Another tantalising weekend of EFL football is on the horizon, with almost everything undecided heading into the final weeks of the season.
This week’s action got underway on Thursday evening, as Crewe Alexandra suffered a huge blow in their pursuit of a Play-Off place by losing to Cheltenham Town. While last night, Salford City took advantage of the Railwaymen’s defeat by winning at Notts County. Meanwhile, Burnley moved top of the Championship after extending their unbeaten run to 29 games after edging past Norwich City.
Permutations This Weekend
The League One title is on the line for Birmingham, even though they don’t play in the league this weekend. If Wrexham drop points at Wigan Athletic, Chris Davies’ side will be crowned Champions. While the Red Dragons will be desperate for a win to hold off the challenge of Wycombe Wanderers, a point would guarantee them a Play-Off place at the very least.
At the bottom of the third tier, Shrewsbury Town will be relegated if they lose at Lincoln City. If Bristol Rovers pick up three crucial points against Exeter City, then Salop will also be relegated, regardless of their result in Lincolnshire. The Shropshire outfit have to better the Rovers’ result in order to delay their impending relegation, at least until Good Friday.
What Has Already Happened?
Only one side in the EFL divisions have been promoted or relegated so far. Birmingham City clinched an immediate return to the Championship on Tuesday evening after winning at Peterborough United. The Blues will have a chance to achieve a league and cup double as they face Posh at Wembley on Sunday in the EFL Trophy Final.
In the second tier, Sunderland joined the top three sides in sealing a Play-Off place in midweek after a goalless draw at Norwich City. Two points separate Leeds United, Burnley and Sheffield United, with one of them sides guaranteed to miss out on automatic promotion to the Premier League. Southampton will be back in the Football League next term, with their relegation confirmed following a loss to Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday.
What To Keep An Eye On
All three races in the Championship look set to go down to the wire. As mentioned above, three teams are chasing two promotion places to the Premier League. The final spot will go to the winners of the most valuable game in football, in which six sides feasibly have a chance of taking the final two Play-Off places.
Four of the Championships bottom eight play each other on Saturday, as the battle to beat the drop intensifies. There is a similarly crucial clash in League Two as the bottom two sides Morecambe and Carlisle United go head-to-head, with the loser almost certainly relegated to the National League.
Charlton Athletic and Stockport County join the above-mentioned Wrexham and Wycombe in having a mathematical chance of gaining automatic promotion. That leaves five clubs chasing the final Play-Off spot in the third tier. The top end of League Two is even tougher to call, with just five points separating the top six. Salford, following their win last night, join Colchester United in the battle for a top-seven berth, currently occupied by Grimsby Town.
