Football League: Promotion and relegation hanging in the balance

Derby face Watford live on Sky Sports 1HD

The Easter weekend looks set to have a crucial say at the top and bottom of the Sky Bet Football League, with double-headers for all involved.

Just eight points currently separate the top eight in the Championship as Bournemouth, who have collected 13 points from the last 15 available, lead the way, while Wolves are closing in on the play-offs thanks to back-to-back wins.

At the other end of the table, Wigan and Millwall are both in desperate need of upturns in form as they sit five and seven points adrift of safety but face tough fixtures, while basement side Blackpool can be relegated if results go against them.

Crucial clashes:

Ipswich v Bournemouth (live on Sky Sports 1 HD, Good Friday, 5.15pm)

Bournemouth will be looking to overcome the toughest of the remaining hurdles in their path towards the Sky Bet Championship title, with Ipswich their only remaining top-eight opponents. The Cherries have arguably the most favourable run-in and boast the league’s best form, winning four of their last five. For the Tractor Boys, Friday represents a chance to record back-to-back wins over league leaders, having overcome Watford before the international break.

 

Ipswich vs B'mouth

April 3, 2015

Opta stat: Brett Pitman has scored six goals in his last four games for Bournemouth, while Callum Wilson has won nine penalties in the Championship this season, five more than any other player.

Derby v Watford (live on Sky Sports 1 HD, Good Friday, 7.45pm)

Derby have slipped off the automatic promotion pace in recent weeks with a six-match winless run, but Steve McClaren’s men can cut the gap between themselves and the second-placed Hornets to two points with a win. Leading scorer Chris Martin is back in training for the Rams and Darren Bent is also available, while Watford will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to Ipswich, especially with fellow contenders Middlesborough to follow on Monday.

 

Derby vs Watford

April 3, 2015

Opta stat: Watford have claimed the fewest number of points against teams currently in the top 8 (9), winning just twice (D3 L7).

Middlesbrough v Wigan Athletic (Good Friday, 3pm)

This one has connotations at the top and the bottom of the table, with Boro pushing for the automatic promotion spots and the Latics scrapping hard for survival. Aitor Karanka's men were humbled by Bournemouth before the international break but their home form could play into their hands against 22nd-placed Wigan, who desperately need a win to close the five-point gap on Rotherham above them.

Opta stat: Middlesbrough have scored as many goals in the second half of games this season as Wigan have registered in total (35). 

Bolton v Blackpool (Saturday, 3pm)

It's a key period at the foot of the Championship table as well, and Blackpool could see their drop to League One confirmed this weekend if results don't go their way. The Tangerines are 17 points from safety with seven games remaining. If Rotherham win at Birmingham on Friday, Lee Clark's men know anything but victory over Bolton will see them consigned to the third tier.

Opta stat: Blackpool have won only one of their last 35 away games (D10 L24), keeping just three clean sheets in the process.

League One:

There are some big games at both ends of the table this weekend, with second-placed Preston taking on play-off hopefuls Rochdale on Friday, before Swindon host MK Dons in the battle of third against fourth on Saturday afternoon, live on Sky Sports 1 from 12.15pm. The battle for survival continues at the other end, meanwhile, as Crawley travel to Crewe looking to leapfrog their opponents and move out of the bottom four.

 

Swindon vs MK Dons

April 4, 2015

League Two:

The top three of Burton, Shrewsbury and Wycombe could all potentially guarantee themselves at least a play-off place on Good Friday if results go their way. They take on Plymouth, Dagenham & Redbridge and Oxford respectively as they continue to fight for top spot. At the foot of the table, basement club Cheltenham travel to fellow strugglers York, Tranmere visit Stevenage and Ronnie Moore's resurgent Hartlepool look for their fifth-straight win when they face Newport.