This weeks schedule had everything that the EFL has to offer. Newcastle United won the EFL Cup, whilst there were some big victories in some crucial games across the football league.
Championship
The Championship had a double game-week, and that lead to many exciting moments that could prove season defining.
In the title race, Sheffield United conceded a 90th minute equaliser to draw 1-1 at home to Bristol City. That result meant Burnley kept pace with them in the automatic promotion race with a 1-1 draw with West Brom, and Leeds United reestablished their lead at the top of the Championship by beating Millwall 2-0.
However, that lead evaporated over the weekend, as Leeds came from 2-0 down but could only earn a 2-2 at QPR. Those dropped points allowed Burnley and Sheffield United to keep the pressure on at the top of the table.
Burnley beat Swansea 2-0, breaking the Championship record for most clean sheets in a single season, as they have 27 so far.. Sheffield United meanwhile won 1-0 in the Steel City derby against Sheffield Wednesday. This means that Leeds and Sheffield United are tied on 80 points, two clear of Burnley, with eight matches to play.
The relegation battle also intensified over the week. This week began with many teams at the bottom of the table securing pivotal victories.
Bottom of the league Plymouth Argyle beat Portsmouth 2-1, but Luton Town and Derby County both also won 2-1 against Cardiff City and Coventry City respectively, meaning that Argyle stayed bottom.
They did go closer to safety, as Cardiff’s defeat left them on the brink of the relegation zone. Stoke City did manage to lift themselves up with a 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers, and Hull City came from behind to beat Oxford United 2-1, increasing the gap between them and the relegation zone.
The weekend matches were as important. Derby secured a significant 3-2 win at Plymouth to lift them closer to safety, and Luton also picked up points with a 0-0 draw with Middlesborough.
Cardiff won 2-1 at Blackburn to lift themselves further from the relegation zone, and Oxford won 1-0 against Watford. Hull City held West Brom to a 1-1 draw, meaning that Stoke's 1-0 defeat to Millwall sees the Potters fall closer to danger.
These results largely overshadowed the intensification of the playoff race. Bristol City followed their draw at Brammal Lane up with a 2-1 victory over Norwich City, whilst Coventry City beat Sunderland 3-0 thanks to a Haji Wright hat-trick to maintain their playoff charge.
West Brom's draws ensured they stayed in the top 6, with Bristol City just behind them on goal difference. Middlesborough beat QPR 2-1 in midweek to stay within touching distance of the playoffs, whilst Blackburn's two defeats saw them fall to 9th.
League One
League One started with a small number of matches in midweek due to teams catching up games in hand.
The surprise result of these fixtures was Wrexham losing 2-0 at Reading, meaning they missed the chance to leap into second place ahead of their weekend clash with promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers.
Leaders Birmingham City extended their lead at the top of the table with a 2-1 victory over Stevenage.
Charlton Athletic picked up a crucial 1-0 win at Crawley Town to continue their playoff charge, but Bolton Wanderers lost ground with a 3-2 at relegation battling Bristol Rovers. Exeter City also lifted themselves clear of danger by beating Mansfield 2-0.
In the big match in the promotion race over the weekend, Wrexham won 1-0 at Wycombe, putting them 3 points clear of third place Wycombe, although the Chairboys have a game in hand.
Charlton secured a 2-1 against Wigan to continue their charge and extend their unbeaten run to 7. Stockport County won 1-0 at playoff rivals Bolton to cement their position in the top 6, and Huddersfield Town thrashed Crawley Town 5-1 to return to winning ways after a run of 2 defeats.
Carl Piergianni scored at both ends as Reading were held to a 1-1 draw by Stevenage to prevent the Royals from going into the top 6, and Leyton Orient ended a run of 5 defeats with a 2-1 victory at Blackpool.
In the relegation zone, Cambridge United suffered a fourth consecutive defeat as they lost 1-0 against rivals Peterborough United, and Crawley Town were defeated by Huddersfield. Shrewsbury Town also edged closer to the drop, as they were beaten 2-0 by Burton Albion.
That victory meant Burton moved to within 6 points of safety, as Bristol Rovers lost 5-0 at Lincoln. However, Northampton Town earned an impressive 1-1 draw with league leaders Birmingham City, whilst Exeter drew 1-1 with Rotherham and Mansfield won 2-1 against Barnsley. These results moved these teams closer to safety.
League Two
Following on from last week’s disappointing results, many of the teams at the top of League Two yet again suffered setbacks in their quest for automatic promotion.
In midweek, Notts County did win 2-0 at playoff chasing Grimsby to boost their hopes, but Port Vale lost 2-1 at Colchester and AFC Wimbledon were defeated 2-1 by Cheltenham Town.
The weekend matches followed this trend. Leaders, Walsall were held to a 2-2 draw by Bromley, but second placed Bradford were unable to capitalise as they were defeated 1-0 by Tranmere. Wimbledon won 2-1 at Carlisle United to move into the automatic promotion places, as Doncaster Rovers were held to a 1-1 draw by Crewe Alexandra. Port Vale won 3-0 against MK Dons, meaning they gained ground on their rivals, but Notts County were defeated 2-1 by Chesterfield.
These results mean that Walsall remain top of the table, with Bradford and Wimbledon in the other 2 automatic promotion places. Doncaster Rovers and Notts County are just behind them, and Port Vale are in 6th, two points off 3rd with a game in hand.
Colchester beat Fleetwood Town 3-0 to extend their winning run to 5 matches and move themselves into the playoffs, as Grimsby lost to Salford to fall behind in the race to finish in the top 7.
There were also some surprising results with plenty of goals. Relegation threatened Accrington Stanley thrashed Newport County 5-0, whilst Chesterfield won 4-0 at Salford City and Swindon Town drew 3-3 with Cheltenham.
In the relegation battle, Morecambe drew 2-2 with Barrow, and Carlisle were defeated by Wimbledon. Tranmere's victory against Bradford means that they are 6 points clear of Morecambe and 9 ahead of Carlisle, who have a game in hand, with 9 matches to play.
EFL Cup
Newcastle United secured their first major trophy since 1955 by defeating Liverpool 2-1 to win the Carabao Cup.
A header from Dan Burn and a strike from Alexander Isak saw Newcastle take a 2-0 lead, but Federico Chiesa pulled one back in added time to create nerves in the Newcastle camp.
Newcastle held on to secure victory, ending their 70 year wait to win a major trophy. The result also secures Newcastle's place in European football next season.
