Fear of failure haunts the usual suspects

Paul Newman on the play-offs, which start this weekend

Mention the play-offs to most football fans and the first images that will come to mind are likely to be of dramatic celebrations on the Wembley stage: Steve Claridge's last-minute winner at the end of extra time 12 months ago, Bolton Wanderers' stirring recovery to beat Reading a year earlier and Swindon's seven-goal thriller against Leicester in 1993.

However, most of the teams involved in this year's play-offs will recall less happy memories as they prepare for the first legs of the semi-finals this weekend.

Between them, the 12 sides in action have appeared in the end-of-season shoot-outs 15 times since their introduction 10 seasons ago. Yet all they have to show for their efforts, despite the odd semi-final success, is two victories in the finals, neither of which came at Wembley: Crystal Palace's 1989 victory over Blackburn and Swansea's win against Torquay a year earlier were both achieved in the days of two-legged finals played on the clubs' own grounds.

Palace, moreover, have a less happy and more recent experience of the play-offs, Claridge's last-gasp winner having denied them in the final 12 months ago. Wolves, Palace's visitors in the first leg of the First Division semi-finals today, lost to Bolton at this stage two years ago and in their only previous appearance in the play-offs not even a promising young striker called Steve Bull could overcome the might of Aldershot in the 1987 Fourth Division final.

Wolves have been troubled by injuries recently, but Mark Atkins, Adrian Williams, Iwan Roberts and Simon Osborn are all available again. Steve Froggatt will have a late fitness test, but Neil Emblen and Don Goodman look likely to miss out. Palace are at full strength, although Dougie Freedman would be suspended if they reached the final.

The form team in the First Division play-offs are Ipswich, who took 16 points from their last six games. However, injuries will deprive them of Jason Cundy, Simon Milton, Alex Mathie and Richard Naylor when they travel today to Sheffield United, who in turn will be without their leading scorer, Andy Walker.

In tomorrow's Third Division semi-finals Cardiff meet Northampton and Chester play Swansea, the only club of the four to have play-off experience.

Crewe Alexandra will be hoping to improve on a particularly bleak record when they entertain Luton in the Second Division play-offs tomorrow. Crewe have qualified four times in the 90s and on the only occasion they progressed to the final were beaten on penalties by York City.

In the other Second Division semi-final Bristol City entertain Brentford, whose manager, Dave Webb, can hardly have inspired his team with his succinct opinion of the play-offs. "All they create is disappointment," he said.