đ EFL WEEKEND PREVIEW - Episode #2
Ali and George debate the BIGGEST GAMES across the Easter double docket in this week's NTT20 Podcast extra.
Easter Weekend in the EFL is one of the great moments in the calendar â 72 games over 80 hours from Friday lunchtime until lights out on Monday.
Promotions could be secured, seasons could fizzle out, but overwhelmingly this is about the panicked jostling for position as we approach the final few bars of EFL musical chairs 2022/23.
Here, we pick out and preview the fixtures that we think are most significant on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
EFL Weekend Preview - Episode #2
Press play, listen in, read along đ
Championship Friday picks - 00:00 - 11:30
League One Friday picks - 11:30 - 20:55
League Two Friday picks 20:55 - 27:30
Easter Monday picks 27:30 - end
Championship: Good Friday
Big game pick - Middlesbrough vs Burnley - 8pm
George Elek
I canât think of a game between two sides in the EFL that Iâd want to watch more.
As much as this is first vs third, selecting this fixture is probably as much to do with styles of play. Styles make fights, and this one should be a sumptuous bout. These are the leagueâs two highest scorers, the two best attacking teams, and I hope they offer up every delicacy that those tasty head-to-heads suggest they might. Akpom vs Tella. Brownhill vs Hackney. Giles vs Maatsen. Carrick vs Kompany.
Every possible result is consequential here for Boro, Burnley and Blades, too! A win for Burnley and they could (if Luton drop points) be promoted before you can say âI swear Caramel Eggs used to be bigger.â It would be kick in the shins for Boroâs automatic hopes too. In reverse, a win for Boro keep the automatics dream alive.
If âMatch of the Dayâ wasnât already a thing, I would invent it for this fixture.
Prediction â Boro 2-2 Burnley
Big game pick -Â Blackpool vs Cardiff - 3pm
Ali Maxwell
A big game pick for a Mick whoâs made neither side tick. His current team, Blackpool, appear somewhat blunt and somewhat leaky. Not ideal. They are far too easy to score against and I donât think Mick will be pulling any rabbits out of any hats anytime soon in terms of Championship survival. But if he was to do that, a win against Cardiff is a must.
The Championship relegation battle has caught fire in the last two weeks, and this is its most significant fixture of the Easter Weekend.
I know Cardiff are down there. The table shows it. Results show it. But my personal opinion is that Cardiff are a better team, on the whole, than those below them. I understand that for fans it looks nervy, being winless in three and pulled-in by Huddersfieldâs back-to-back wins. But I think theyâll show their slight advantage in quality. There may be nerves and jeopardy (a nordic noir detective duo pitched by the makers of The Bridge), but only three teams get relegated, and I fancy Cardiff wonât be one of them. Â
Championship: Easter Monday
Big game pick - Huddersfield v Blackburn
George Elek
Huddersfield have brought themselves back into the survival mix, but exactly how strong and sustainable is Neil Warnockâs magic spell? A trip to Watford and the visit of Blackburn will tell us plenty about the levels he can eke out of this Huddersfield side that previous managers struggled with.
Thereâs still a four point gap between Blackburn (6th) and the hungry chasing pack. This is an important game and an important weekend to defend that play-off spot. Lose a couple, and Blackburn will be chased.
Big game pick -Â Burnley v Sheffield United
Ali Maxwell
First versus second. Burnley may have already secured promotion on Friday night. If not, perhaps they will do so here in front of their fans, against their closest title rivals Sheffield United⌠the team that dished out their only truly humbling defeat of a remarkable, dominant campaign.
But if Burnley donât beat Boro on Friday, and Sheffield United beat Wigan, could there be a flicker of nerves for Burnley? A bit between Bladesâ teeth? One last twist in the tale?
The return fixture â Blades 5-2 Burnley â was bonkers. Set-piece domination from Sheffield United, who bullied and besieged Muric in the Burnley goal.
Thereâs a ton of potential narratives, itâs the 72nd and final game of the EFL long weekend, and I cannot wait.
League One: Good Friday
Big Game Pick - Ipswich v Wycombe
George Elek
Ipswichâs run-in is tough. Undoubtedly tougher than Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouthâs remaining fixtures. So why are second place Ipswich favourites for promotion? Well, for one they have a game in hand on Wednesday. And for two, they are clearly the team playing the best football in the division right now: the most complete team in terms of controlling matches, defensive domination and an increased confidence in front of goal.
If you donât concede goals you donât lost games; they arenât conceding. If you can add at least one goal into the mix, you win games; they are scoring.
They look irresistible right now. Another win here â and I expect theyâll win, will put real pressure on those above them
Wycombe are only two points off the play-offs, and that might be a little bit narrower if Matt Bloomfield has tweaked a little less with the tried and tested Gareth Ainsworth recipe. You donât get a consistent rise without a consistent batter. They donât feel like a team thatâll barge down the play-off door on the next four weeks, but Wycombe Wanderers have consistently proven us, and others, wrongâŚ
Prediction: Ipswich 3-0 Wycombe
Big game pick - Oxford v Sheffield Wednesday
Ali Maxwell
Winless in five games, against Bolton, Barnsley, Forest Green, Cheltenham, Lincoln. Not the record of relegation-threatened Oxford United, but that of table-topping Sheffield Wednesday! Three points from five games! Itâs not good. And after Oxford produced a very credible performance and secured a very credible points against Peterborough, I think there are reasons for Owls fans to be apprehensive.
âI personally donât think Wednesday win this gameâ
George Elek
Thatâs what George said (he would). But I disagree (I would). Oxfordâs point versus Posh came from defending against high quality attacking players, more technical than those at Wednesday. The problem Wednesday pose is different. With Bannan firing the ball towards Smith and Gregory, Oxford face a big (in every sense of that word) challenge. Iâm not sure theyâll rise to it.
Wednesday need to win, to cling on to top spot and put the last two weeks behind them. A win or a point for Oxford would be significant for their survival and for Liam Manningâs buy-in.
Prediction â Oxford 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
League One: Easter Monday
Big Game pick - Derby vs MK Dons
Ali Maxwell
Even without knowing the results on Friday, this will remain a huge fixture for both, especially Derby County. Anything less than six points this weekend will be considered a failure.
Big Game Pick - Plymouth vs Lincoln
George Elek
Irrelevant for the Imps, other than to keep their unbeaten record against League Oneâs top four alive. But this is incredibly important for Plymouth. They will have flagged this as a big fat W.
League Two: Good Friday
Stevenage vs Colchester
George Elek
Like a dumbbell, this oneâs big at both ends.
Colchester fans mustâve felt safe a couple of months ago. But their form has been so poor since Matt Bloomfield left (see table below), and it could feasibly catch up with them with terrible consequences. What felt like a pretty wide gap has seemed to bridge itself remarkably quickly. What Ben Garner is doing â shifting the playing style â felt like a calculated risk. But the Uâs might have to recalculate if they lose this one and those below them pick up points.
Stevenage got a great point last week against Northampton, an encouraging result to bolster their automatic aspirations. Itâs felt like Stevenage have been under the weather for a while now, picking up just enough points to stay where they are. This is the sort of game they must win. If they donât, questions will be asked.
Prediction: Stevenage 1-0 Colchester United
Salford v Leyton Orient
Ali Maxwell
âWhen Leyton Orient win promotionâ⌠thatâs where we are. After a great win last weekend, they have two feet and half an arm in League One. Itâs only a matter of time. Theyâll be keen to get it done early.
Salford arenât firing on all cylinders; theyâre just firing and firing and firing. Averaging two goals a game in the last 12 matches, their array of talent has clicked into place. Their weakness is defensively, but Orient have been struggling for goals over the last few months.
Salford seem to up their games against the top teams, and theyâll have their eye on the top three. But Leyton Orient have got all the intangibles, and I think they can grind out another result. Listen to the Betting Show for an alternative viewâŚ
Prediction: Salford 1-1 Leyton Orient
League Two: Easter Monday
Big game pick - Bradford City v Sutton United
Ali Maxwell
Sutton have a lot to do to make the play-offs. Bradford are weird. They have the best striker in the league and that obviously makes a difference. But how good are they? Slowly but surely, they are proving themselves. But weâve been caught in this trap many times, and let down time and time again by the Bantams. They could build up more momentum with a win here.
Big game pick - Northampton v Gillingham
George Elek
Gills in good form. Looking resolute and most importantly, pretty god damn safe.
For Northampton, they can make a huge stride towards League One this weekend, playing 18th and then 19th. The problem is that Newport and Gillingham have only lost five of their last 20 games combined - they are no pushovers.
Complete List of EFL Easter Fixtures
Burnley (1st)
7 April (a) - Middlesbrough (3rd) - LWWDWL
10 April (h) - Sheffield United (2nd) - WLWLWW
Sheffield United (2nd)
7 April (h) - Wigan (24th) - DLLDDW
10 April (a) - Burnley (1st) - DWDWWD
Middlesbrough (3rd)
7 April (h) - Burnley (1st) - DWDWWD
10 April (a) - Bristol City (14th) - LDWLLD
Luton (4th)
7 April (a) - Millwall (5th) - DLWWLD
10 April (h) - Blackpool (23rd) - LDLWLL
Millwall (5th)
7 April (h) - Luton (4th) - DWWWDW
10 April (a) - Hull (17th) - LWDLDD
Blackburn (6th)
7 April (h) - Norwich (7th) - WWLDDL
10 April (a) - Huddersfield (22nd) - LDLDWW
Norwich (7th)
7 April (a) - Blackburn (6th) - WWWLWL
10 April (h) - Rotherham (20th) - WDWLLD
Coventry (8th)
7 April (a) - Swansea (15th) - DLLLWW
10 April (h) - Watford (11th) - LDLWDL
West Brom (9th)
7 April (a) - Rotherham (20th) - WDWLLD
10 April (h) - QPR (19th) - LLWLLL
Preston (10th)
7 April (a) - QPR (19th) - LLWLLL
10 April (h) - Reading (18th) - LLLLDD
Watford (11th)
7 April (h) - Huddersfield (22nd) - LDLDWW
10 April (a) - Coventry (8th) - DWDDWL
Sunderland (12th)
7 April (h) - Hull (17th) - LWDLDD
10 April (a) - Cardiff (21st) - WLWLDL
Stoke (13th)
7 April (h) - Bristol City (14th) - LDWLLD
10 April (a) - Birmingham (16th) - LDWLWW
Bristol City (14th)
7 April (a) - Stoke (13th) - LWWDDW
10 April (h) - Middlesbrough (3rd) - LWWDWL
Swansea (15th)
7 April (h) - Coventry (8th) - DWDDWL
10 April (a) - Wigan (24th) - DLLDDW
Birmingham (16th)
7 April (a) - Reading (18th) - LLLLDD
10 April (h) - Stoke (13th) - LWWDDW
Hull (17th)
7 April (a) - Sunderland (12th) - LLWLDD
10 April (h) - Millwall (5th) - DLWWLD
The relegation battle seems worthy of a stylish graphic, here are the Weekend Fixtures for the teams involved.
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Sheffield Wednesday (1st)
7 April (a) - Oxford (20th) - LLLLDD
10 April (h) - Accrington (21st) - LDLLLL
Plymouth (2nd)
7 April (a) - Morecambe (22nd) - DLLDLL
10 April (h) - Lincoln (14th) - WDLLLD
Ipswich (3rd)
7 April (h) - Wycombe (8th) - WLWLDD
10 April (a) - Cheltenham (16th) - WDWWDD
Barnsley (4th)
7 April (a) - Burton (18th) - DLWLWD
10 April (h) - Shrewsbury (10th) - WDLWLL
Bolton (5th)
7 April (a) - Exeter (11th) - WLWWWD
10 April (h) - Cambridge (20th) - LLDLLW
Peterborough (6th)
7 April (a) - Shrewsbury (10th) - WDLWLL
10 April (h) - Exeter (11th) - WLWWWD
Derby (7th)
7 April (a) - Forest Green (24th) - DLLLWL
10 April (h) - MK Dons (19th) - DLWWWD
Wycombe (8th)
7 April (a) - Ipswich (2nd) - WWWWWW
10 April (h) - Forest Green (24th) - DLLLWL
Portsmouth (9th)
7 April (a) - MK Dons (19th) - DLWWWD
10 April (h) - Morecambe (22nd) - DLLDLL
Shrewsbury (10th)
7 April (h) - Peterborough (6th) - WLWWWD
10 April (a) - Barnsley (4th) - WWWWLW
Exeter (11th)
7 April (h) - Bolton (5th) - LWLDLD
10 April (a) - Peterborough (6th) - WLWWWD
Charlton (12th)
7 April (a) - Bristol Rovers (15th) - LWDWLL
10 April (h) - Burton (18th) - DLWLWD
Fleetwood (13th)
7 April (a) - Cambridge (20th) - LLDLLW
10 April (h) - Bristol Rovers (15th) - LWDWLL
Lincoln (14th)
7 April (h) - Cheltenham (16th) - WDWWDD
10 April (a) - Plymouth (2nd) - LWWLWW
Bristol Rovers (15th)
7 April (h) - Charlton (12th) - LDWWDW
10 April (a) - Fleetwood (13th) - LLDWWD
Cheltenham (16th)
7 April (a) - Lincoln (14th) - WDLLLD
10 April (h) - Ipswich (2nd) - WWWWWW
Port Vale (17th)
7 April (a) - Accrington (21st) - LDLLLL
10 April (h) - Oxford (20th) - LLLLDD
Relegation battle graphic:
Leyton Orient (1st)
7 April (a) - Salford (7th) - DWLWWD
10 April (h) - Harrogate (20th) - DDWLWD
Northampton (2nd)
7 April (a) - Newport (18th) - LDDDWD
10 April (h) - Gillingham (19th) - DWLWWL
Stevenage (3rd)
7 April (h) - Colchester (21st) - LLLDDD
10 April (a) - Hartlepool (23rd) - DDDDDW
Carlisle Utd (4th)
7 April (h) - Tranmere (14th) - WDLLDD
10 April (a) - Walsall (13th) - LDWDLD
Stockport (5th)
7 April (a) - Sutton (10th) - DWDLDD
10 April (h) - Newport (18th) - LDDDWD
Bradford (6th)
7 April (a) - Crawley (22nd) - WWDWDL
10 April (h) - Sutton (10th) - DWDLDD
Salford City (7th)
7 April (h) - Leyton Orient (1st) - WDDDDW
10 April (a) - AFC Wimbledon (16th) - LDLLWL
Mansfield (8th)
7 April (a) - Swindon (11th) - DLDDLL
10 April (h) - Rochdale (24th) - DWLDLW
Barrow (9th)
7 April (a) - Crewe (17th) - DWLLLW
10 April (h) - Crawley (22nd) - WWDWDL
Sutton Utd (10th)
7 April (h) - Stockport (5th) - DDWDWD
10 April (a) - Bradford (6th) - WDDDDW
Swindon Town (11th)
7 April (h) - Mansfield (8th) - WLDDDW
10 April (a) - Tranmere (14th) - WDLLDD
Doncaster (12th)
7 April (a) - Gillingham (19th) - DWLWWL
10 April (h) - Grimsby (15th) - WWDDDL
Walsall (13th)
7 April (a) - Rochdale (24th) - DWLDLW
10 April (h) Carlisle (4th) - WWDDLL
Tranmere (14th)
7 April (a) - Carlisle (4th) - WWDDLL
10 April (h) - Swindon (11th) - DLDDLL
Grimsby (15th)
7 April (h) - Hartlepool (23rd) - DDDDDW
10 April (a) - Doncaster (12th) - LWLDLL
AFC Wimbledon (16th)
7 April (a) - Harrogate (20th) - DDWLWD
10 April (h) - Salford (7th) - DWLWWD
Crewe Alexandra (17th)
7 April (h) - Barrow (9th) - DWDLWW
10 April (a) - Colchester (21st) - LLLDDD
Newport (18th)
7 April (h) - Northampton (2nd) - WDWWWD
10 April (a) - Stockport (5th) - DDWDWD
Gillingham (19th)
7 April (h) - Doncaster (12th) - LWLDLL
10 April (a) - Northampton (2nd) - WDWWWD
Relegation battle graphic:
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