The ultimate month of the Sky Guess EFL season has begun.
As but, no groups have been both promoted or relegated from the Championship, League One or League Two, however races are hotting up at every finish of the respective tables.
Seven video games from throughout the three divisions are dwell on Sky Sports activities+ at 12.30pm this Saturday and almost each aspect in motion remains to be concerned in a promotion race, a play-off chase or a relegation battle…
What EFL is dwell on Sky Sports activities+ on Saturday?
(All 12.30pm Kick Off)
- CH: Coventry vs Burnley, Luton vs Leeds (additionally on SSF), West Brom vs Sunderland
- L1: Studying vs Wycombe, Wrexham vs Burton
- L2: Cheltenham vs Doncaster, Walsall v Port Vale
Championship
Coventry vs Burnley
Can Coventry transfer nearer to securing a play-off spot?
Because the flip of the yr, Coventry have been the group to beat. Between January 18 and March 15, they gained 10 of their 12 Championship video games to go from mid-table mediocrity to in-form play-off contenders. Frank Lampard had labored his magic after changing Mark Robins.
Even so, a spot within the prime six is much from confirmed. It appears to be like as if two groups from the Sky Blues, West Brom, Middlesbrough and Bristol Metropolis will get there – and simply two factors separate the quartet at current. Channelling that successful type of latest occasions can be crucial for the run-in.
Burnley have secured at the least a play-off place – can they keep within the hunt for extra?
Sheffield United, Leeds and Burnley have all secured at the least a spot within the Championship play-offs. Two of them will go up mechanically, one won’t. Bettering Leeds’ consequence will see the Clarets transfer into the highest two this Saturday. However that, a Blades defeat and a win of their very own would see them finish the weekend prime of the pile.
Whether or not that occurs stays to be seen, but it surely’s laborious to guess in opposition to them given they’re unbeaten in 26 video games – and on track to match the Championship document for the longest run with out defeat, which was set by Studying in 2005/06 (33).
Dan Lengthy
Luton vs Leeds
Can Luton lengthen unbeaten run to spice up survival hopes?
It took 9 video games for Matt Bloomfield to win his first recreation as Luton boss. In consequence, the Hatters slipped into the underside three in mid-January and have, as but, been unable to clamber their manner again out.
Thankfully, March was far kinder to them. Of the 15 factors on provide, they picked up 10 and stored three clear sheets alongside the way in which, that means their hopes of avoiding a second straight relegation are nonetheless very a lot alive and kicking. The hole to security is simply three factors at current.
Can stuttering Leeds get again on observe?
Whereas Luton did effectively in March, Leeds won’t look again on it fondly. They gained comfortably in opposition to Millwall on March 12, however misplaced to Portsmouth and have been held on an additional three events.
Probably the most damaging of these attracts got here final weekend at Elland Highway, when Zan Vipotnik’s 96th-minute equaliser earned some extent for Swansea. That meant Sheffield United held on to prime spot, and a two-point benefit, following their win over Coventry final Friday. It is out of their fingers now, however that would all nonetheless change within the ultimate weeks.
Dan Lengthy
Saturday fifth April 11:00am
Kick off 12:30pm
West Brom vs Sunderland
Can West Brom step up their play-off push?
West Brom have been disillusioned final weekend. A final-gasp winner meant the Baggies dropped three essential factors to fellow play-off contenders Norwich. They defended valiantly all through the six-pointer, however fell on the ultimate hurdle. Main as much as that, Tony Mowbray’s aspect have been unbeaten in six. Now, after this defeat, they’re treading water.
The 61-year-old has stored the Baggies within the prime six since changing Carlos Corberan, however is dealing with severe stress from Middlesbrough and Bristol Metropolis. Mowbray’s males should take three factors from his former aspect to stave off the threats round them.
Can Sunderland crank up the stress?
Sunderland appeared again to their finest final Saturday following a well-timed worldwide break. The Black Cats defeated Millwall 1-0 on the Stadium of Gentle, with their play-off place all however confirmed.
Regis Le Bris has remodeled the Championship’s youngest group into promotion contenders – they completed sixteenth final season, however they’re fourth now. A win could scale back the nine-point hole between themselves and second place. Like their remaining seven fixtures, it is a must-win in the event that they wish to have any late sniff of computerized promotion.
Blake Keeble
League One
Studying vs Wycombe
Can Studying bounce again in play-off push?
Amid all of the off-the-field turmoil for Studying, it’s fairly outstanding that the group on the pitch are doing so effectively. Noel Hunt took over from Ruben Selles mid-season and the transition was clean as something.
They’re nonetheless within the play-off chase, even when they have been thumped at Blackpool in midweek. However they begin the weekend only a level behind Bolton in sixth, and are prime of the queue of sides nonetheless hoping to take that spot.
Wycombe to place stress on Wrexham?
It was a missed alternative for Wycombe on Tuesday evening. With Wrexham dropping factors at Cambridge, it was an opportunity to shut the three-point hole. However, whereas they dominated in opposition to Shrewsbury – the underside membership within the league – they could not discover the breakthrough.
It hasn’t been solely clean since Mike Dodds got here in for Matt Bloomfield within the dugout, however that is must-win if they’re to maintain it in their very own fingers, and stave off the specter of Charlton and Stockport from beneath.
Simeon Gholam
Wrexham vs Burton
Can Wrexham maintain on to second spot?
Wrexham may have breathed a sigh of reduction in midweek. Their failure to beat Twenty third-placed Cambridge was solely matched by Wycombe, so the three-point hole stays between second and third.
Wycombe’s recreation in hand comes at Huddersfield subsequent Tuesday evening, so the promotion image will doubtless be quite a bit clearer in a couple of days. All Wrexham can do is hold successful and hope the chasers slip up. However presently, six video games stand between the Welsh membership and historical past, as they goal to grow to be the primary aspect in league historical past to go back-to-back-to-back.
Can Burton climb out of the underside 4?
Burton have emerged because the aspect most certainly to climb out of the long-established backside 4 in League One. An enormous comeback win over Leyton Orient in midweek took them to inside three factors of security.
In addition they have a recreation in hand on Bristol Rovers in twentieth, and a greater aim distinction. Contemplating they gained simply two of their first 25 video games this season, it has been a outstanding restoration since Gary Bowyer took cost in December. They have been 11 factors adrift of security at one stage and have not been out of the underside 4 since mid-September. A win right here and so they may go above the road.
Simeon Gholam
League Two
Cheltenham vs Doncaster
Can Cheltenham finish their three-game dropping streak?
Cheltenham will hope to bounce again after a depressing defeat final weekend. The Robins misplaced comfortably to a Morecambe aspect who’ve been within the relegation locations all season.
Michael Flynn’s City are enjoying like a aspect who don’t have anything to play for. Sitting in fifteenth, promotion to League One or relegation to the Nationwide League is out of the query. Flynn should re-energise his aspect and search for a optimistic consequence if they’re to show round their fortunes.
Blake Keeble
Will Doncaster sneak again into the highest three?
Doncaster have been left disillusioned after Tuesday’s six-pointer. Rovers conceded a aim within the dying levels to attract 2-2 with fellow promotion-chasers Walsall.
Grant McCann’s aspect should mud themselves off and bounce again if they’re to bridge the hole to the highest three. McCann can be hoping his return to Whaddon Highway – he performed over 200 video games for Cheltenham – brings his aspect three factors; they might transfer degree on factors with Port Vale in third, ought to the Valiants lose to Walsall.
Blake Keeble
Walsall vs Port Vale
Will Walsall finish overdue anticipate a win?
Walsall have sat prime of the league since early December and, after a 4-2 win over MK Dons on January 18 – their ninth in a row at that time – boasted a 14-point lead. Promotion appeared inevitable.
However their type has dipped dramatically since. They’ve gained simply two of the final 14 and seen their lead on the summit whittled down to simply two factors. If Port Vale win on the Bescot, the Saddlers will drop off for the primary time in 4 months. In the event that they win, nonetheless, their title hopes stay of their fingers.
Can Port Vale reignite their title hopes?
Earlier than Walsall took over, Port Vale have been main the way in which all through October and November. They, too, suffered a downturn in type, throughout the essential festive interval, which noticed them lose their spot on the prime.
However since New Yr’s Day, they’ve misplaced simply two of 17 league video games, together with a run of 4 wins within the final 5, throughout which era they’ve conceded simply as soon as. They beat fellow title hopefuls Bradford final outing and would ship out a robust message in the event that they did the identical to the Saddlers.
Dan Lengthy
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