EFL five things: March wins could bring forth May flowers

By Saturday evening the Championship will fall silent for the international break, but not before a weekend that could redraw the promotion picture and intensify the relegation fight across the English Football League.

Ipswich v Millwall, 12:30 GMT at Portman Road, is the headline act. Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys have taken 14 points from the last 18 and sit third, level on points with Alex Neil’s Millwall, whose four-match winning run was halted by a controversial 2-1 loss to Blackburn. Zak Sturge’s red card in that game has been overturned, leaving the left-back free to face Ipswich as the Lions chase a fifth consecutive away victory. Should Millwall leapfrog Ipswich, Middlesbrough—winless in four at the Riverside—would need at least a point at Blackburn to cling to second place.

Coventry, seven points clear at the summit, are the only side guaranteed to spend the break in an automatic spot, yet the identity of their nearest pursuer could change twice before tea-time.

At the bottom, only four points separate the teams in 20th and 24th. Oxford, third-bottom, travel to a Southampton side unbeaten in 13 and chasing a top-six place, though the U’s won the reverse fixture 2-1 on Boxing Day. Leicester, a point beneath Oxford, have lost nine away matches in a row and visit Watford, still in the play-off mix. West Brom, lifted out of the drop zone by a thumping defeat of Hull, have not won on the road since 1 October and now head to Bristol City, who have taken one point from their last four home games. Portsmouth, above Albion on goal difference, face QPR hunting a first victory in six.

The drama is equally fierce in League One. Gary Caldwell returns to Exeter exactly a month after leaving St James Park for a second spell at Wigan. When he departed, Exeter were 13th and comfortable; on Saturday they sit 19th, level on points with Caldwell’s new side, who are a point above the relegation places. Exeter are winless in 12; Wigan have taken 11 points from Caldwell’s seven matches. A Blackpool win at Cardiff in the lunchtime kick-off could dump Exeter into the bottom four by full-time.

The play-off picture is equally volatile. Three points cover fifth-placed Stockport to Plymouth in 10th. Stevenage, eighth with a game in hand, host Reading, who occupy the final play-off berth. Huddersfield, seventh, travel to in-form Argyle after blowing a 2-0 lead to draw with leaders Lincoln. Stockport, meanwhile, visit Luton in a dress-rehearsal for next month’s Vertu Trophy final.

In League Two, only two points separate the bottom four. Barrow, on their fifth manager of the season, are winless in seven ahead of a trip to promotion-chasing Grimsby. Harrogate, a point better off, visit an Oldham side unbeaten in nine and eyeing a late surge into the play-offs. Newport, a point above the drop, go to resurgent Walsall after a last-gasp loss to leaders Bromley, while Crawley, winless in nine but drawing five of their last six, make the long journey to Fleetwood.

By the time British Summer Time begins, the league tables from Coventry to Barrow could have a very different complexion. March, as the old saying almost goes, has one more chance to plant the seeds for May’s final harvest.