Former striker Aaron McLean offered a sharp assessment of EFL action, placing Ipswich Town firmly in the driver's seat for second automatic promotion in the Championship. McLean credits Ipswich’s consistency—six wins and three draws in nine games—over Middlesbrough, who have struggled without a win in six matches. Coventry's earlier victory over Middlesbrough effectively dismantled the latter's promotion hopes.

In League One, Cardiff City cemented their position after a vital 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers, establishing a ten-point gap over Bradford City. McLean believes Cardiff, a club seemingly too big for the third tier, will secure promotion shortly. Meanwhile, Lincoln City’s extraordinary 25-game unbeaten run, featuring twenty wins, proves nearly perfect, though promotion remains the only metric that matters for the Bluebirds.

McLean delivered a scathing verdict on Leicester City, predicting a second successive relegation sends the Foxes down quickly, a decade after they won the Premier League. He attributes their poor form—one win in sixteen games—to a lack of application from the players, despite the mitigating factor of a six-point deduction. He feels the squad has deeply let the supporters down.

Finally, McLean backed Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen to continue despite their fast relegation, citing the team's relentless effort, exemplified by their draw at Coventry. In League Two, McLean expects Bromley, MK Dons, and Cambridge United to claim the top three spots based on current form and squad strength.