EFL MATCHES TO LOOK OUT FOR
After the final international break of the 2023/24 campaign, we are heading into what is shaping up to be an exciting and dramatic ‘run in’ across the EFL with plenty to play for up and down the three divisions.
To kick start the final month or so of the campaign, we also have a double header on Easter Weekend so we’ll do a bumper preview to match with a key standout game from each of the Championship, League One and League Two for both of the Easter match days over the next few days…
GOOD FRIDAY
CHAMPIONSHIP
Watford vs Leeds United | 8pm on Friday
Watford have experienced an extremely difficult campaign but they are expected to be safe under the caretaker management of former player Tom Cleverley. The Hornets went into the March international break on the back of a much-needed 1-0 defeat of Birmingham City at St Andrews with a winning goal scored by Emmanuel Dennis. They now face a Leeds United side that have somehow risen to the top-of-the-table with Daniel Farke’s Yorkshireman enjoying a remarkably impressive second-half of the year. Their 2-0 defeat of Millwall a couple of weeks ago means that they are now unbeaten in their last 13 matches in the Championship since losing to West Bromwich Albion at the end of December.
LEAGUE ONE
Derby County vs Blackpool | 3pm on Friday
A couple of weeks ago, Derby County managed to open up a four-point gap between themselves and third place, Bolton Wanderers, with a 1-0 defeat of the Trotters at Pride Park. The Rams then, though, allowed Bolton back into the race when they lost 1-0 to Northampton Town at Sixfields last weekend. The pressure is now very much on Paul Warne with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing out injured and Sonny Bradley now missing through suspension. They now welcome another Lancastrian side down south with Blackpool, who are pushing for the top six and the playoff places. The Seasiders begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting just three points outside of the playoffs. Blackpool were most recently beaten 1-0 by Wigan Athletic a couple of weeks ago.
LEAGUE TWO
Wrexham vs Mansfield Town | 3pm on Friday
With seven games of League Two to go, these two sides sit tucked inside the top three and the automatic promotion spots. Wrexham, coached by Phil Parkinson, are third in the table as they aim for back-to-back promotions. They have been relatively underwhelming in terms of performances but most recently comfortably defeated Grimsby Town by three goals to one. Now we head into Easter facing league leaders Mansfield Town, who were held to a 1-1 draw against relegation battling Colchester United at Field Mill last weekend. The Stags, coached by former Derby County boss Nigel Clough, are three points above their upcoming opponents but six points clear of the playoff places.
BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY
CHAMPIONSHIP
Ipswich Town vs Southampton | 5.30pm on Monday
With two games in hand, Southampton head into the Easter weekend with an opportunity to still stay in the hunt for a top two spot and automatic promotion spots. Ipswich Town, having gained promotion last season, stand between the Saints and the top two with eight games of the campaign for themselves to go. The Tractor Boys hammered Sheffield Wednesday by six goals to nil before the March international break before travelling to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers on Good Friday. Southampton hosted Middlesbrough a few days ago after heading into the two-week break on the back of back-to-back victories against Birmingham City and Sunderland. Ipswich’s 38 matches have consisted of 129 goals, whilst Southampton’s 36 games have had 120 goals.
LEAGUE ONE
Portsmouth vs Derby County | 8pm on Tuesday
Based on the results of Good Friday’s results when Portsmouth face Wycombe Wanderers and Derby County host Blackpool, Portsmouth and Derby County could be playing out an almost entirely pivotal clash in the League One automatic promotion race. John Mousinho’s Pompey went into the Easter weekend with a five-point lead over the Rams at the top-of-the-table and a nine-point gap between themselves and third place, Bolton Wanderers. Derby, on the other hand, under the management of former Rotherham United boss Paul Warne, blew a major opportunity to extend their own gap between themselves and third to seven points but they suffered a 1-0 loss to Northampton Town at Sixfields.
LEAGUE TWO
Morecambe vs Barrow | 3pm on Monday
This is not necessarily a county-based derby but it is a bit of a local rivalry as Barrow travel south to face Morecambe on Bank Holiday Monday. After being relegated from League One last season, Morecambe, who are dealing with some fairly serious off-field issues, sit firmly in the middle-of-the-table and remain in the hunt for the top seven and the playoff places but they went into the March international break on the back of four successive losses. Barrow are tucked inside the playoffs and are still pushing for the top three and automatic promotion with Pete Wild’s Cumbrians facing Grimsby Town on Good Friday after a five-match unbeaten run of form with four clean sheets in that time.
2024-03-28T19:11:51Z dg43tfdfdgfd