There’s less than 10 games remaining across all three divisions of the EFL as we head towards the Easter weekend. Make no mistake: it’s crunch time at both ends of every league table.
The Championship’s elite face off in the battle for promotion, while League One has been blown wide open in recent weeks with three teams separated by just two points at the top. At the other end of the pyramid, who will be sliding out of the EFL altogether come the final day?
Here’s five key match-ups to watch for in the EFL this Good Friday.
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Hatters heading to the top?
Luton have been one of the stories of the season in the EFL Championship, building on last season’s play-off run with another strong campaign. The Hatters look likely for another run at Wembley this year, or are they setting their sights even higher? A win at Millwall in the 12:30 kick-off on Friday would lift Luton to third, just three points off an automatic promotion spot.
The Hatters will be tested by a Millwall side that’s found its bite in recent weeks and are eyeing up a play-off run of their own. However, no side in the Championship has kept more clean sheets than Luton this season, including five shut-outs in their last seven games. Luton are also unbeaten in their last eight on the road, their longest run since 1981. The Hatters are 2/1 to keep that run going by winning at Millwall on Friday, with the draw now also 2/1.
Millwall lost to Luton at The Den last season, but that was their only defeat to the Hatters in their last 10 league meetings. Gary Rowett’s side will fancy putting one over on a fellow play-off chaser, and are 6/4 to get the three points. Tom Bradshaw and Zian Flemming have scored 27 goals between them for Millwall this season and we have 3/1 that the Lions’ pair combine for over 3 shots on target.
McCarthy out for revenge in relegation six-pointer
Mick McCarthy was sacked by Cardiff in 2021; now, he leads a battling Blackpool side against the Bluebirds in a crucial match at the foot of the Championship.
Both sides are desperate for the points: a loss could be catastrophic for the Seasiders and leave them floundering in the drop zone. Cardiff have lost five of their last six away games and we have 9/5 that Blackpool get the win at Bloomfield Road.
A remarkable 12 goals have been scored in Blackpool’s last two home league games – a 5-1 win followed by a 4-1 loss. You can get 7/1 on there to be 5 or more total goals in this one.
Boro to spoil Burnley’s promotion party?
Vincent Kompany’s Burnley will clinch a swift return back to the Premier League if Luton fail to win at Millwall earlier in the day and the Clarets get a win of their own. However, Kompany’s high-fliers face a stiff test against Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough in the 20:00 kick-off.
Burnley have only lost twice all season and are 8/5 to beat a Boro side still smarting from last week’s thrashing at Huddersfield. Carrick, though, will know that a home win is vital to close the gap on the top two, and we have 17/10 that Boro spoil Burnley’s promotion party – at least for a few more days. Chuba Akpom will be key for Boro, with the Championship’s top-scorer 13/2 to score assisted by either Cameron Archer or Marcus Forss.
Pilgrims returning to the Championship?
In League One, the promotion race is reaching a dramatic conclusion. Sheffield Wednesday’s recent stumbles have opened the door for Plymouth, Ipswich and Barnsley to all grab an automatic spot – and Plymouth themselves will fancy displacing the Owls at the top of the table.
The Pilgrims voyage to struggling Morecambe at 15:00, and are favourites to get the win that could push them into top spot. Only Burton and Forest Green have conceded more than the Shrimps, so Plymouth may fancy boosting their goal difference in this one: we have 3/1 on a Plymouth win with 4 or more total goals in the match.
Hartlepool looking to stay afloat
At the foot of League Two, Rochdale look doomed but 23rd-place Hartlepool have found form at just the right time. Their win against Swindon last week made it six league games unbeaten for Pools, and they will fancy themselves against a mid-table Grimsby who may already be on the beach at Cleethorpes.
Hartlepool could climb out of the drop zone with a win, and are 7/2 to get three points on the road. A sixth draw in seven games would still be valuable, and that result is 12/5.
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