David Prutton's EFL column: Millwall hoping for a top six spot, League One promotion race continues to excite
Sky Sports presenter and Sky Bet EFL expert David Prutton discusses the big talking points in the English Football League this weekend.
On Millwall’s play-off chances
A strong second-half of the season has seen Millwall in contention for a potential play-off spot, with four points gained over the weekend moving them to within a point of Middlesbrough in sixth.
I think Millwall have got very good play-off chances. With what we saw with Middlesbrough dropping points on Monday and only ending up with a draw against Burton, it can give a team like Millwall hope going forward given that they’re getting results too.
Neil Harris wasn’t happy with the way they played against Ipswich and the fact that they only got a point in the end but it shows the confidence that he has in his team’s chances.
He spoke about that if they finish one point or two points outside of the play-offs then that result could have been the difference, which highlights how he’s looking -towards that top-six.
Sky Bet Championship promotion (odds via Sky Bet)
- Cardiff - 1/5
- Fulham - 5/6
- Aston Villa - 11/4
- Derby - 11/2
- Middlesbrough - 11/2
- Bristol City - 14/1
For any team coming up, you want to consolidate and anything else is a bonus but they’ve kept that momentum and the fact they’ve gone under the radar with it might help them too.
It’s been wonderful for them and they’ll be hopeful of causing an upset by making the play-offs.
The game against Bristol City is a vital game for both teams. City have been in the top part of the table for a prolonged period of time and Lee Johnson and his staff have done a great job.
Millwall haven’t had a similar cup run to Bristol City, but have nicely gone about their business and that’s helped them. It’s a big contest for both given how open it is for the play-offs.
You could say that first to fourth is sorted in terms of promotion and play-offs, but below that there are a couple of positions open and a number of teams going for it.
On Fulham’s automatic promotion hopes
Fulham are on a remarkable 18-game unbeaten run in the league that has thrown them into automatic promotion contention behind Cardiff City
It’s a big game to kick things off this weekend on Friday night when Cardiff take on Wolves with both sides confident of automatic promotion.
That result will have a big impact on Fulham’s automatic chances, with them five points off second at the moment.
Slavisa Jokanovic’s men are unbeaten in 18 games which is phenomenal momentum for them. It’s not only helped propel them up the table, but it’s also aided in making up ground on second place.
Cardiff’s point against Sheffield United came in a bit of an unexpected game, but by Neil Warnock’s reaction afterwards you could see how they knew that a point could be crucial for them going forward.
Cardiff have been fantastic this season under Neil Warnock and they’ve had that momentum that has also seen them end up where they are. It’d be a shame if they did drop out because of that momentum and the upsets they’ve caused.
The race for automatic promotion isn’t over and this weekend could help shape the final standings.
On Lee Bowyer
Lee Bowyer has been handed the job at Charlton Athletic until the end of the season after his managerial career started with three wins from three. They sit just inside of the top six.
Obviously Karl Robinson left for a host of reasons. Those being geographical and from the point of view that managing Charlton and the way they are run can be difficult.
He had Lee Bowyer and Johnnie Jackson alongside him who have stepped in and done very well in their short time in charge.
In Jackson, they have someone who knows the club and it can help that connection between the fans come back.
Sky Bet League One promotion (odds via Sky Bet)
- Wigan - 1/20
- Blackburn - 1/12
- Shrewsbury - 6/5
- Rotherham - 9/4
- Portsmouth - 6/1
- Charlton - 15/2
- Scunthorpe - 15/2
- Peterborough - 9/1
There was the disparity that surrounded the club when they came down and how loud they were protesting against the ownership and how they’re run.
Having an ex-Charlton player, alongside a more current Charlton player can help them feel like they’re a club again and giving him the job until the end of the season is testament to the job that he is doing.
They’re just inside the play-offs and will have that belief that they can finish in that top-six.
On Portsmouth’s run
Another side hopeful of promotion to the Sky Bet Championship is Portsmouth, who are currently enjoying a four-game winning run after victory over Wigan on Monday
Portsmouth were very good against Wigan on Monday and got the result to match that performance. They didn’t give them time on the ball and they dealt with the threat of Nick Powell very well.
They’ve got Brett Pitman up front who knows where the net in and can score goals. A man of his experience and class will help them going forward as it has done already.
It’s somewhere that doesn’t feel like a Sky Bet League One club with the attendances and the atmosphere that is seen at Fratton Park. What we have also seen over the last decade is that they know that they’re a club who aren’t third-tier standard.
Paul Cook got a great ovation from the crowd on Monday but his side were deservedly beaten and Portsmouth have thrown themselves firmly into promotion contention.
On League One promotion race
With six games remaining, six teams are battling it out for the final two play-off spots in League One whilst three teams are all in contention for the title.
You’d think that this is probably the tightest race for a play-off spot out of any of the three divisions.
What we saw in League Two last year was ridiculous with the amount of teams looking for a spot and we’re seeing a bit of that in League One this year.
There’s a number of permutations that come into the play-off race with some of the runs that teams have gone on.
You look at Southend, now they may not be in close contention for the top six, but Chris Powell has done a good job there and transformed them around by pushing them up the table.
Like Bradford, they made a managerial change but there’s been a contrast in their fortunes and where they have moved in the division.
Sky Bet League One winner (odds via Sky Bet)
- Wigan - 4/6
- Blackburn - 6/4
- Shrewsbury - 14/1
League One probably does have the widest gap in terms of teams who could be in the running for promotion.
You’d imagine that Rotherham were safe, despite a tough Easter period, and should be find nipped up in 4th for a shot at promotion back to the Championship through the play-offs.
At the very top, Wigan have got games in hand over those teams around them which makes them favourites for the title if they win them as expected.
The Shrewsbury Town story is phenomenal with what Paul Hurst has done there in getting them into this promotion run-in.
As expected, Blackburn are up there as well with the quality that they have so it makes it a tight run-in and one that should be very entertaining to watch.
Odds correct at 1035 BST (05/04/18)
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