MANY Swindon Town fans are dreading the thought of defeat in tonight’s second leg, but for Sheffield United fans play-off defeat is to be expected.

This is not because Nigel Clough’s team is weaker, far from it. It is because Sheffield United do not win play-offs.

This is the Blades’ eighth attempt. They have lost in the final four times and been knocked out in the semis on three occasions.

One victim of the United play-off curse is Wayne Allison, a favourite with both sets of supporters at the County Ground tonight.

Allison’s play-off blow came in 2003 when a very strong Blades side, led by Neil Warnock and featuring Phil Jagielka, lost to a Paul Ince-skippered Wolves – a team who had caused them no trouble in the league season – in the Championship play-off final.

“I’ve had counselling, I’ve put that to the back of mind. That doesn’t get mentioned at all, because I’ll develop a twitch, I get shivers,” joked Allison.

“We beat Wolves twice in the league, comfortably, (and) we’d been the better all side all season.

“That season we’d been in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the League Cup. Everything was set up quite nicely and that’s what football does to you.

“But none of what goes before matters, we got stunned really.”

Despite that and six other Blades play-off blows, Allison believes any hoodoo exists stronger in the minds of the fans than it does in the players.

“It’s difficult to say what the fans are thinking, because if you’ve been a lifelong Blades fan and been through all the trials and tribulations you will look at the historical context,” he added.

“I think with players and managers they come and go. It’s like one of those ‘we haven’t won on this ground for 42 years’ things. But trends change, the team has changed etc. Who is to say you won’t win this time?”

Allison did point out that players who featured in the Blades’ recent post-season disappointments of 2012 and 2013 are still left at United and might carry those painful falls with them.

“If you’ve been through it all, say you’ve had three play-offs in the last four years, that failure might play on your mind,” he added.

On the game itself, the man who fired Town back to the second tier in the 1995-96 season, sees a lot still to be decided. However, with great memories from both clubs he will share pleasure and sadness in equal measure, whatever the result.

“It’s only one goal, they (United) are not out of by any stretch. The tie is still alive for both teams, it is not a scoreline at the minute,” he said.

“It’s definitely divided loyalties for me, I know that’s (being) sat on the fence.

“They are two matched teams that play attractive football. It isn’t over – there will be more goals.”