As Sheffield United and Burnley wait to play, Leeds will have the chance to extend their advantage at the top when they meet QPR (12:30 GMT). The other early kickoff pits Stoke against Millwall, with Mark Robins’ team perilously near the bottom three. With the Lions still hoping to make the playoffs, Alex Neil will face his old team. There are eight games at 15:00 GMT, including Swansea vs. Burnley, Plymouth vs. Derby, and Sunderland vs. Coventry. Bristol City defeated Norwich 2-1 at Ashton Gate Wednesday night, moving them up to sixth place in the standings.
When a former team visits the area, there’s usually a little additional incentive in the air, and you can bet Alex Neil will sense that at The Den this afternoon. If recent history is any indication, the Scot’s Millwall team is hoping to maintain its bragging rights when they play their former employers, Stoke, under his leadership, for the first time today. The Potters, who will aim to improve their record today in order to increase their chances of surviving, have lost four of Neill’s last five games. Actually, Neil Harris and Narcis Pelach were the two different managers in the dugout during the last meeting between these two teams in September.
Marti Cifuentes’ side need a win to turn the tide and ensure their season doesn’t spiral.
A first win here since 2017 would strengthen Leeds’ claims for a return to the top table.
When a former team visits the area, there’s usually a little additional incentive in the air, and you can bet Alex Neil will sense that at The Den this afternoon. If recent history is any indication, the Scot’s Millwall team is hoping to maintain its bragging rights when they play their former employers, Stoke, under his leadership, for the first time today. The Potters, who will aim to improve their record today in order to increase their chances of surviving, have lost four of Neill’s last five games. Actually, Neil Harris and Narcis Pelach were the two different managers in the dugout during the last meeting between these two teams in September.
Neil’s tenure as Millwall’s manager is nearly identical to that of Mark Robins, the team’s opposite number who took over in Staffordshire in January. Since then, their results have been inconsistent; under Neill, Millwall has gained 19 points from 14 games, while under Robins, Stoke has gained 13 from 12. Since the Lions have only won twice in their last ten games on home soil, the home crowd has been a little starved of results at the Den. However, with only Swansea, Oxford, and bottom-place Plymouth having scored fewer goals on the road this season than Stoke’s 14, there is a strong opportunity to improve that record.
The Potters can’t end the day in the bottom three, but with fixtures against Luton and Cardiff to come, they will want to make sure those sides are out of reach by then.
Leeds begins the day leading by two points as they travel to west London to play QPR. If Burnley loses and Sheffield United plays tomorrow, it could be five by 3pm. But, even in a good season, these away games at 12:30 on Saturday lunchtime have been problematic, with four games played, zero wins, one goal, and three points. Given that QPR has lost their last four games and their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs have vanished, a win or a draw would put Leeds over the 80-point mark and in first place for the final stretch following the international break.
Incentive enough – but this is the Championship and things are rarely a walk in the park.
After last Sunday’s loss to Portsmouth, are Leeds supporters feeling a little better about their chances of getting promoted? QPR supporters: what does success look like this season, or should we rule them out of the play-offs? Millwall supporters: how would you rate Alex Neil’s start as Lions head coach and do you still think the top six is possible? Stoke supporters: are you worried about this team’s chances of moving up the table, or is there more than enough quality to move them up? If you have anything else to share, please share it with us through the standard channels, and we’ll publish the best posts.
At the top and bottom of the Championship, an incredible day of action is in store. Leeds will secure the top spot going into the campaign’s last international break if they defeat QPR on the road. With Burnley playing in the Steel City tomorrow, three points at Swansea would put them ahead of Sheffield United. In a highly desirable match, fourth-place Sunderland, who still have a very narrow possibility of finishing in the top two, travels to Coventry, who are outside the top six on goal differential. Every game has something to offer, but Home Park is arguably the place where the stakes will be the highest. In a gloomy match, Plymouth, the bottom team, hosts Derby, who are in 22nd place.
Nothing is decided at this stage, but it will feel like a long way to safety for whoever loses that game.
This Saturday marks the conclusion of the Championship’s arduous winter schedule before the international break. The final twenty-three league games crammed into less than four months of unrelenting, vicious football. There should be something for everyone in the ten games we have scheduled today, all of which have promotion or relegation on the line. “One last big effort, boys, come on,” managers will undoubtedly be telling exhausted bodies and minds in the dressing room.
