5 things to watch for in the EFL – Matchday 46

It all comes down to this: it’s the final matchday in the EFL, with all three leagues playing out their last fixtures over the Bank Holiday weekend. More than a few teams are already in celebration mode, and several more are now contemplating life in the league below – but the beauty of the play-offs is keeping the dream alive for so many others.

The Championship sees five teams battling out for the last two play-off spots, while two needs to become one in League One. Plymouth are out to clinch the title while any of MK Dons, Morecambe and Cambridge United could find themselves dropping through the relegation trapdoor. In League Two, Stockport could sneak into third and claim back-to-back promotions, or will Jon Brady’s Northampton hold onto that last automatic spot?

It’s about to get very tense for a large number of the 72 clubs that make up for the EFL. Brace yourself for what’s sure to be a drama-packed couple of days.

Here are five key things to watch for in the EFL this weekend.

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Sky Blues to have day in the sun?

There’s a fascinating game in store at the Riverside Stadium, where Coventry need at least a point to be guaranteed a play-off spot unless other results go their way. Their hosts, Middlesbrough, are already locked into fourth place – but they may see the benefit of playing hard to push Coventry out of the top-six, and avoid a potential two-legged rematch with the Sky Blues next week.

Boro will want to halt a recent slump in form that has seen them lose four times in their last seven games. They will also seek to avoid an unwanted hat-trick of final-day defeats, having lost to Preston and Wycombe in game 46 of the last two campaigns. Boro are 29/20 to beat Coventry, with a draw – which could be enough for the visitors – is 12/5.

Viktor Gyokeres is the main reason Boro might prefer to do everything in their power to avoid facing Coventry in the play-offs. The Swedish forward has 21 goals and 10 assists in the Championship this season, and he is likely to attract plenty of top-flight attention should the Sky Blues not make it. Gyokeres is 4/1 to get the opener, and 8/5 to score any time. A draw with Gyokeres scoring any time is 10/1.

Lions to be roared on against Rovers

The Den is renowned for its tasty atmosphere, and Millwall’s home crowd will be in an even more raucous mood than usual in the regular season’s final fixture with a play-off berth on the line. The Lions head into Matchday 46 occupying that final top-six place, but will need at least a point to hold off the three teams vying to displace them.

One of those teams is their visitors, Blackburn Rovers, who need a win and a bit of fortune to overhaul the rest of the pack. Neither side is in great form heading into this one, but Rovers have slumped badly in the home straight of the season and are winless since mid-March. They do, however, have an excellent record at the Den with just one league defeat here in seven visits this century. An away win is 29/10.

Millwall are 10/11 to finish strongly with three points after a vital 3-2 win at Blackpool last time out. Tom Bradshaw’s outstanding season continued in that one with his 16th and 17th league goals of the campaign, and he is 9/2 to get the opener against Rovers.

Black Cats hoping for some fortune

Sunderland are finishing the season strongly, with Patrick Roberts’ 95th-minute equaliser gratefully received against Watford last weekend to keep their play-off hopes intact. The Black Cats need a win and a few favours to sneak into the top six, but with Coventry at Middlesbrough and Millwall against Blackburn, there’s every chance a result could go their way.

The Black Cats traditionally turn up on the last day: they’ve won their final league match in each of their last six seasons at this level. Their opponents, Preston, have nothing but pride to play for, and Sunderland may sense vulnerability among a backline that shipped four at Sheffield United last week. They are the first side promoted to the Championship to score at least 65 goals since 2014/15, and will go all-out for a win in this one. Sunderland are 10/11 to win, with Patrick Roberts 7/1 to get the opener.

Can Morecambe complete their great escape?

Morecambe are on the verge of one of the all-time great escapes at the foot of League One. The Shrimps looked dead and buried as recently as mid-April, but have since gone on a remarkable run picking up 10 points in their last four games. They now sit in the final relegation place, but only goal difference is keeping them behind MK Dons.

Exeter sit comfortably above the Shrimps but are in alarming form, with six league defeats in a row. Not since February 1984 have the Grecians lost seven consecutive games in the Football League, but Morecambe are 9/5 to get the win that could secure them League One football next season. A draw could be enough for the Shrimps: that’s 13/5.

Two promotions in a row for Stockport?

Stockport’s dream of back-to-back promotions is still alive, although they need to take care of their own business and hope for a favour from Tranmere against third-placed Northampton. Whatever happens on the last day, it’s been a fantastic return to the EFL for County, who have already won 22 games this season – their most in an EFL season in 15 years.

They are strong favourites to make it 23 on Monday when they host already-relegated Hartlepool. Goalscoring hasn’t been the visitors’ downfall: their 51 goals is only nine fewer than champions Leyton Orient. This could be an open encounter, and you can get 21/10 on a Stockport win with both teams finding the net, and 29/10 on a Stockport win with five or more total goals in the match.

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