At long last, we are finally entering the run-in for the EFL Championship. There’s a tonne left to play for and very little’s been decided. Even better, all the teams are on equal matches played (except Preston North End, but who cares about them).
Now, let’s take a look at where the league stands heading into the final seven matches of the season.
Race for automatic promotion: 1 Sheffield United (83 Pts, +27 GD), 2 Leeds United (81 Pts, +51 GD), 3 Burnley (81 Pts, +42 GD)
The race for automatics has been between these three clubs all along. But Leeds have slipped from their perch atop the table with two consecutive draws (against Swansea and QPR). That means they no longer have the inside track.
Meanwhile, Burnley and Sheffield United are on track for a huge match on 21 April at Turf Moor. Burnley have allowed just 11 goals all season (!!) but have a frustrating 15 draws (!!).
Race for the playoffs: 4 Sunderland (72 Pts, +19 GD), 5 Coventry (59 Pts, +5 GD), 6 West Brom (57 Pts, +13 GD), 7 Middlesbrough (57 Pts, +10 GD), 8 Bristol City (57 Pts, +7 GD), 9 Watford (53 Pts, -4 GD)
It’s a little crowded for the 5-6 spots in the table. Frank Lampard took Coventry from bottom half of the table to the inside track for fifth. But all the clubs in the mix have a very inconsistent of results, which makes for an unpredictable finish.
Take West Brom, for example. after draws against Burnley and Hull City, and a loss to Norwich. Those three results put the Baggies in a precaious position, but ahead on goal difference.
They’ve also got a brutal run-in with Sunderland, Bristol City, Watford and Coventry. Plus matches against relegation contenders Derby, Cardiff and Luton.
Race for survival: 18 Stoke (42 Pts, -12 GD), 19 Oxford United (42 Pts, - 17 GD), 20 Hull City (41 Pts, -9 GD), 21 Cardiff City (40 Pts, -20 GD), 22 Derby County (38 Pts, -11 GD), 23 Luton Town (38 Pts, -25 GD), 24 Plymouth Argyle (34 Pts, - 37 GD)
That brings us to the bottom seven in the table, with four points separating 18th from 22nd.
Plymouth Argyle appear destined for relegation while it appears it’s too late for Luton Town to avoid a double-relegation.
Derby County have a handful of major games against relegation rivals Luton, Hull and Stoke. Six points out of nine would be huge.
Fitzie’s track of the day: Lady Bird, by Dexter Gordon
And now for your links:
Dan KP: “Andoni Iraola could be Tottenham’s next Mauricio Pochettino but key questions raised”
Jack P-B ($$): “Bigger than the question of Postecoglou’s future is the question of what Spurs want to be (again)”