AFTER falling at the final hurdle in the play-offs, Oxford United’s task is now to regroup and mount another promotion challenge next season.
Looking back at the last decade in Sky Bet League One as a guide, anything could happen next term.
The average finish of the beaten finalists in the following campaign is 12th, but half of the teams involved were not in the division two seasons after getting to the play-off final.
Also read: Mistakes cost us dearly, admits Oxford United boss
Of those ten sides defeated at Wembley, three bounced back to secure promotion.
Brentford in 2013/14 were the only ones to manage it automatically, but Huddersfield Town (2011/12) and Millwall (2016/17) did it the hard way via a second successive play-off campaign.
But teams can go the other way after a big disappointment.
Swindon Town finished rock bottom in 2010/11, while Leyton Orient were also relegated four seasons later after failing to recover.
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