Coventry City sit atop the Championship after a 12‑game unbeaten start and a decisive 3‑1 win over Middlesbrough that pushed them 12 points clear. A slip‑up by Millwall at West Brom would hand the Sky Blues automatic promotion if they beat Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, turning a 25‑year exile into a possible return.

Lincoln secured League One promotion on Monday, ending a 65‑year wait for second‑tier football. An unbeaten stretch of 24 games, highlighted by a victory over title‑favorite Cardiff, left them poised to chase the championship with a home clash against Leyton Orient. A win coupled with a Cardiff loss would give the Imps a 15‑point cushion.

Southampton, fresh from a 5‑1 demolition of Wrexham, sit on the final play‑off spot in the Championship, two points ahead of Rotherham. Their 16‑game unbeaten run faces a stern test against Derby, who have collected 15 points from seven matches. Meanwhile, the League Two battle tightens as Bromley eye promotion with a potential win at Milton Keynes.