EFL preview: Easter crunch time at top and bottom

Instead of hot cross buns and chocolate eggs, Friday’s full schedule of EFL games is the real treat to start Easter weekend.

Amazingly, every one of the 24 Championship teams can still be promoted or relegated with only four games left.

There are some seismic events that are expected to have a significant impact on both the promotion and relegation scraps over the course of a nine-and-a-half hour window.

Before Leeds kick off at Oxford United (20:00 BST), Burnley could be three points clear at the top of the pile.

The Clarets travel to Vicarage Road in an effort to clinch their place in the Hornets’ playoff hopes by 90 minutes away from a potential Premier League title win.

The men’s league record of 30 could be set at the time they won the Division One title in 1921, when Scott Parker’s men have won 29 games without losing.

According to Parker, “This is about staying very level, very focused, and not getting carried away by the emotions of this time of year.”

There are still four games to play, so let’s keep chalking them off. “My message is to stay calm.”

After falling apart in March, Daniel Farke’s men won six of their five matches by claiming the title’s fate. However, Leeds have since picked up two victories to maintain their own destiny.

Manor Solomon, who scored for Preston on Saturday to win the game 2-1, said to BBC Radio Leeds: “We are really happy but we know we need to stay humble.” We were seven points clear a month ago.

There are still four games left, and we want to win every single game until we can advance.

Although Gary Rowett’s side have been on the verge of extinction in their last five games, a home win under the lights here would all but confirm another season in the Championship, the Whites defeated Oxford 4-0 at Elland Road in December.

With a record-breaking three straight defeats, Sheffield United are effectively six points adrift of the top-two in the weekend despite having a lower goal difference when they travel to Bramall Lane to face third-bottom Cardiff.

It’s as straightforward as that, boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield, “Everyone wants to sensationalise things but we haven’t been good enough.”

We’ve done our finishing, and we’ve not created enough. At each end of the pitch, we haven’t done enough.

“We must face criticism for losing three games when we ought to have won two.” And I’m content to do that.

We fully understand that we have four games to play, and we need to adjust accordingly.

Sunderland have been atop the standings for fourth place since the Christmas decorations were put up, but they now face a fascinating 15:00 BST match at Bristol City, 12 points adrift in fifth, as they try to resurrect their position in what could be a set-up for a potential semi-final showdown.

At Ashton Gate, the Robins have won five of their past six games while losing just one of their last 11 overall.

Boss Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol, “We’ve given ourselves something to play for, and credit to the lads for doing that.”

There will be many twists and turns as the season comes to an end; it’s about doing what you can, coming up, and having faith in yourself.

West Bromwich Albion are in command of the pack and would jump back above the dotted line with a win at Coventry, who occupy the top six but would struggle on goal difference if they lost to the Baggies. Last week, they returned to winning ways after a five-game skid.

If Albion beat bottom club Plymouth at the Riverside, Middlesbrough, who sits in eighth place, would also be able to overhaul the Sky Blues.

If Millwall defeats Blackburn, who are still in the play-off race, they could be on par with Coventry in ninth place.

With the potential biggest game of the season for both teams coming up at 12:30, fourth-bottom Derby host second-bottom Luton, all eyes are on the relegation battle.

Birmingham, who had just lost to Wrexham in a 0-0 draw at Wigan, were declared League One champions without even playing last weekend.

Crawley hosts the Blues, looking to maintain their quest to break Reading’s 106-point EFL points record, which was established 19 years ago.

The Vertu Trophy defeat by Peterborough on Sunday by Chris Davies’ side requires 12 points from their final six games to do better.

Wrexham make a return to the Racecourse Ground in an effort to at least keep their one-point lead over Wycombe in the race for the other automatic promotion spot.

The Chairboys have a different challenge than the Red Dragons’, who lost to Rovers of Bristol last weekend after falling for them on goal difference six times.

They travel to Bolton, who are in eighth place, to start their play-off hopes.

If they defeat Peterborough or if Leyton Orient and Bolton both fail to win at home to Barnsley and Wycombe, respectively, then Stockport, five points behind Wrexham with four games remaining, will be guaranteed of a top-six spot.

If they defeat Northampton, 19th place and still not safe, Charlton will advance to the play-offs on Friday, depending on the results of Orient, Bolton, and Huddersfield at home to Cambridge United.

With four games to go, bottom club Shrewsbury will be relegated on Friday unless they defeat Wigan, and Burton and Rovers of Bristol both lose at Exeter and Wrexham, respectively. They are also 12 points away from safety.

If Burton or Rovers of Bristol beat Cambridge United at Huddersfield, they will also be down. They can’t go down before Monday if the Us avoid defeat.

In League Two, things might get even tenser.

With only four games left, leaders Port Vale face a crucial trip to Carlisle, who are vying to stay in the EFL.

If Accrington lose to the Valiants and Accrington lose to Salford, Mark Hughes’ second-bottom Cumbrians, who are six points behind Accrington and have a lower goal difference, might need to play snooker.

If they win, Vale will be assured of at least a play-off spot, though losing to Colchester or Grimsby at home to Swindon, which former boss Ian Holloway controls, could cement a spot there even in defeat.

If Bromley loses to Accrington, Accrington wins, and fourth-bottomed Tranmere defeats Doncaster, bottom club Morecambe, a point behind Carlisle, would be relegated to the National League.