As the football league season enters its final month, the drama in the EFL has ramped up. With teams having only a handful of matches left to define their season, the tension has stepped up a notch. We have seen some crucial results across all three divisions, so let’s look at the key moments from the EFL this weekend.
The Championship
Burnley took the lead in the Championship title race, as two goals from Jayden Anthony in a 2-1 victory over Coventry City saw them jump into pole position. They were able to leapfrog rivals Leeds United, who were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Luton Town, and Sheffield United, who were stunned 1-0 at Oxford United.
Those results leave the automatic promotion race tighter than ever with six matches to play, as Burnley are top, 1 point clear of Sheffield United and 2 ahead of Leeds.
In the playoff picture, Coventry and West Brom dropped out of the top six, as Coventry were defeated by Burnley and Sunderland dented West Brom’s hopes by beating the Baggies 1-0. Those results allowed Middlesbrough, who defeated Blackburn Rovers 2-0, and Bristol City, who won 2-1 against Watford, to leapfrog them into the playoff positions.
In the relegation battle, Derby County extended their winning run to 4 consecutive wins against Preston North End to move out of the relegation zone. However, they were unable to continue that momentum as they were defeated 1-0 by Swansea City in the weekend’s fixtures. Plymouth Argyle were able to breathe life into their survival battle with a 2-1 victory over Norwich City, and Hull City’s Charlie Hughes scored a vital 94th-minute winner to defeat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0.
Those results mean that those teams gained ground on their rivals. Cardiff City were held to a 0-0 draw by QPR, whilst a late equaliser saw Stoke City earn a 1-1 draw at Preston. Meanwhile, Portsmouth look to be back in danger, as they were the only team in the bottom nine to not pick up points this week as they lost 2-1 to Millwall.
The table is still incredibly tight, as only five points separate 16th place from 22nd and relegation into League One.
League One
League One had two rounds of matches this week as the race to secure promotion intensifies.
Birmingham City created an 11-point gap at the top of the table this week with a 2-1 victory over Bristol Rovers and a 6-2 demolition of Barnsley. Those results put the Blues on the brink of securing an immediate return to the Championship.
In the race to secure automatic promotion, Wycombe Wanderers slipped up as they were held to a 0-0 draw by bottom-of-the-league Shrewsbury Town before they were defeated 1-0 by Reading. Those results allowed Wrexham in second to open up a six-point gap on the Chairboys, thanks to a 3-0 win over Burton Albion as they continue their push to secure a third consecutive promotion.
Stockport County climbed up to fourth place with a 3-0 victory over Stevenage and a 2-0 win against Exeter City, as the Hatters look set for a playoff campaign. They’re looking increasingly likely to be joined by Charlton Athletic, who won 2-1 at Mansfield Town before earning a 2-2 draw against Lincoln City.
The race to secure sixth and the final playoff place, however, is far more dramatic. Bolton Wanderers staked their claim for it by beating Wigan Athletic and Bristol Rovers 1-0, whilst Huddersfield Town and Reading both picked up crucial victories over the weekend to keep themselves in with a chance. Leyton Orient have fallen behind and look out of that race, as a loss to Burton and a draw with Wigan leave them six points adrift.
Those defeats for Bristol Rovers damage their chances of survival and breathe life into the hopes of those below them. Crawley Town were unable to capitalise as they lost against both Peterborough United and Stevenage, but Burton’s win over Leyton Orient lifts them to within three points of safety with a game in hand on the Gas. Cambridge United also kept their slim League One survival hopes alive with a 1-0 win over foot-of-the-table Shrewsbury, although they are firmly in the relegation zone with only 5 matches remaining.
League Two
League Two had some major clashes at the top of the league this week, as teams jostle for position in an incredibly tight automatic promotion race.
The major headline from League Two this week is that Walsall finally surrendered first place in League Two after a four-month spell at the top of the table. A 2-2 draw with promotion rivals Doncaster Rovers in midweek was followed up by a 3-2 defeat to Port Vale, meaning Vale themselves went top of the table after that victory. However, it wasn’t long before they were displaced by Bradford City, who recovered from a midweek loss to the Valiants to beat Crewe Alexandra 2-0 and take the summit of the league.
Rivals Doncaster Rovers also earned an important victory, as they scored twice late on to beat Cheltenham Town 2-0. AFC Wimbledon and Notts County, who have both been in and around the top three all season, both won one and lost one of their two matches this week, meaning they look destined for the playoffs as they fall behind their rivals.
The weeks results mean that with only five matches to play, Bradford City and Port Vale are locked on 73 points at the top of the table, with Walsall a point behind. Doncaster Rovers are in fourth place on 70 points, but they have a game in hand on their rivals. Notts County and AFC Wimbledon are a further two points behind them, without that game in hand. This League Two promotion race has twists and turns yet to come and is set for a dramatic climax.
The race for the playoffs is almost as tight. Seventh-placed Grimsby earned a 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Morecambe to tighten their grip on that final playoff place. However, Colchester United kept the pressure on them by defeating Notts County, meaning the gap between the two sides remains at 3 points.
In the relegation battle, Tranmere Rovers scored four second-half goals to beat Chesterfield 4-0 and lift themselves further clear of the drop and damage the survival hopes of those below them.
Bottom of the league Carlisle United came from 2-0 down to defeat Newport County 3-2 and keep themselves with a chance of survival, although their hopes are slim as they are eight points from safety. They are looking increasingly likely to be joined in the National League by Morecambe, who’s defeat to Grimsby leaves them six points behind Accrington Stanley in 22nd.
