Will Southampton return to the Premier League via the play-offs? Tonda Eckert's team have been in phenomenal form in 2026, reaching the FA Cup semi-finals and accumulating 47 points out of a possible 57 since mid-January, unbeaten in 19 EFL Championship matches. However, their underwhelming start to the campaign saw them finish only fourth, settling for a play-off spot.
This form is why many are backing the Saints to prevail in the play-offs, but could their kit colours count against them, based on a statistical quirk?
EFL Championship play-off schedule
- Fri 8 May: Semi-final 1st leg - Hull City vs Millwall. MKM Stadium. Kick off 8pm.
- Sat 9 May: Semi-final 1st leg - Middlesbrough vs Southampton. Riverside. Kick off 12:30pm.
- Mon 11 May: Semi-final 2nd leg - Millwall vs Hull City. The Den. Kick off 8pm.
- Tue 12 May: Semi-final 2nd leg - Southampton vs Middlesbrough. St Mary's. Kick off 8pm.
- Sat 23 May: Play-off Final - Saints/Boro vs Millwall/Hull. Wembley. Kick of 3pm.
After the English Football League play-offs were introduced in 1987, it took 24 years for any club whose traditional home colours are red and white stripes with black shorts to gain promotion. Six different clubs with this kit combination suffered numerous play-off defeats during this time frame.
Red and white striped clubs' play-off record (1987-present)
Clubs | PO campaigns | Semi defeats | Final defeats | Promotions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Southampton | 2 | 1 | Zero | 1 |
Brentford | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Sunderland | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Sheffield UTD | 9 | 4 | 5 | Zero |
Lincoln City | 7 | 4 | 3 | Zero |
Exeter City | 3 | Zero | 3 | Zero |
Since 1987, Southampton, Brentford, Sunderland, Sheffield United, Lincoln and Exeter have embarked on a combined 39 EFL play-off campaigns, with little success. Between them, the sextet have suffered 18 final defeats, none of them gaining promotion via play-offs at any EFL league between 1987 and 2021.
This led the the red and white play-off curse being widely known as a hoodoo, before it was finally broken five years ago. Brentford were promoted to the Premier League by beating Swansea in 2021, with Sunderland victorious in play-off finals in 2022 and last season, beating Sheffield United 2-1 at Wembley. That day, it was the Blades in their traditional colours, not the Black Cats.
Southampton too have enjoyed play-off jubilation since the curse was shattered. The Saints beat Leeds United at Wembley two years ago, Adam Armstrong the match-winner. However, like Sunderland 12 months later, Russell Martin's team were wearing an away kit for the showpiece occasion, dressed in all black with yellow trim.
So, if the Saints are marching to Wembley for the second time in as many months, they might just like to be doing so in a change strip. For their FA Cup run, marking 50 years since they won the competition, Southampton donned a retro yellow and blue kit, beating Fulham and Arsenal while wearing it, also doing so during that narrow defeat to Manchester City at the national stadium.
Well, should they reach the play-off final, the Saints would be the designated home team against Hull or the away side vs Millwall, but the Lions were dark blue so, either-way, they would be able to wear red and white stripes. Thus, even though Eckert's team are favourites to be promoted, given their form over a prolonged period, you can't argue with curses.
Add us as a preferred source on Google