then 2-0 at Carrow Road, extending their winning streak against their rivals to four matches. Will the bookmakers be proven right?

Top Scorer: Cameron Jerome (18)

Key Man: Bradley Johnson - Scored six goals from outside the box

Opta Stat: Norwich have hit more crosses at home than any other team

Historical third-place promotion record: 36 per cent chance

Club play-off record: 0/1

Recent form: WWLDW

Record v Brentford: 1-2 (h), 3-0 (a)

Record v Ipswich: 2-0 (h), 1-0 (a)

Record v Middlesbrough: 0-1 (h), 0-4 (a)

Sky Bet odds: 9/5

FL72 Live

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough saw their top-two chances ended on the penultimate weekend of the season and are the only one of the four teams not to have won either of their last two matches. However, any lingering disappointment might be tempered by their impressive record against each of their play-off rivals. Aitor Karanka's team put four past all three of the other sides when they faced them at the Riverside Stadium, while they also have the best defensive record over the course of the campaign, conceding just 37 times and keeping 21 clean sheets.

Top Scorer: Patrick Bamford (17)

Key Man: Grant Leadbitter - Directly contributed to 20 Middlesbrough goals

Opta Stat: Only Bournemouth have scored more Championship penalties

Historical fourth-place promotion record: 14 per cent chance

Club record: 1/1

Form: WWWLD

Record v Brentford: 4-0 (h), 1-0 (a)

Record v Ipswich: 4-1 (h), 0-2 (a)

Record v Norwich: 4-0 (h), 1-0 (a)

Sky Bet odds: 12/5

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Brentford

Simply making the play-offs must be considered a magnificent achievement for Mark Warburton's men, who secured their place on goal difference with a final-day 3-0 win over Wigan. While those above were hoping to avoid requiring the play-offs, it might be considered somewhat of a free hit for the Bees. This is their first play-off appearance in the second tier but their record from the third tier does not read well, having failed on all seven attempts. Given that semi-final opponents Middlesbrough boast the best home record in the Championship, much will depend on what they can do at Griffin Park on Friday evening.

Top Scorer: Andre Gray (16)

Key Man: Alex Pritchard - More key passes than anyone in the play-offs

Opta Stat: Brentford have the most counter-attacking goals this season

Historical fifth-place promotion record: 32 per cent chance

Club play-off record: 0/7

Form: DLDWW

Record v Ipswich: 2-4 (h), 1-1 (a)

Record v Middlesbrough: 0-1 (h), 0-4 (a)

Record v Norwich: 0-3 (h), 2-1 (a)

Sky Bet odds: 4/1

FL72 Live

Ipswich

Mick McCarthy's men will be relieved just to have made it to the play-offs after nearly throwing away their spot with a final-day 3-2 defeat to Blackburn. Only Derby's loss and superior goal difference saved them from letting it slip but they'll need to find their best form again if they are to stand a chance against rivals Norwich. They boast the Championship's leading scorer in 27-goal frontman Daryl Murphy and they'll need him in top form if recent East Anglian derbies are anything to go by, with Ipswich having failed to keep a clean sheet in the last 10.

Top Scorer: Daryl Murphy (27)

Key Man: Christophe Berra - Most clearances of any Championship player

Opta Stat: Ipswich have played the most long balls in the Championship

Historical sixth-place promotion record: 18 per cent chance

Club record: 1/6

Form: WWDWL

Record v Brentford: 1-1 (h), 4-2 (a)

Record v Middlesbrough: 2-1 (h), 0-4 (a)

Record v Norwich: 0-1 (h), 0-2 (a)

Sky Bet odds: 9/2

Pundit view

Don Goodman: Most of Norwich's players have Premier League experience, a little bit like Middlesbrough. Since Alex Neil has come to the club, they have been the outstanding team in the division. If it wasn't for the home defeat to Middlesbrough a couple of weeks back, they may well have snuck into the automatic places. They have the strongest squad and the best players but history shows you that may not get you over the finishing line.

Peter Beagrie: My golden guinea would go for Norwich to gain promotion. Wes Hoolahan, Gary Hooper, Cameron Jerome, Lewis Grabban, Bradley Johnson and Nathan Redmond... They have a plethora of talent who can score goals and are offensive going forward. On big pitches, over two legs and a final, I think Norwich may prevail.

Watch Brentford v Middlesbrough (7.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD) on Friday and Ipswich v Norwich (midday, Sky Sports 1 HD) on Saturday - or keep in touch with our live blogs.

Sky Sports will show every play-off fixture live. For a full rundown visit skysports.com or check out our comprehensive guide.

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