It’s Easter, the best weekend of the year for Football League fixtures. With two games in four days so close to the end of the season, teams have a chance to make or break a promotion push or survival scrap.
Let’s answer the big questions…
Who wins four-team promotion fight?
Leicester came out of the blocks flying, with 13 wins in the first 14 games back in the second tier after their fairytale era tumbled down with relegation. But the Championship is a marathon, not a sprint – and the Foxes have faltered.
Pep Guardiola’s former right-hand man Enzo Maresca looks a shrewd operator despite a budget that dwarfs most teams below, but the next two games will define just how good the Italian boss is, with just one win in the previous five games.
Leicester came out of the blocks flying, with 13 wins in the first 14 games back in the second tier
Pep Guardiola ’s former right-hand man Enzo Maresca looks a shrewd operator during his debut season in charge
Let’s not focus solely on that tricky spell but instead the 32 matches that came before it, where Maresca’s men asserted themselves as one of the best teams this division has seen with a patient, possession-based game that saw many top teams left with egg on their faces.
Jamie Vardy is still the main source of goals with 13, but Leicester look different to the team that came down, with Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi dangerous out wide. Wilfried Ndidi, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Harry Winks are a midfield trio far too good for this level.
But Leeds, as tipped in this column before a ball was kicked, have everything at their disposal to romp to the title, going into this weekend as leaders – though they have played a game more than Leicester. Daniel Farke has been there and done it twice with Norwich.
A recruitment drive to sign young, uncut gems was a reason for relegation last year, but many of those are thriving now, such as Georginio Rutter and Willy Gnonto. In 18-year-old Archie Gray, Leeds have the best youngster in the division.
Farke’s youngsters had an inconsistent start to life back in the Championship but have blown away nearly all in their wake since Christmas, taking 37 points from 39 in 2024. Welsh internationals Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon have been exceptional, too.
But Easter Weekend has haunted Leeds before. In 2019, they were in a similar position of authority in the automatic race but had back-to-back defeats to Wigan and Brentford, then fell apart in the play-offs against Frank Lampard’s Derby.
Ipswich have been the story of the season, after amassing 98 points and scoring 101 goals in League One last term. The early surge of Kieran McKenna’s side is no surprise to anyone that watched them in the third tier but their staying power is remarkable.
Losing to Cardiff after goals in the 95th and 100th minute earlier this month could have derailed their push, as could a run over Christmas where they won just once from December 12 to February 14, but the Tractor Boys won’t go away.
Jamie Vardy is still the main source of goals with 13, but Leicester look different to the team that came down
Leeds have everything at their disposal to romp to the Championship title this season
Ipswich have been the story of the season, after amassing 98 points and scoring 101 goals in League One last term
They are a point adrift of those above them. An Ipswich win over Southampton on Monday would surely rule Russell Martin’s Saints out of the automatic race. They went unbeaten in a staggering 25 games but have faltered since.
Points on the board are better than games in hand but the fact they are nine back from leaders Leeds is counteracted by the fact they have played two fewer matches. Hope is not all gone on the south coast but Martin might need to conjure up another formidable run.
Adam Armstrong is stating a case for the league’s player of the season gong, with 18 goals only topped by Blackburn’s Sammie Szmodics, plus 11 assists. If Saints don’t make the top two, they would be a strong bet in the play-offs.
Best of the rest?
West Brom manager Carlos Corberan looks destined for the Premier League, though the Spaniard will hope to do so with the Baggies. They have lost just one of their last 10 and can put one hand on a play-off spot this weekend.
Easier said than done, mind, but West Brom are the best of the rest with a strong defensive foundation. January signing Mikey Johnston has injected energy and flair to their attack and it seems baffling Celtic let him leave on loan.
Just below are Norwich, who recovered from a terrible run from September to December that saw David Wagner’s job under serious scrutiny, especially after a 6-2 hammering at Plymouth. Credit to new director of football Ben Knapper for sticking by him. They have an exciting team.
West Brom manager Carlos Corberan looks destined for the Premier League, though the Spaniard will hope to do so with the Baggies
West Brom have lost just one of their last 10 and can put one hand on a play-off spot this weekend
Hull go into this weekend on the back of four straight draws but Liam Rosenior’s youthful side have realistic top-six hopes.
Liverpool loanees Tyler Morton and Fabio Carvalho have impressed, though £5million signing Jaden Philogene has been a game-changer.
Hull go into this weekend on the back of four straight draws but Liam Rosenior’s youthful side have realistic top-six hopes
Last season’s play-off runners-up Coventry will hope their magical run to the FA Cup semi-finals does not distract from another top-six push, with Mark Robins’ men well in the hunt again despite big summer exits. The Sky Blues have lost just three times since December 2.
Behind them, Michael Carrick and Middlesbrough have had an inconsistent season but could finish with a flourish, while Ryan Lowe’s Preston could gain ground with two winnable fixtures, and Turkish boss Erol Bulut is going well at Cardiff.
Who is going down?
Take your pick. Just 10 points separate Sunderland in 12th to Sheffield Wednesday in 23rd. Rotherham have been abysmal, winning just three times all season and shipping 77 goals. They might break their own record for goals conceded in one campaign.
The Millers’ relegation could be confirmed this weekend if those above them get back-to-back wins. Wednesday went winless in their first 13 games and sacked Xisco Munoz, but new boss Danny Rohl, just 34, has given them a fighting chance.
Before defeats to promotion-chasing Leeds and Ipswich, the Owls won five of their previous six and a similar run will be needed as they take on Luke Williams’ Swansea, who are in good form but, along with Watford and Bristol City, not quite safe just yet.
Sheffield Wednesday have a chance at survival under new boss Danny Rohl
Rotherham’s relegation could be confirmed this weekend if those above them get back-to-back wins
The decision to sack John Eustace and sign Wayne Rooney is haunting Birmingham, who have recently appointed Gary Rowett on an interim basis after Tony Mowbray needed to step away with illness. They play fellow strugglers QPR in a huge game today.
Marti Cifuentes, like Rohl, gave the R’s a lift and they have lost just two of the last 11, which has plunged Huddersfield into the bottom three. Former Hoffenheim boss Andre Breitenreiter is their third boss of the season.
Steven Schumacher switched Plymouth for Stoke and it looks like a bad move for both parties, with Argyle fans not sold on new boss Ian Foster. Both are in trouble, though Plymouth’s Morgan Whittaker has been one of the players of the season.
Eustace is yet to win in nine games as Blackburn boss. Rovers are in awful form, though they have managed to turn losses into draws with six points in their last seven. Millwall have picked up since rehiring Neil Harris but they are still looking over their shoulders.
