EFL preview: Lions chase leading pack, Steel City derby is headline act

Saturday lunchtime has thrown up some eye-catching fixtures in the second tier with Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers seeking to bounce back from midweek losses, Middlesbrough and Luton Town seeking to build on midweek wins and Stoke City hosting Millwall, who have won four straight games by the same 1-0 scoreline to leap into the top six.

Lions boss Neil Harris says the defensive structure of his team is a big part of their rise up the table, telling BBC Radio London: “For us, it’s about discipline, being as organised and structured as we can be and then finding a way to score at the other end. I’m very proud of the players.”

Millwall are six unbeaten and seeking a fifth straight win as they head to the Bet365 Stadium and Harris added: “It just shows what momentum can give you, what a top culture can give you and identifying what our strengths are as a team and a club.”

The intrigue doesn’t end at lunchtime. At 15:00 GMT Leeds will seek to bounce back from their defeat at The Den at home to lowly QPR and leaders Sunderland will host Coventry City, who sacked Mark Robins, the EFL’s longest serving manager, on Thursday hours after their home defeat by Derby, whose manager Paul Warne is now the longest tenured in the division.

The Rams return home having ended their away hoodoo and will host former manager Wayne Rooney, whose Plymouth side are the worst travellers in the whole EFL with one point and one goal across their seven games away from Home Park.

Portsmouth host Preston North End at Fratton Park in a clash between bottom and fifth-bottom.

Pompey have not won at home, taking three points from six matches, while North End haven’t won away, also taking three points from their half-dozen away games.

Nailed on draw or has something got to give?