Ian Holloways managerial career has been defined by his success in the play-offs. Hes been through five play-off campaigns as a manager, achieving promotions to the Premier League with Blackpool (2010) and Crystal Palace (2013) while also suffering final defeats with Blackpool (2012) and Queens Park Rangers (2003).He has been there, done it, experienced highs and suffered great heartbreak - so, whats the key component for reigning supreme in this dramatic format? Ahead of a weekend of Football League play-off final action, all of which you can watch live on Sky Sports, we asked him for a his five-step guide to winning at Wembley.... Holloway secured promotion via Wembley again in 2013, when his Crystal Palace side beat Watford in 2013 This is the pinnacle of the whole season. Every mile every supporter has travelled will be worth it when their team steps out onto the Wembley pitch.The play-off final embodies what football is all about and why its such a monumental part of my life. Ive lived through the ups and downs of probably about 1,000 lives. We all have to be able to dream. Go with what your heart wants. You have to go through dissapointment, to appreciate the ups, says Ollie As a football supporter you shouldnt do it just because you want the good times - you should be there through thick and thin for your team. Trust me, there is no better place to be than Wembley when your team has just won. It will stay with you for the rest of your life. How do you go about winning it? Well, here are five important things to consider. 1) Manage your emotionsThe play-offs have given me the best and worst feelings in the world - dealing with those emotions is the absolute key to achieving success in this format.To quote Muhammad Ali, its about the will, not the skill. That makes people champions.You have to feel both sides of the coin to understand the play-offs.I think Ive got it sussed now. Its all about ascendancy and gaining it. Its like a tug of war, but an emotional one. Ollies Wembley predictions Which clubs does Ollie fancy? I prepared my lads at Blackpool by explaining to them the feeling you get when you lose and the emotion you feel when you win.Your players need to be like robots and not get too emotional on the play-off roller-coaster. That comes through extensive work on the training ground to programme their minds to deal with different situations.When Blackpool fell behind against Cardiff in the 2010 final, it was all about putting the ball back down calmly and regaining the ascendancy. My message was: Were 1-0 down, so what? How can we get at them? We can deal with the emotion of going behind, but they cant. Thats our advantage.In that play-off final against Cardiff where we kept coming back, Cardiff didnt get back into the game because they couldnt get over the negative feeling of falling behind. Its about being mentally ready for every single thing that can happen on a football field so you dont become too drained - that can then affect you psychically.2) Dont tense upWhoever plays how they normally do will come out on top. Rather than getting caught up in the occasion, its key to stay on task, realise what got you here in the first place and do all the basics right.The build-up and walk onto the pitch at Wembley is a test of nerve. Highlights of the 2010 play-off final between Blackpool and Cardiff as Ian Holloway led the Seasiders to the Premier League. Everything is relatively quiet in the tunnel and then bang, you hit this wall of noise. When you walk out, theyve got those torches that go off that almost take your face off!Everything is tingling then and although you dont want to show it, youre almost in a different state - like youre dreaming.I wish I could get that feeling every day. Its like being at the top of a rollercoaster and then shooting down at 100mph - your stomach feels like its somewhere else. If only you could bottle the feeling, youd sell it for millions of pounds. Play Fantasy Six-a-Side Pick your Championship play-off final team to win ￡10,000. 3) Mind gamesYou can get this wrong, massively. As a manager, youve got to be really careful what you say and do in the build-up and on the day.No one will want to come across as nervous because thats something the opposition can feed off. Its all part of it. It does help to put a bit of pressure on the opposition when you can say youve been there and done it as a manager. 4) A little bit of magicYou must have someone who can do something a bit special, like Charlie Adam did for me at Blackpool with a stunning free-kick against Cardiff. Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg between Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday. You need your big-game players to show up and do something magical. Someone who has been influential throughout the season has to deliver on the big stage otherwise your job becomes much harder. Ive seen so many good players freeze on the day and not get into the game. Some players have a knack of perfecting their mental focus at this time of season and pushing them to the forefront is a real skill as a manager. Curtis Davies is hoping Hulls previous Wembley experience will help with their Championship play-off final with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. Some players can get mentally on it and their performance levels rocket. Its like this for all athletes, you need to get your mind in the right place to play the right game. If you do that then instinct takes over for you to perfect your skill.DJ Campbell was brilliant at it, so was Adam. They both had that little bit extra to produce at the right moment. Kevin Phillips was the same. Was I worried when he stepped up for that penalty for Palace? No chance. He would have scored it 20 out of 20 times.Theres more than enough players on show to excite us this weekend, whether were in the stadium or watching at home. 5) PreparationThe build-up to a play-off game is wonderful. Everyone around the place is smiling in the sunshine and wishing you luck.If you get past the semi-final, youve got 10 or 11 days to plan everything. However, its crucial to get everything planned down to a tee immediately after the semi-final.You can go and get your suits sorted, book hotels for the players and their families and make sure everyone that wants a ticket gets a ticket, knowing that your family are there is a massive thing for all concerned. With just five days to go before their League 2 play-off final with AFC Wimbledon, the Plymouth team have been getting suits fitted for the big day. You can lose your focus as a manager or a player if you get caught up too much in the razzmatazz of the build-up and leave a couple of stones unturned. Suits, hotels and tickets can be a massive distraction if not sorted early. Preparation is everything. Just look at Middlesbrough last season. Im in no doubt the fact their coach turned up late to Wembley affected the players when they lost to Norwich. They didnt look relaxed, they were anxious. Aitor Karanka would have been affected too, as hes so meticulous.When we got the final at Blackpool, the club had done it before, so they knew how to organise everything, which took a huge amount of pressure of me and the playing staff.It was magnificent and simplified everything. I took the same philosophy and plan to Crystal Palace and it worked a treat. We benefited hugely from such a simple formula, although I had to convince owner Steve Parish to wear suits rather than tracksuits. Preparation is everything. Just look at Middlesbrough last season. Im in no doubt the fact their coach turned up late to Wembley affected the players when they lost to Norwich. Ollie on preparation I wanted my lads to look and feel crisp when walking into Wembley. I thought it was important. It worked too as Watford showed up in tracksuits and looked scruffy. We were 1-0 up from that moment on - little psychological edges like that can make a huge difference. Watch every Football League play-off final game live from Wembley on Sky Sports. Find the full schedule here. Also See: FL72 Podcast Ollies Wembley predictions WATCH: Best of Football League Quiz: Old football grounds Stitched Nike MLB Jerseys . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Online . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. http://www.cheapmlbjerseysusa.com/ . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Cheap MLB Jerseys Free Shipping . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. MLB Jerseys China . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dak Prescott will likely have Tony Romo watching from the sideline in uniform for the first time as the backup to Dallas surprising rookie quarterback.Baltimores Joe Flacco will be an interested observer as well Sunday when the Ravens visit the Cowboys, eight years after he had a similar rookie rise from third-stringer to starter and playoff qualifier.Prescott doesnt have the Cowboys (8-1) in the postseason yet. But they can break the franchise season record with a ninth straight win, a streak that has vaulted Dallas to the best record in the NFL.Because of that success, Romo wont be the Dallas starter for the first time in 10 years now that the franchise leader in passing yards and touchdowns has recovered from a preseason back injury that gave Prescott the opportunity he seized. The 23-year-old said it wont be any different.Not for me, said Prescott, who was No. 3 in training camp before backup Kellen Moore broke an ankle in practice. I go in there and I worry about my game plan, just as I said -- whatever I can do to give this team a chance to win. Im sure Tony is going to be right there helping me, as hes done all year long.When the cameras arent on all three quarterbacks, theyll be on another Dallas rookie, running back Ezekiel Elliott. The NFL rushing leader with 1,005 yards is facing the leagues best rushing -- and overall -- defense. In October, Elliott faced the top rushing defense at the time in Green Bay and had a career-high 157 yards.The AFC North-leading Ravens (5-4) allow 71 yards per game. Elliott hasnt had that few since the opener, when he had 51 in Dallas only loss, 20-19 to the New York Giants. The Cowboys average a league-best 161 yards rushing per game.I think we are a lot more disciplined than teams they have played, Ravens defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan said. I am just putting it out there. I think we are more disciplined up front. It is going to be a different kind of challenge for them.Things to consider in the third straight game against an AFC North opponent for the Cowboys, who havent faced three straight opponents from the same division since 2007 against all three NFC East rivals:UNFAMILIAR SIGHT: Although he has missed 36 gaames with various injuries, Romo has never been the backup since Dallas coach Jason Garrett joined the staff as offensive coordinator in 2007.dddddddddddd That prompted a reporter to ask Garrett what he expects of Romo in an unfamiliar role. Prepare to play, Garrett said. Thats job No. 1. And obviously be a positive influence on our football team, which he will be.SMITH 1K: Baltimore receiver Steve Smith needs three catches to become the 14th player with at least 1,000 career receptions. The 16-year veteran was reminded this week of an offseason comment that he might drive straight home to Charlotte immediately after making his 1,000th catch. Not from Dallas. That is a long drive, he said. I would have to rent a car and all that stuff.BRINGING THE LUMBER: The overshadowed Dallas defense faltered late in a 35-30 win over Pittsburgh after steady improvement most of the season. But one thing stood out to the Ravens: Cowboys safety J.J. Wilcox and a number of punishing hits he delivered, especially to running backs. Just seeing all that, it is going to be a tough, physical game, and I think that we are built for it, Smith said.OFFENSIVE MOMENTUM: The Ravens are hoping to build on their 22-point second half in a 28-7 win over Cleveland. Baltimore is 25th in offense (Dallas is third), and Flacco has thrown as many interceptions as touchdown passes (9). You have to find a way to make that stuff continue to work and continue to get better at the stuff that made us go off there a little bit in the second half, Flacco said.RESPECT THE KICKERS: Dan Bailey of Dallas and Baltimores Justin Tucker rank 1-2 in NFL history for field goal accuracy. Tucker has made all 22 kicks this season, and Bailey is 17 for 19.Not that Smith cares. I would rather go to a circus, a carnival, a fair or even a medieval festival and watch cotton candy be made before I watch Justin Tucker and the other guy practice kicking, Smith joked.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler ' ' '