Massive live games, free highlights, league tables, podcasts, exclusive interviews and more. Everything you need to know about the EFL this weekend on Sky Sports.
Play-off chasers meet at Ashton Gate
Bristol City vs Derby (8pm) – live on Sky Sports Football from 7.30pm on Friday night
It is some scrap for the play-offs right now. Wrexham are sat in sixth on 44 points heading into the weekend, and they are two points closer to Sheffield United in 17th than they are to Middlesbrough in second.
Bristol City and Derby County are among the chasing pack. City a point off in seventh, County two points off in 11th. The winner at Ashton Gate heads into the rest of the weekend in the play-off places. A huge incentive on offer.
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The Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast looks ahead to Bristol City vs Derby
Tommy Smith on the Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast:
“It’s a great game to start the weekend and there’s no better incentive for both teams. Whichever side wins will move into the top six, which is a real carrot before a ball is even kicked. Both teams have been in and around it for the last couple of months, performing very well and proving themselves as strong sides in their own right.
“They’re fully deserving of the positions they’re in right now. You’re looking at two different styles of play. Bristol City are very front-footed in how they defend, with sharp transitions and quick counter-attacks. Derby are efficient and well organised. They don’t concede many goals and they don’t give away many chances. It’s an intriguing contest and one I’m really looking forward to.”
What EFL is live on Sky Sports+ at 12.30pm on Saturday?
Sky Sports+ brings you a choice of live EFL games on Saturday, with build-up starting from 11am on Sky Sports Football ahead of the feature game: Stoke City vs Southampton. You can also keep up with all the action on the EFL Goal Zone on Soccer Saturday from midday.
Stoke City have been ravaged by injury in recent weeks but they are still hanging on in the battle for the play-off places under Mark Robins. They welcome the visit of Southampton on Saturday, who were held to a 1-1 draw at fierce rivals Portsmouth last weekend.
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The Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast looks ahead to Stoke vs Southampton
Tommy Smith on the Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast:
“Stoke are still firmly in the race for the top six. Once they get players back fit and firing, they’ll feel confident again. Mark Robins has said they want to be positive and still believe they can push for the top six. It makes this an interesting game, especially with Southampton coming into it on a poor run of form.
“Southampton’s results haven’t been good but they still have individual quality. On any given day they’re capable of competing with anyone in the league.”
Elsewhere in the Championship, Leicester City begin the post-Marti Cifuentes era by hosting a Charlton Athletic side struggling at the wrong end of the table.
Sheffield Wednesday start life after Barry Bannan as they host play-off chasing Wrexham.
In League One, AFC Wimbledon host promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers, and Bradford City will be looking to bounce back from defeat at Lincoln in midweek as they host relegation-threatened Doncaster Rovers.
In League Two, 22nd faces 23rd as Bristol Rovers host Newport County in a huge relegation six-pointer, while play-off chasing Grimsby Town host second-placed MK Dons.
