EFL Championship: Race for Premier League promotion, standings, battle to avoid relegation and what to know

It is Easter weekend and that can only mean one thing in English football, it is a critical June of the season in the EFL. As always, there is enough for the picking up with four more games to play in the championship. No team has yet been promoted, the play -offs look an honest way to be locked up and there is still an almighty scrap at the bottom of the table to prevent them from falling through the Valdeur One. Indeed, no fewer than 17 of the 24 teams of the competition are realistic in one of those three battles.

On Friday, April 18, the first round of competitions, where the most important collision of all-midlands between Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion includes those big implications for the Playoff race. In the meantime, Luton Town is deleting to prevent back-to-back relegations to Derby County, on Monday, they organize top six contenders Bristol City. Can Millwall inland shipping in the top six? Can PlygyLe take the big escape out? This is what you have to keep an eye on the double header of the championship on Friday and Monday:

1. Is automatic promotion completely packed?

Leeds couldn’t blow it here, right? During this season, the men of Daniel Farke played the best football in the division, the leading scorers of 19, a defense record that would certainly be among the best in the competition, were it not for the miracles that were deposited by James Trafford and Burnley. In a competition that is famous for its parity, their non-penalty expected target difference (NPXGD) per match is 1.2, not far from the dominant level that Barcelona has over La Liga. The next best in the competition? Coventry at 0.39.

This is an excellent team that seems completely ready for the Premier League. On the other hand, almost the same could have been said last year or in 2018-19, when it all fell apart. Five points clear with four games to go, but this is Leeds. Farke works hard to keep the emotions under control. “Never too high, never too low is normally a good mantra to be successful in this competition, because if you burn both parties like a candle, you don’t have the energy if it counts, but without burning it is also difficult for a candle,” he said prior to Friday’s night match in Oxford.

By that time, Leeds will know if Burnley has jumped and, crucial, whether Sheffield United has closed a point gap that looks a bit hairy in front of Chris Wilder. After lost their last three, the knives are five points behind the top two, although it can be six just as well given the Golf in goal difference. Certainly, they have to beat Cardiff on Friday and then win their remaining three.

“Pressure is a privilege,” said Wilder. “That is an excuse, busy. It’s nonsense. We have to embrace it.” They will have to. Even then it might not be enough. Leeds has held to win their last two. Burnley may not be the easiest in the eye in the attack, but they are still unbeaten in the competition since the beginning of November. These do not look like two sides that it is about to let it slide. Yet there is at least one chance for Sheffield United. Easter Monday she takes to Turf Moor. Win there and they are good and really in the mix.

The Race for Promotion

2. Looking for form for the play -off Push

From greater care for Sheffield United may be what happens to them if they do not turn their shape on time for the play -offs. The most favorable word at this stage of the season is Momentum and it seems that the men of Wilder don’t have it. Sunderland has not been the team that they were early in the season since February and look safe in fourth place. Among them, well, there are five in two.

Bristol City is currently occupying one of those places, but is confronted with what a difficult journey to Luton should be on Monday as the Hatters scrap for their lives. After that, do Leeds and Preston have a lot to play? Since the year of the year, Liam Manning’s side has been one of the most in-out-outfits in the championship and they have performed remarkably well against many of the teams they encounter to match the play. Befeat Sunderland on Friday could be a statement of intention prior to a play -off matchup next month.

Coventry came out of the international break if the team that had timsted their burst just right and that second best NPXGD in the division suggests that this will be a team to take serious if they make the play -offs. Yet it is only four points in the same number of competitions in front of Frank Lampard, which open the door to the chase package if they do not beat West Brom.

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Among those are Middlesbrough, able to string together for good or bad. A 2-0 win in Blackburn at the beginning of the month she had until the fifth, defeats for Leeds and Millwall and they are now until eighth. The triumph of the latter also means that they are now firmly in the mix while they travel to Blackburn. Win there and they will have demonstrably eliminated Blackburn from Play -Off Stelling. Given that Millwall follows that with home games against Norwich and Swansea, who have neither do a lot to play, a way to the top six seems to open for the Lions.

3. An almighty relegation scrap

Four games to go and just watch the state of the foot of the championship. They are three to go down and it is probably just a favorable goal difference with which Preston North End and Queens Park Rangers can normally breathe. Indeed, which of those by chance in Deepdale on Friday will certainly check the scores in the dressing room afterwards. In case …

“Those 50 points usually mean safety,” said QPR boss Marti Cifuentes, “but it is not yet mathematically done and it is important to try to win the last four games.”

The foot of the championship

This is a relegation fight where everything can turn in an instant, as it was clear when Portsmouth met Derby last week. In the 90th minute, Pompey floated uncomfortably close to the fall door while they walked behind 2-1 and Rob Atkinson popped up in the 91st minute to earn a point and, no less crucial, two of Derby’s count beat.

That can be crucial because none of the parties are 22nd to the 24th look whole Death and buried. Luton has won three, three and two lost since the beginning of March and their journey to Derby promises to be crucial as last season’s Premier League bid to prevent the League One from next season. Cardiff will hope that the recent problems of Sheffield United will continue, after which they get the chance to get promoted Oxford United into the mix. The Us play their first season in the second level and have begun to explain what was a celebration of a start of life under Gary Rowett in December that in February and March became a famine. They put three victories in their last five in the CUSP of Year two in the championship.

Stoke also picks up points at the right time, while Hull has only lost twice since March. They have the most intriguing fixed list of those on the CUSP of the relegation zone – can the last two days at home at Derby and road to Portsmouth this season crucial?

It can depend on what Plymouth can do. When the Pelgrims Wayne Rooney fired on New Year’s Eve, they had the appearance of Goners, not so much because of the point gap, but the performance they deliver. Their XG since then you would still tell that this is somehow the worst team in the division and Easter matches against Play -Off Kansshebers Middlesbrough and Coventry threaten to expose their shortcomings. On the other hand, this phase of the season is generally a good good for miracles.

Predictions

Top two: Leeds and Burnley
Play Offs: Sheffield United, Sunderland, Coventry City, Middlesbrough
Promoted: Coventry City
Relegation: Cardiff City, Luton Town, Plymouth Argyle