Aston Villa's hopes are fading, Norwich need to improve record against top-six sides and a huge clash in Sky Bet League Two...
Friday 25 January 2019 22:43, UK
We cast our eye over five things to look out for in the Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two this weekend.
It wasn't too long ago that there was talk of Aston Villa being able to put a run together and even sneak into the top two this season.
Had Villa held on to their two-goal lead and beaten Leeds in the final game before Christmas, Dean Smith's side would have been seventh in the table, two points off the play-offs and nine behind Marcelo Bielsa's side.
Since that defeat Villa have won just one of their last five games, and head into the weekend back in the bottom half of the table, seven away from the top six and 15 behind Leeds.
Last week they were forced to come from behind to nick a draw with Hull at Villa Park, who are now above them in the table despite being in the relegation zone not so long ago.
Smith's side must get back to winning ways against Ipswich, who are the second worst travellers in the Championship, on Saturday. Anything but three points and another season in the second tier looms.
Norwich and Sheffield United are flying high in the Sky Bet Championship, but both have a terrible record this season against other clubs in the top six.
The Canaries have the worst record against the other current top-six sides, picking up just a single win and two draws in seven attempts so far, while the Blades have two wins - one of which came against Norwich - and four defeats in six.
That means they occupy the bottom two spots in the top-six mini league, which is currently led by Leeds, who have won four from six, with a draw and a defeat. Derby are second, but they have played nine games already against the other top-six sides.
Does this make Norwich flat-track bullies? Probably not, but they could do with improving their record against the best in the division, starting on Saturday against the Blades at Carrow Road.
Whatever the result, though, entertainment should be a virtual guarantee. There have been 25 goals in seven games involving Norwich against top-six sides, more than any other team per game.
When talking about Rotherham's current poor form it is probably worth putting it into some context first.
The Millers have, after all, already picked up more points (25) in 28 games than they managed in the entirety of their last campaign at this level in 2016/17 - when they managed just 23. They have also already secured as many wins (five).
Survival was always the only goal for Paul Warne's side, so for them to have spent almost the whole of this campaign so far outside of the bottom three is a feat in itself. They haven't, in fact, been below the dreaded bottom line since their opening-day mauling at Brentford.
That run won't change this weekend, but only because the two teams that could overtake them and jump to 21st, Reading and Bolton, aren't in action. Those two sides do, however, meet on Tuesday night, where victory for either could see them leapfrog Rotherham - should they fail to pick up a point against Leeds on Saturday.
It's a big task for Rotherham against the league leaders. But any positive result would set them up big time for a massive February where three of their fixtures see them face teams in the current bottom six. It is a defining period coming up.
Portsmouth have been top of League One since the end of September, but a couple of defeats on the bounce have left them vulnerable.
Now, due to their FA Cup involvement on Saturday, they could be overhauled at the top by Luton, who have continued their relentless unbeaten march despite the departure of influential manager Nathan Jones.
The Hatters, who are unbeaten in 15 games, and also the last two under the caretaker charge of Mick Harford, will go top on goal difference with a draw at Southend or two points clear if they win at Roots Hall.
It also gives Charlton the opportunity to close the gap on the sides above them. Lee Bowyer's side sit fourth in the table before their trip to Peterborough.
The Posh themselves were the last side to top the table on September 28, but a run of inconsistent form has left them looking over their shoulders rather than at the sides in front of them. A victory for them on Saturday could change all of that. It is set to be a fascinating promotion run-in.
Lincoln remain the comfortable favourites for promotion from League Two this season, having led the way for virtually the entire season so far. But that could all change on Saturday, when they visit in-form Bury.
The Shakers started the season slowly, picking up just four points from their first five games as Lincoln notched 13. But nine wins in their last 13 games has seen them move into the automatic-promotion spots, and they could close the gap at Gigg Lane on Saturday evening, live on Sky Sports Football.
A key part of their good run of form has been the form of Nicky Maynard, who didn't start a game until October - having been picked up on a free transfer - and now has 12 goals in the division, comfortably scored at a faster rate than any other player in double figures (every 128 minutes).
Bury start the weekend in second place, six points behind leaders Lincoln, but could be overtaken by Mansfield, should the Stags beat Tranmere at 3pm.
Victory for Ryan Lowe's side would give both them huge hope of being able to overhaul the Imps, but with promotion the main prize it would also do a huge amount to bolster their spot in the top three.
