Gab Sutton's EFL Winners & Losers - April 14
It's squeaky-bum time in the EFL at this stage of the season, with every point at the top and bottom of the tables worth their weight in gold, and there was plenty more drama this weekend.
Our EFL pundit here at Free Bets, Gab Sutton, takes a look at another busy weekend of EFL action across the three leagues.
Winners
Sheffield Wednesday Fans
Even with deep-rooted off-field problems, and a points deduction that rendered this season a write-off, Sheffield Wednesday supporters have turned up to away games this season in tremendous spirit.
Wednesdayites have gone to every game expecting nothing on the pitch, so they’ve just decided to make the best of it and have a good time regardless of what happens.
The travelling Owls fans certainly expected nothing at Coventry, who it subsequently became clear would have mathematically rubber-stamped promotion with a victory, but instead the visitors managed an unlikely point.
It wasn’t a complete smash-and-grab job, either; the hosts had the majority of the chances, as you’d expect, but the visitors had some good ones too, and were able to look after the ball for spells and manage the game well, particularly in the first half.
Henrik Pedersen deserves full credit for a fantastic managerial performance on the day – as do the players for executing it to the letter, giving Wednesdayites something to smile about in a bleak season.
Solid Stevenage
Stevenage took one giant leap closer to a Play-Off spot in League One, with a victory at potential semi-final opponents Bradford.
The victory was somewhat fortuitous, with Boro scoring from one of their three efforts at goal, but it means Alex Revell’s side have kept four consecutive clean sheets – taking their seasonal tally to 17 – foundations that could be extremely valuable in the post-season.
Their most immediate Play-Off rivals, Plymouth Argyle, had been held in lunchtime’s Devon Derby, which means Stevenage’s win put them four points clear with a game in hand.
Cambridge's Bouncebackability
Unless you have the resources to dominate a league, you’re probably not going to win promotion in the EFL without a few setbacks.
Cambridge had those across the Easter Weekend, conceding costly late equalizers out of nothing to Swindon and Cheltenham, having been the clear better side in both games.
It meant they went into Saturday's six-pointer with Notts County two points off their opponents, on the wrong side of the automatic promotion side, rather than two points clear.
Neil Harris’ side didn’t feel sorry for themselves, though: an early Dom Ball strike set the U’s on their way to a commanding performance in which they put their opponents to the sword, something they’d struggled to do in previous games.
Defender James Gibbons scored twice, while the trio of Ben Knight, Sullay Kaikai and Shayne Lavery linked up superbly.
Losers
Middlesbrough
Since becoming the new promotion favourites in the Championship with February’s convincing 2-1 win at Sheffield United, Middlesbrough have taken just 11 points from as many games.
Their performance levels haven’t actually changed that much – they’re still creating plenty of chances – but they’re paying for not signing a striker in January, because they continue to suffer from missing a ruthless edge in front of goal.
It doesn’t help, either, that Boro are without Hayden Hackney in midfield, and will be desperate to get their homegrown all-rounder back in time for what will surely now be the Play-Offs.
Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon went into the Easter Weekend feeling reasonably secure in their League One status, having already amassed 50 points, but resurgence from Wigan, Blackpool, Burton and Exeter has left natives feeling nervy.
The Dons have now taken just one point from their last seven league games, and are without a goal in four, with numerous strikers including top goalscorer Matty Stevens sidelined through injury.
Johnnie Jackson’s side are down to the bare bones, and reliant on young prospects like Junior Nkeng for any sort of attacking impetus.
After a 1-0 loss at Burton last time out, Wombles fans will be fearing the worst: they’re two points above the drop zone, with Stockport, Plymouth Argyle, Wigan and Huddersfield left to play.
Harrogate
Harrogate had given themselves fresh hope of revival with Good Friday’s unlikely 3-1 victory at Grimsby, but Simon Weaver’s side couldn’t follow it up, twice losing a lead to suffer defeat to Bristol Rovers, before falling short in the crunch six-pointer with Newport.
Had Town won at Rodney Parade, they would have climbed out of the bottom two with a two-point gap, but with defeat they’re four points adrift, and may need maximum points from their final three to have a chance of preserving their EFL status.
There have been positives in recent performances to suggest they have a chance of doing that, against midtable opposition, but the odds are against them.
EFL Betting at Free Bets
Gab Sutton provides weekly football tips for Free Bets, featuring a thoroughly researched longshot acca alongside sharp analysis of the key talking points and standout moments from the weekend's action at the start of each new week.
