As we reach the final weekend of February, the final run-in of matches in the EFL Championship are well and truly in sight. Three points could prove priceless by the end of the season, whilst it is still all to play for in the race for promotion as well as the battle to avoid relegation.
Once again, The Real EFL will highlight the five matches that we believe you should be looking out for this weekend, and let us know your thoughts in the comments as well as anything else we should be keeping our eyes peeled out for.
1. Elland Road Cracker
At number one, it’s a no-brainer. A game of enormous importance at the top of the league takes place on Friday night as two clubs with immediate promotion back to the Premier League in sight meet under the lights at Elland Road.
Leeds United occupy the second and final automatic promotion spot on goal difference only, but the visit of Enzo Maresca’s Leicester City provides an intriguing opportunity to cut the gap at the top to just six points. Leeds have the best home record in the league this season, whilst no side has picked up more points on the road than the Foxes. Something has to give in this potentially season-defining contest.
2. MKM Stadium Hosts Massive Fixture
Another important game near the top of the league, with Hull City hosting West Bromwich Albion in the Saturday lunch-time kickoff. Both sides come into this knowing that they should stay in the playoffs no matter the result, but will also be aware of just how important three points could be by the end of the season.
Hull’s impressive victory at Southampton in midweek was their third 2-1 away win on the trot and Liam Rosenior’s side will look to build on that with a positive result on home turf. The Baggies were also impressive in midweek, sweeping aside Plymouth Argyle to claim a 3-0 win at Home Park.
This is a very tough one to call but is a game that can have a big effect on either side as the playoff race intensifies in the Championship.
3. Harris’ Return
Saturday sees a return to his beloved Millwall for Neil Harris, his third job of the season after also being at League Two outfit Gillingham and League One’s Cambridge United. This is one of the toughest tests he will face as a manager without a doubt, with Millwall just one point above the relegation zone and facing an uphill battle to avoid relegation to the third tier.
His first game back will not be easy, with the Lions playing Southampton away at the St. Mary’s Stadium. Whilst the Saints did face their first home defeat since September in midweek, Russell Martin’s side will be looking to capitalise on the fact that the top two play each other, so it will be a very tough ask for Harris to get a positive result in his first game returning to Millwall.
4. Must-Win For QPR
Despite their position in the relegation zone, Queens Park Rangers are actually eighth in the form table and, after a massive away victory at Bristol City last time out, Marti Cifuentes will be hoping that his side can pick up the three points that would finally lift them out of the relegation zone when they play bottom-of-the-table Rotherham United on Saturday.
The Millers suffered last-gasp heartbreak in midweek when they lost in stoppage time at Ipswich Town in midweek, and also are the only team in the EFL not to win away from home this season, so QPR will label this as a must-win in their bid for Championship survival.
5. Rohl Revival
Another side in the relegation zone with a feel-good factor around the club are Danny Rohl’s Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls are four points off safety, having won two of their last three games, and really need to put a good run together if they are going to stay up.
Saturday’s visit from Bristol City is followed by a crucial trip to Rotherham, so what better time to start picking up points than now? Bristol City come into this off the back of a disappointing defeat to relegation-threatened QPR, so confidence will be low when they head to Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon.
So, there are our five games to look out for this weekend in the Championship. There are some very intriguing contests in there, with multiple six-pointers at the top and bottom of the table and big chances for the teams near the relegation zone to pick up important points in their quests for survival.