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…
