good morning everybody. Your HIC has been sick with Covid the final handful of days, however he promised you a correct EFL Championship roundup. And that’s what he’ll ship!
Earlier than we get into the playoff race, let’s take a fast take a look at the three relegated golf equipment now that Huddersfield’s security is confirmed:
22. Studying: Whose hopes have been sunk after a six-point deduction.
23. Wigan Athletic: Whose gamers weren’t paid for a fifth time this season.
24. Blackpool: Who did effectively to stay within the Championship for not less than one season earlier than relegation.
Now – onto the playoff race.
Luton City and Middlesbrough have each secured third and fourth within the desk, leaving two remaining spots open for 5 competing golf equipment.
These golf equipment: Coventry (69 Pts), Millwall (68), Sunderland (66), West Brom (66), Blackburn (66).
Let’s begin with Blackburn Rovers, the membership that has spend virtually the whole season someplace within the prime six. The membership’s unusual, draw-less sample saved them aggressive for a very long time, and it appeared they have been on target for a stable promotion push after choosing up 15 out of a potential 18 factors from mid-February to mid-March.
However an eight-game winless streak has all however sunk their promotion desires, they usually now sit effectively outdoors the highest six. A 0-0 draw at residence to Hull Metropolis might be a very troublesome outcome to look again on.
Blackburn should first beat playoff rivals Millwall at The Den to have any likelihood of reclaiming a spot within the prime six. They’d additionally want each Sunderland and West Brom to drop factors.
Millwall have additionally largely stumbled to finish their marketing campaign with back-to-back losses towards Birmingham and Wigan. However they’ve a good residence document and two sturdy goalscorers in Thomas Bradshaw and Zian Flemming. The Lions apparently have even been thrilling sufficient this season to observe to welcome Gianni Infantino to one among their residence matches.
Aiming for a uncommon double promotion, Sunderland have had a stellar return to the second tier thanks partially to the efforts of Jack Clarke. The previous Spurs lad (who was by no means actually given a correct likelihood within the first workforce) has scored seven targets this marketing campaign, for which he was a Participant of the 12 months contender. Amad Diallo has additionally been an necessary outlet for targets. Sunderland will look to increase their eight-game unbeaten run at Preston, and want for Millwall to drop factors whereas additionally holding their GD stronger than WBA.
Coventry and West Brom have each had unusual season, each languishing on the backside of the desk earlier than sturdy performances throughout autumn noticed them shortly rise. Coventry’s primary points concerned off-the-pitch issues, whereas West Brom improved to the playoff-calibre workforce after sacking Steve Bruce in October.
Coventry Metropolis would wish an epic collapse and each different outcome going the unsuitable method to keep away from the playoffs. Viktor Gyokeres has been one of many standout gamers this season in the whole league, however the Bluebirds have been capable of depend on different gamers to attain which ought to bode effectively for them in the event that they attain the playoffs.
Promotion could be a heck of a narrative for Coventry Metropolis, who have been in League Two as current as six years in the past.
West Brom come into Monday with not-as-convincing type, however will face a Swansea facet who don’t have anything to play for. I haven’t been too satisfied by WBA this season, and their solely notable victories this calendar 12 months have come towards Coventry (3 Feb) and Boro (25 Feb).
To safe a playoff spot, WBA should beat Swansea and should additionally depend on Sunderland & Millwall to drop factors (or for a type of two to drop factors plus Coventry lose by 5 or extra targets).
Monday’s marquee EFL Championship match-ups:
Millwall (sixth, 68 Pts, +8 GD) vs Blackburn (ninth, 66 Pts, -3 GD)
Boro vs Coventry (fifth, 69 Pts, +12 GD)
Preston vs Sunderland (seventh, 66 Pts, + 10 GD)
Swansea vs West Brom (eighth, 66 Pts, + 7 GD)
Fitzie’s monitor of the day: Open Letter To Duke, by Charles Mingus
And now on your hyperlinks:
Alasdair Gold’s speaking factors from Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace
Dan KP: Ryan Mason reveals his tactical acumen as Spurs proceed supervisor hunt
The Athletic ($$) asks which potential supervisor suits Tottenham’s ‘tradition’
Celtic win Scottish Premiership
