EFL Preview: The race to finish top/not bottom at Christmas begins

League One leaders Wycombe may have seen their impressive 11-match winning run end, but this week’s spirited draw at Exeter stretched their unbeaten record to 15 games.

Boss Matt Bloomfield is the poster boy for the feet-on-the-ground managers out there, saying their record so far is “irrelevant” and is making sure his side doesn’t dare dine out on what they’ve achieved, which, Bloomfield is quick to point out ahead of in-form Reading’s visit, is nothing.

With Wrexham breathing down the Chairboys’ necks still and dangerous-looking Birmingham refusing to go away, Wycombe will be mindful of Bloomfield’s sentiments.

Three points is all that separates all three, with all three in with a chance of going top.

At the other end, Northampton, like Hull, will be hoping for a dose of IMB following Thursday’s surprise resignation of manager Jon Brady.

Surprising, from the fact that it came 48 hours after the 49-year-old spoke about his “pride” at what he’d achieved in three and a half years at the club.

His 200th game ended in defeat at Stevenage – the Cobblers’ third in a six-game winless run – leaving them in the bottom four.

Interim boss Ian Sampson is in charge of delivering the bounce as Peterborough comes to Sixfields on Monday.

Before then, under pressure Garry Monk will want his Cambridge side to back up his pledge that there will be a “huge response” in a vital game against bottom club Shrewsbury Town.

Burton Albion‘s season so far has been a bit of a mess.

The managerless Brewers were embarrassed by non-league Tamworth in the FA Cup but, to their credit, responded with an impressive win at Peterborough that at least took them off the foot of the table.

They will hope Tom Hounsell can conjure some sustained “IMB” as he continues his temporary spell in charge at home to Wrexham, although the club’s Scandinavian owners suggested this week he could get the job permanently.