EFL preview: Marching on to the business end of the season

The Championship action kicks off on Friday night (20:00 GMT) as fourth-placed Sunderland seek to bounce back from consecutive defeats for the first time this season.

The Black Cats head to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday, who have slipped from the fringe of the play-off places to 13th off the back of a run of four points from their past five games – the last two also ending in defeat.

Leeds have the opportunity to open up an eight-point lead at the top of the table, for a few hours at least, as they welcome West Bromwich Albion to Elland Road (12:30 GMT).

Daniel Farke will be hoping it’s not a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ following dramatic victories over Sunderland and Sheffield United on Monday made it five straight wins and 16 league games unbeaten.

In-form Junior Firpo told BBC Radio Leeds: “Obviously to win at Sheffield United, second in the league, fighting with us to win the league, to go five points clear feels unbelievable.

“There are still a lot of games to play, we have to stay humble, it’s not done yet. We want to keep going and win as many games as possible.”

Closest challengers the Blades will aim to get back on track as they visit QPR at 15:00 GMT.

“We’ve got to go again,” boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield. “Nothing’s been decided. We have to stay humble and work our way back into a performance and result on Saturday.

“Our reaction to disappointment has been outstanding all season. We’ve 12 games to go, we’ll dust ourselves down and go again. There’s a lot of points to be won.”

The play-off race is tightening up with 10 teams separated by just seven points and the early kick-offs see Valerien Ismael taking charge of sixth-placed Blackburn for the first time as 10th-placed Norwich, just four points behind, are the visitors to Ewood Park.

At the same time Coventry’s charge up the standings will be challenged by Oxford United at the Kassam, with Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues just a point behind fifth-placed West Brom after collecting seven wins from their past eight games.

At 15:00 GMT, all eyes will turn to the lower reaches of the table with some intriguing fixtures, not least rock-bottom Luton hosting Portsmouth, who have pulled nine points clear of the drop zone thanks to three straight wins.

After ending a five-match losing streak with victory at Stoke in midweek, Middlesbrough will host second-bottom Derby seeking to close a four-point gap to safety, while the Potters – in 20th and five points above the drop zone – entertain Watford, who have won two straight after going five without a win.