Is having the 2nd leg at home an advantage?

By Nathan Jackson
May 9 2005

Macclesfield Town are pleased to have the 2nd leg of the playoffs at home but is it an advantage? Several teams have won the 2nd leg on their own ground but still gone out on aggregate meaning that the "advantage" proved irrelvant in the end.

In 1986/7 the two semi finals were Aldershot vs Bolton and Colchester vs Wolverhampton. In the former of those games, Aldershot won the first leg leaving Bolton with it all to do for the second leg, let's just put it this way, home "advantage" in the second leg failed to send them to the final. Wolverhampton had the "advantage" in the second leg but it proved irrelevant as they had won the first leg 2-0 and progressed to the final.

In 1987/8, the two semi finals were Torquay vs Scunthopre and Swansea vs Rotherham, the "advantage" of playing at home first proved irrelevant again as both the teams who played at home first, went through to Wembley.

In 1988/9, the two semi finals were Leyton Orient vs Scarborough and Wrexham vs Scunthorpe, yet again, the teams playing at home first went through to the final. Scarborough did however become the first team at this level to win the second leg on their own turf.

In 1989/90, the two semi finals were Cambridge vs Maidstone and Chesterfield vs Stockport. Again, the teams who played at home first went through. The game at Stockport proved pointless as Chesterfield had won the first leg 4-0.

In 1990/91, the two semi finals were Scunthopre vs Blackpool and Torquay vs Burnley. Burnley failed to take the "advantage" going out 2-1 on aggregate despite winning the second leg. However, Blackpool became the first club to take advantage of the situation as they beat Scunthorpe 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.

In 1991/2, the two semi finals were Barnet vs Blackpool and Crewe vs Scunthorpe. For this first time in the playoffs at this level, both teams who played at home in the second legs went to Wembley. Blackpool won 2-0 to overturn the 1-0 defeat at Barnet whereas Scunny won 2-0 to take the aggregate score to 4-2.

In 1992/3, the two semi finals were Bury vs York and Crewe vs Walsall. York did take advantage of the home game being second but Walsall had no hope going into their home leg. They'd lost 5-1 at Gresty Road and end up losing the tie 9-3 on aggregate.

In 1993/4, the two semi finals were Carlisle vs Wycombe and Torquay vs Preston. Both Wycombe and Preston took advantage of the home leg being second as both progressed to the final.

In 1994/5, the two semi finals were Mansfield vs Chesterfield and Preston vs Bury. To say Chesterfield took the advantage would be an understatement as they beat Mansfield 5-2 in the second leg. Bury used the 2nd leg to double their advantage gained from the away leg.

In 1995/6, the two semi finals were Colchester vs Plymouth and Hereford vs Darlington. Darlington didn't need the advantage as they saw of Hereford in both legs. Plymouth turned the tie around, they lost 1-0 at Layer Road before winning 3-1 at Home Park.

In 1996/7, the two semi finals were Cardiff vs Northampton and Chester vs Swansea. Swansea went through after winning 3-0 at the Vetch in the 2nd leg after the goalless draw at the Deva. Northampton won both legs of their tie.

In 1997/8, the two semi finals were Barnet vs Colchester and Scarborough vs Torquay. Torquay dominated the tie, winning 7-2 on aggregate. Barnet had beaten Colchester 1-0 at Underhill but it finished 3-2 on aggregate as Colchester used home advantage to win 3-1.

In 1998/9, the two semi finals were Leyton Orient vs Rotherham and Swansea vs Scunny. Orient needed a penalty shoot out win at Brisbane Road to go through after two 0-0 draws. Scunny also turned the tie around winning 3-1 at Glanford Park after losing the first leg 1-0.

In 1999/2000, the two semi finals were Hartlepool vs Darlington and Barnet vs Peterborough. Peterborough were comprehensive 5-1 winners on aggregate over Barnet and Darlington easily saw off Hartlepool 3-0 on aggregate.

In 2000/1, the two semi finals were Blackpool vs Hartlepool and Hull vs Leyton Orient. Blackpool went through again, comprehensively beating Hartlepool on aggregate where as Orient turned the tie around, after losing 1-0 at Boothferry Park, they won 2-0 at Brisbane Road.

In 2001/2, the two semi finals were Hartlepool vs Cheltenham and Rushden vs Rochdale. Cheltenham took advantage of being home in the 2nd leg in a penalty shoot out after 2 1-1 draws. Rushden won away at Spotland in the 2nd leg to send them through after a 2-2 draw at Nene Park.

In 2002/3, the two semi finals were Bury vs Bournemouth and Lincoln vs Scunthorpe. After a goalless draw at Gigg Lane, Bournemouth beat Bury 3-1 at Dean Court. Lincoln won both ties and won 6-3 on aggregate.

In 2003/4, the two semi finals were Northampton vs Mansfield and Lincoln vs Huddersfield. Mansfield won the away leg at Sixfields 2-0 before Northampton won 3-1 at Field Mill, Mansfield used the home advantage to go through on penalties. Huddersfield went through after a 2-2 draw at the McAlpine Stadium after winning 2-1 at Sincil Bank just 4 days earlier.

So in conclusion, out of a possible 36 wins (as in WINS, not just aggregate wins, not including penalty shoot outs either) for the home side in the second leg, 21 teams won.