Championship, League One and League Two: 14 issues to look out for this Saturday as promotion hunts and relegation battles ramp up | Soccer Information

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 stay on Sky Sports activities+ at 12.30pm this Saturday and practically each aspect in motion remains to be concerned in a promotion race, a play-off chase or a relegation battle…

What EFL is stay 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?

For the reason that flip of the 12 months, Coventry have been the staff 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 high 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 profitable type of current occasions will probably be crucial for the run-in.

Burnley have secured a minimum of a play-off place – can they keep within the hunt for extra?

Sheffield United, Leeds and Burnley have all secured a minimum of a spot within the Championship play-offs. Two of them will go up routinely, one won’t. Bettering Leeds’ end result 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 high of the pile.

Whether or not that occurs stays to be seen, but it surely’s onerous 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 prolong unbeaten run to spice up survival hopes?

It took 9 video games for Matt Bloomfield to win his first sport as Luton boss. Consequently, the Hatters slipped into the underside three in mid-January and have, as but, been unable to clamber their means again out.

Luckily, March was far kinder to them. Of the 15 factors on provide, they picked up 10 and saved three clear sheets alongside the best way, which 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 properly 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 Street, when Zan Vipotnik’s 96th-minute equaliser earned a degree for Swansea. That meant Sheffield United held on to high spot, and a two-point benefit, following their win over Coventry final Friday. It is out of their arms now, however that would all nonetheless change within the last 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 last 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 saved the Baggies within the high six since changing Carlos Corberan, however is going through severe strain 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 strain?

Sunderland seemed again to their greatest 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 reworked the Championship’s youngest staff into promotion contenders – they completed sixteenth final season, however they’re fourth now. A win might 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 need 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 staff on the pitch are doing so properly. Noel Hunt took over from Ruben Selles mid-season and the transition was easy 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 high of the queue of sides nonetheless hoping to take that spot.

Wycombe to place strain 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 totally easy 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 arms, and stave off the specter of Charlton and Stockport from beneath.
Simeon Gholam

Wrexham vs Burton

Can Wrexham maintain on to second spot?

Wrexham could 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 sport in hand comes at Huddersfield subsequent Tuesday evening, so the promotion image will seemingly be rather a lot clearer in just a few days. All Wrexham can do is maintain profitable and hope the chasers slip up. However at present, six video games stand between the Welsh membership and historical past, as they goal to develop into 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 almost definitely 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 sport in hand on Bristol Rovers in twentieth, and a greater purpose 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 they usually might 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 end result 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 purpose 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 will probably be hoping his return to Whaddon Street – he performed over 200 video games for Cheltenham – brings his aspect three factors; they may 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 high 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 only 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, nevertheless, their title hopes stay of their arms.

Can Port Vale reignite their title hopes?

Earlier than Walsall took over, Port Vale have been main the best way 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 high.

However since New 12 months’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 period they’ve conceded simply as soon as. They beat fellow title hopefuls Bradford final outing and would ship out a powerful message in the event that they did the identical to the Saddlers.
Dan Lengthy

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