Live in-play football blog: Text commentary, video highlights, in-play betting advice, odds and Price Boosts

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• Live tables
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• Our football tips
• Championship report: Blades do the job

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⌛️ CLASSIFIEDS

Live blog continues below these scores

Sky Bet Championship

Bristol City 1-1 Reading

Sheffield United 2-0 Nottingham Forest

Bolton 0-2 Aston Villa

Leeds United 1-2 Wigan

Swansea 4-3 Rotherham

QPR 1-2 Blackburn

WBA 3-2 Hull

Preston 4-0 Ipswich

Middlesbrough 1-0 Stoke

Birmingham 2-2 Derby

Live vidiprinter

1730 SEE YOU TOMORROW

A busy Easter weekend means lots of fantastic sport across Sporting Life - so keep coming back every day for racing, football, golf, cricket, darts and the World Snooker Championship.

Our Match Companion football blog is here again on Saturday from 12.30 and Monday again from 12.30, so do come back to us please.

Remember too, we have EFL rights, so every goal from today's games will be on our website and social channels on Saturday.

Tomorrow it's Premier League action, and click on the images for our full previews and best bets

1724 🎆 BETTING SUCCESS

So this is how we did today...

• Sporting Life ACCA came in at 14/1

In-play we tipped:

• Jack Grealish to score for Aston Villa at 21/10
• Aston Villa to score the opening goal at 4/11
• Carlisle to open the scoring against Lincoln at 1/1
• Sheffield United to go 2-0 up at 4/7
• Sheffield United to score the first goal of the game at 1/2

1722 SEASON RUN IN

This is how it looks for the run in for Sheffield United and Leeds United

1712 📈 TABLE MOVERS

Sky Bet Championship

Sheffield United and Leeds United have 82 points each with three games to go, but the Blades are second on goal difference.

The Blades are 32 GD, Leeds 26.

Successive wins for Middlesbrough move them back into the play-offs on 67 points, ahead of Bristol City by one point.

Derby are three off the top six

At the bottom Wigan are now five points above the drop zone, Rotherham are third bottom and three behind Millwall, who have played a game less

Sky Bet League One

Leaders Luton play tomorrow, so Barnsley moved two points behind them and are two above third spot Portsmouth. Sunderland are just kicking off now in their game in hand.

Peterborough are five off sixth placed Doncaster.

Walsall and Southend remain second and third bottom respectively after their draw. AFC Wimbledon are fourth bottom, obe point behind Scunthorpe.

Sky Bet League Two

Lincoln are on 84 points, with Mansfield second on 74 - two clear of fourth spot Bury in that race for automatic promotion. Carlisle are a point behind Exeter, who hold the last play-off spot. They have 65 points, Swindon in 12th have 61 - it is crazy close there.

As you were at the bottom with Notts County, Yeovil and Macclesfield all losing, so the latter are still two points clear. Crawley's win means they cannot be relegated now.

1708 WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Today's results mean not too much has been settled in terms of promotion and relegation.

Sky Bet Championship

• Bolton Relegated
• Norwich play Sheffield Wednesday tonight, but because of Sheffield United's win, Norwich cannot be promoted tonight
• Leeds' defeat and Sheffield United's win means Leeds will not be able to get promoted over the two games of Easter

Sky Bet League One

• Bradford City relegated

Sky Bet League Two

• Lincoln's defeat means they have to wait to be champions. A win on Monday secures that for them
• Bury's defeat means they cannot be promoted over the Easter period now

1704 ⚽️ SPORTING LIFE ACCA SUCCESS

For the second time in three weekends the Sporting Life EFL ACCA has come in - this time at 14/1!!

We hope you backed it!!!

• 👍 Preston 4-0 Ipswich
• 👍 Colchester 1-0 Grimsby
• 👍 Mansfield 4-0 Morecambe
• 👍 Port Vale 1-4 Stevenage

1700 ALL OVER AT ELLAND ROAD

Leeds 1-2 Wigan

Incredible, Wigan, down to 10 men early in the first half and 1-0 down have come back to win 2-1.

What makes it more incredible is that Wigan have the worse away record in the league, and Leeds the best home record.

To make it even more incredible, Leeds had won all 20 games this season where they went 1-0 up, until today!

It means Sheffield United are second on goal difference from Leeds, now third

Still so many twists to come in the final three games of the season at the top.

At the bottom, Wigan are five points clear of trouble

1657 BOLTON RELEGATED

Sadly, it has been coming for a while, but Bolton's 2-0 home loss to Aston Villa confirms their relegation to Sky Bet League One.

After all their off the field problems and not being paid on time, the players and Phil Parkinson should still hold their heads high

1655 5 MINS TO GO AT ELLAND ROAD

Huge moments at top and bottom of the Sky Bet Championship, with Wigan leading 2-1 at Leeds United. But there are 5 minute of injury time for the tired 10 men to hold out

1651 🌩 GOAL FLASH

QPR 1-2 Blackburn

Matt Smith has one back here

Burton 1-2 Portsmouth

Huge goal for the visitors in injury time as they push for automatic promotion

Notts County 1-2 MK Dons

Walsall 1-1 Southend

Let pen for the home side in this fight between the relegation boys

1648 🔍 IN PLAY ADVICE

It is all Leeds at Elland Road as they search for an equaliser. 64% possession; 31 goal attempts in total, Hernandez 10 shots in total. 15 corners. Walton, the Wigan keeper, is playing so so well, but can Wigan hold on?

Leeds to make it 2-2 is 6/4; Wigan to win is 4/9

1647 🌩 GOAL FLASH

West Brom 3-2 Hull

Gayle's second of the game

1644 🎆 BETTING SUCCESS

We called Carlisle to take the lead against Lincoln at 1/1

1639 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Swansea 4-3 Rotherham

We might have spoken too soon here and the Millers are back in this with a cracking volley from Vaulks.

Newport 3-1 Bury

Bury's hopes of securing automatic promotion over Easter are taking a big hit here

Notts County 0-2 MK Dons

Nott County remain in a lot of trouble

Port Vale 1-3 Stevenage

1641 BAD NEWS FOR VILLA

Tammy Abraham has gone off for Villa at Bolton with an arm injury. He looked in a lot of pain as he used his shirt as a makeshift sling as he came off

1639 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Swansea 4-2 Rotherham

McBurnie's second surely seals this contest for the Welsh side

1637 🔍 IN PLAY ADVICE

Cambridge v Swindon is still goalless in Sky Bet League Two and this game has caught our eye. The visitors have had more possession and changes and they are 11/4 to score the first goal in this game.

1636 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Carlisle 1-0 Lincoln

Preston 4-0 Ipswich

Preston's excellent day continues with Nmecha's second. this will be their first win in five, having lost four in a row

1634 ⚽️ SPORTING LIFE ACCA

It's still coming in, but a few nervy single goal leads

• 👍 Preston 4-0 Ipswich
• 👍 Colchester 1-0 Grimsby
• 👍 Mansfield 3-0 Morecambe
• 👍 Port Vale 1-2 Stevenage

1629 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Swansea 3-2 Rotherham

Having led twice in this one, Rotherham are now behind and with Wigan winning then their relegation is looking closer now. Byers with the goal

Crewe 2-0 Yeovil

Yeovil getting closer to non league football

Port Vale 1-2 Stevenage

Vale have one back to make our ACCA predictions a bit more nerby

1624 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Leeds 1-2 Wigan

This is bizarre. Wigan have 7 points on their travels all season - the worst record in the top four leagues - and they lead with 10 men at Leeds through Massey's second. Poor defending from Leeds.

Leeds have won all 20 games where they took the lead first, which they did today too

WBA 2-2 Hull

Kane gets his second to put Hill 2-1 up on 59, then Gayle levels on 62.

1614 🔍 IN PLAY ADVICE

Aston Villa lead 2-0 at Bolton, which means Bolton are relegated as it stands after a horrible season off the pitch.

For over 3.5 goals (so we are suggesting a 4-0 win here) it is 7/4

1617 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Preston 3-0 Ipswich

Nmecha scores the third, which helps our ACCA even more

Bolton 0-2 Aston Villa

Villa firmly in control as Abraham touches home a Grealish flick in the box

Barnsley 2-1 Shrewsbury

Huge goal for the home side as Brown gets them back in the lead

Notts County 0-1 MK Dons

Wheeler scores to move MK Dons into third as it stands

1614 🔍 IN PLAY ADVICE

OK, so we know we are focusing on Leeds v Wigan, but it's a big game for both.

Roofe has come on for the hosts and has has two chances already and should have scored the first from six yards out. He's finding plenty of space against the 10 men. He is 16/5 to be the next HOME scorer an 9/2 to score in 90 minutes

1612 ⚽️ SPORTING LIFE ACCA

Port Vale 0-2 Stevenage

More good news, with all four picks winning and Stevenage now doubling their lead

1610 🎆 BETTING SUCCESS

That Villa goal brings us double in play success. We called Grealish to score at 21/10 and Villa to score first at 4/11 for a little profit

1607 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Bolton 0-1 Aston Villa

Grealish heads home at the back post as he returns from illness. Villa going to nine wins, Bolton going down to Sky Bet League One

WBA 1-1 Hull

Kane scores to level it up for Hull

Swansea 2-2 Rotherham

McKay heads home a James cross from the left

1606 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Back underway in the second half and two quick goals

QPR 0-1 Blackburn

Rovers heading for a third straight win as Dack scored on 46 mins

Burton 1-1 Portsmouth

The hosts level straight away

🔊 THIS CRICKET LIFE PODCAST

Talking of podcasts, we launched a new one this week - This Cricket Life. As the name would suggest it covers all elements of the game from domestic to England, International and IPL cricket.

We teamed up with Yorkshire for the first podcast and were joined by their batting coach and former Essex head coach Paul Grayson and the Yorkshire and ex Warwickshire spinner Josh Poysden.

If you like your cricket then this is not to be missed, listen here for FREE on iTunes, Spotify and Soundcloud

🎧 CHAMPIONSHIP PODCAST

As we focus on the Sky Bet Championship today it's a good time to promote our Championship Podcast - so do please take a listen - click on the image to listen for FREE

This week we were joined by the former Norwich, Leeds, Reading and Bolton player Andrew Hughes who had some great insight into his ex clubs.

Hughes has coached also at Huddersfield Town and explains what it takes to get promoted to the Premier League and stay there

1556 PREMIER LEAGUE TIPS

Tomorrow Match Companion is back from 12.30 with full coverage of the day's Premier League programme, so joins us for that please.

In the meantime, here is our full preview and best bets for the 3pm games..

1553 ⚽️ SPORTING LIFE ACCA

Lets say this quietly but the ACCA is coming in as it stands at half time. Big 45 minutes ahead!!!

• 👍 Preston 2-0 Ipswich
• 👍 Colchester 1-0 Grimsby
• 👍 Mansfield 1-0 Morecambe
• 👍 Port Vale 0-1 Stevenage

1552 6⃣ SUPER 6

This is how Super 6 looks at the break

• Leeds 1-1 Wigan
• West Brom 1-0 Hull
• Middlesbrough 1-0 Stoke
• Bolton 0-0 Aston Villa
• QPR 0-1 Blackburn
• Birmingham 2-2 Derby

1550 ⏳ HALF TIME

Sky Bet Championship

Bolton 0-0 Aston Villa

Swansea 1-2 Rotherham

APR 0-1 Blackburn

WBA 1-0 Hull

Preston 2-0 Ipswich

Middlesbrough 1-0 Stoke

Birmingham 2-2 Derby

Live vidiprinter

1548 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Leeds 1-1 Wigan

Would you believe it, 10 men Wigan are level. It's an extra goal too, as Leeds give too much space down the Wigan right and Massey fires home. This Easter period is bringing so much excitement and twists and turns already

1547 ⚽️ SPORTING LIFE ACCA

Great news for the ACCA currently with all four clubs winning!!!

Go Preston, Colchester, Mansfield and Stevenage!!!

1545 🌩 GOAL FLASH

WBA 1-0 Hull

A fine finish at the back post from Gibbs puts WBA ahead

1543 🔍 IN PLAY ADVICE

Leeds' Pablo Hernández has hit the post with a pen and now gone close to making amends by blasting just wide against 10 men Wigan. He's had three shots and it 9/5 to score anytime

1540 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Swansea 1-2 Rotherham

Swansea weren't level for long, as Crooks scores after a long throw-in caused havoc in the box. That goal take the Millers out of the bottom three and puts Wigan in it.

Barnsley 1-1 Shrewsbury

The visitors stun Barnsley as the level

Northampton 1-1 Macclesfield

Sol Campbell's side level up here as they fight to stay up

1539 📸 ACTION SHOT

1537 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Swansea 1-1 Rotherham

McBurnie is at it again, what a good season he's had

1533 🔴 RED CARD

Jason Shackell is sent off for already promoted Lincoln at Carlisle in Sky Bet League One

That means we've had seven red cards in the EFL today already - not a Good Friday for some clearly

Carlisle to score first is now 1/1

1528 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Birmingham 2-2 Derby

Keogh scores his first goal since October to level it up for Derby. Both defences are a mess here

Barnsley 1-0 Shrewsbury

Mowatt scores for the host, who know after Charlton's shock loss earlier, can take a big step towards automatic promotion today

Burton 0-1 Portsmouth

Close strikes for the promotion chasing side

1526 🔍 IN PLAY ADVICE

Patrick Bamford opened the scoring for Leeds and the forward has already had four attempts on goal. We notice that Sky Bet have enhanced the odds of him getting a brace to 11/8 with two-thirds of the game still to play. So we are going for this. Back it here

1520 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Leeds 1-0 Wigan

Minutes after missing the penalty Leeds do now take the lead thanks to Bamford

Birmingham 2-1 Derby

The hosts lead again through Morrison as Derby fail to deal with a corner

QPR 0-1 Blackburn

Graham scores a penalty

Preston 2-0 Ipswich

Robinson makes it 2 for himself and Preston. Great news for our ACCA too

1518 🔴 RED CARD & MISSED PEN

Wigan are down to 10 men at Elland Road, but Leeds have just missed the resulting penalty.

Leeds shot on the line is blocked by Cedric Kipre and he's adjudged to have handled the ball on the line! It's hard to say whether it was chest or hand. A huge call which might be wrong

But Pablo Hernandez hits the post with the pen

1515 🔍 IN PLAY ADVICE

Stoke have started very slowly and allowing Boro all the possession and play. Are they are on the beach already?

Boro to go 2-0 up is currently 8/11

At Bolton, Aston Villa have had a shot cleared off the line, it won't make you much money, but they are 4/11 to score first.

1512 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Swansea 0-1 Rotherham

Ihiekwe gets the last touch of a goal mouth scramble

1510 BRADFORD RELEGATED

In Sky Bet League One Coventry City have beaten Bradford City 2-0 and it means Bradford's terrible season on and off the pitch is confirmed with official relegation to Sky Bet League Two, which they last played in in 2012/13

1508 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Birmingham 1-1 Derby

Derby weren't behind for long as Waghorn scores his fourth in five games and it is a beauty

Crewe 1-0 Yeovil

Yeovil could be relegated out of the EFL this weekend if results go against them and this is a bad start for them

1505 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Some big early goals

Birmingham 1-0 Derby

Jutkiewicz scored early for the hosts

Middlesbrough 1-0 Stoke

Boro look back in form now with Assombalonga's second goal in as many matches

Preston 1-0 Ipswich

Robinson drives past the goalkeeper against already relegated Ipswich.

1501 DELAY FOR NORWICH

So building on the below, Sheffield United's win means Norwich CANNOT be promoted to the Premier League today. However if they win tonight and on Monday they will be promoted regardless of other results.

The Blades win also means Leeds United CANNOT be promoted over Easter, even if they win both matches

⏱️ KICK-OFF

The afternoon's EFL games are getting underway. Stick with us throughout as we keep you on top of the action, with the odd in-play tip, stat and much more.

Good luck with your wagers!

We've done the hard work so you don't have to! Keep track of the action by keeping open our permutations piece. Click the link below and open it in a new tab...

1446 6⃣ SUPER 6

Play Super 6 for your chance to win £250,000. It is FREE to enter and to win you need to correctly predict the final score of today's six selected games

• Leeds v Wigan
• West Brom v Hull
• Middlesbrough v Stoke
• Bolton v Aston Villa
• QPR v Blackburn
• Birmingham v Derby

ENTER HERE

1445 ⚽️ SPORTING LIFE ACCA

It's not too late to back our EFL ACCA, which just missed out last weekend with three of our four selections winning.

So lets hope for better today

Head here to back Preston, Mansfield, Stevenage and Colchester all to win at 14/1 with Sky Bet

1441 BIELSA TRAINING METHODS

Talking of Leeds, one of the stories of the season is how Marcelo Bielsa has turned a mid-table team into an outstanding promotion contender.

Former Leeds player and Palace and Huddersfield coach Andrew Hughes was recently invited to Leeds training to watch the man in person and on our latest Sky Bet Championship podcast Hughes shared his experiences. Listen to the full podcast here

1440 ELLAND ROAD FLY OVER

A plane has flown over Elland Road ahead of Leeds v Wigan with this message

1438 CHRIS WILDER POST MATCH

The Sheffield United gaffer is a happy and relieved man, and as always speaks well after the game

"Another tough game against good professionals and a good manager and to get in front and close the game out showed we are getting back to how we have been.

"We were helped by them going down to 10 men, but I’ve told the players that the reason they went down to 10 men was because of the pressure we put on them and it paid off.

"We are second now and we’ve done what we needed to do. We cannot control anything else. We just have to keep it going. If any team tops our total, as long as we make it as big as we can, then we cannot complain and they would deserve it. We don’t want to just hand it over to someone else and make it easier for them"

1434 SPILL

In all this Good Friday excitement I've just spilt a pint of water over our desks and onto our computers. So lets hope the tech survives and we can continue to do this blog!

I'm meant to be a goalkeeper too, show why I'm not a very good one!

1425 🌩 SCORE UPDATES

Lets wrap up all the scores from the early games before going onto the 3pm games.

Sky Bet Championship

Millwall 1-1 Brentford - 65 mins

Bristol City 0-1 Reading - Full Time

Sky Bet League One

Coventry 1-0 Bradford City - 66 mins

Oxford 2-1 Charlton - 69 mins

Sky Bet League Two

Exeter 1-3 Crawley - 66 mins

1423 ⌛️FULL TIME

Sheffield United 2-0 Nottingham Forest

Wherever you are in the country you probably heard the roar of relief from Bramall Lane at full time.

They were helped by the controversial sending off of Benalouane at the start of the second half, but they scored two great goals and were the only team trying to play and score today, and under so much pressure they did the job.

Quality result and performance from the Blades and it puts them second on goal difference from Leeds, who host Wigan at 3. Over to Elland Road.....

1421 📰 TEAM NEWS - WBA v Hull

WBA still need points to secure a play off place, although we expect them to make it and James Shan makes two alterations with Rekeem Harper and Hal Robson-Kanu in

For Hull they have a very outside chance of still making the top five. Our goalscorer tip Kamil Grosicki starts for Hull, who also bring Dan Batty into the starting XI

1419 📰 TEAM NEWS - Bolton v Villa

Defeat will relegate Bolton today and Homegrown Harry Brockbank, 20, makes his debut for the hosts

Jack Grealish returns for Villa as part of two changes – Tyrone Mings also comes into Dean Smith’s side. Grealish is 21/10 to score anytime

1417 🎆 BETTING SUCCESS

We called Sheffield United to go 2-0 up at start of second half and it's in at 4/7

1414 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Sheffield United 2-0 Nottingham Forest

Left back Stevens has been wonderful today and caps his performance with the goal that seals this game. A quick break and McGoldrick is clever, drawing in the defender waiting for Stevens to catch up and overlap. He slips him the ball and from a difficult angle he fires across goal to score.

Great goal and it puts the Blades second on goal difference, but Leeds play at 3.

1413 📰 TEAM NEWS - Leeds v Wigan

Huge game for both clubs at the top and bottom of the Sky Bet Championship

Gaetano Berardi continues as Liam Cooper remains absent – the Leeds captain picked up an injury in the warm-up against Sheffield Wednesday last week

One change for the visitors as Cédric Kipré replaces Danny Fox

1410 Sheffield United 1-0 Nottingham Forest

Sheffield United are sitting deeper and deeper and starting to look messy at the back. One Sheffield United defender just tried to head a clearance, but another decided to kick it and got both the ball and his own man, it shows the nerves settling in.

Forest dominating now, without creating too much. A few free kicks and long throw ins into the box are putting on the pressure

Not sure we can back the equaliser yet, but if you are braver than us it is currently 10/1 for Forest to score next

1409 SUB

John Lundstram replaces the booked Martin Cranie for the Blades, who will switch to a back four now.

Baldock is carded for the home side after fouling Colback

Are the nerves setting in here?

80 minutes gone

1407 ⌛️FULL TIME

Bristol City 1-1 Reading

This means Bristol City are still sixth on 66 points - that's three behind Aston Villa and two above Middlesbrough.

Reading's fifth point in three games takes them to 45 points - five ahead of third bottom Rotherham

1406 SUB

Claudio Yacob's afternoon is done for Forest, as he's replaced by Arvin Appiah.

We tipped him to be carded and we think that's the reason he's been taken off, as he was so close to getting a booking

1405 Sheffield United 1-0 Nottingham Forest

Lewis Grabban, on as a sub, twists and turns inside the Blades penalty area as the visitors look to pull a goal back, but Jack O'Connell swipes the ball from his feet and clears his lines. Just the final ball lacking for Forest, at present.

1404 📸 ACTION SHOT

1402 Sheffield United 1-0 Nottingham Forest

20 minutes left here and the longer it stays 1-0 the more you can feel the tension build with the home fans - as they remember what happened last weekend.

Forest might sense that and have start to apply some pressure in the last few minutes, without having a shot, despite being down to 10 men.

1359 EFL 3PM TIPS

An hour away from our EFL 3pm games, and here are our tips for them, picked out by George Pitts. Read his full preview here

• 2pts Dan James to score anytime in Swansea v Rotherham at 47/20

The 21-year-old has five goals and five assists for the Swans this term and his lightning pace has often caught the eye. ames's direct approach is refreshing and he has had an impressive 13 shots in his last three appearances at the Liberty Stadium, seven of which came in their last home outing against Stoke.

• 1pt Kamil Grosicki to score anytime in West Brom v Hull at 5/1

Grosicki has nine goals to his name this season, including two braces in his last four appearances, yet he is still at 5/1 to score anytime at The Hawthorns.

The Poland international averages nearly three shots per game for the Tigers this season as he gets in positions to support Frazier Campbell and other wide man Jarrod Bowen from midfield.

• 2pts Oldham to score in the first half at 23/20

Oldham possess interesting stats when you look at their goals this season. They have scored in both halves 11 times and have netted 25 times in the first half this term.

They have scored in the opening 15 minutes an impressive 12 times, which makes the 13/2 price on them to take an early lead here attractive, but there preference is to back them to get on the score sheet in the first half at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

1357 SUB

Scott Hogan is introduced for the hosts in place of Gary Madine.

1355 🎆 BETTING SUCCESS

Our first success of the day, we tipped in-play for Sheffield United to score the first goal of the game at a then price of 1/2

1354 Sheffield United 1-0 Nottingham Forest

Three more chances here

George Baldock has acres of space as he runs deep into the Forest box but no one shows for the pull-back and he is crowded out.

The resulting corner comes to nothing, but then Oliver Norwood's strike from the clearance is well off target.

Then Duffy's cross come shot from the right is excellently tipped over by Pantilimon, if he wasn't so tall it would have been in

1350 🌩 GOAL UPDATES

Bristol City 1-1 Reading

A vital goal for the home side as Brownhill scores on 72 minutes

Millwall 1-1 Brentford

No change here

Half Time

Coventry 1-0 Bradford

Oxford 2-1 Charlton

Exeter 0-2 Crawley

Morais, 26 and Grego-Cox, 34 have the goals for Crawley

1346 🔍 IN PLAY ADVICE

Against Millwall Sheffield United went defensive when they went 1-0 up and it cost them as they finished 1-1 as they let in an equaliser with the last move of the game.

Gaffer Chris Wilder blamed his side for stopping playing their normal game and not going for the killer second goal.

They've listened to that warning this time and are clearly pushing for the second here against the ten men.

They are 4/7 to score next

McGoldrick is getting more into this game and is 9/2 to score next

We are still sticking with our early advice for Yacob to be carded and he is 11/4 now

1345 BAD BOYS

That is Nottingham Forest's SIXTH red card of the season. They are now level with Preston for the most red cards across the top four leagues

1343 CHANCE

Sheffield United flying now and McGoldrick, as he falls to ground flicks, on a cross 8 yards out. It looks in but Pantilimon makes a superb reaction diving save to keep it out

1341 SUB

Just before the goal Forest made a change to to fix the imbalance left by Benalouane's dismissal as Pele is replaced by Milosevic.

Also, Colback handled the ball and was lucky not to get a second yellow card

1340 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Sheffield United 1-0 Nottingham Forest

A cross from the right misses everyone and falls to Duffy on the left edge of the area. He just fires it across the goal and into the top corner. It is a great finish and more like a pass into the top corner that a shot.

1337 🔴 RED CARD

One minute into the second half and a huge moment. McGoldrick on the break goes passed Yohan Benalouane on the D and is taken down by the defender, although replays show little contact. He would have been in 1-1 with the keeper if he'd gone through, although defenders were coming either side of him

Benalouane is shown the red card, much to his shock.

The free kick goes straight to the keeper

CHAMPIONSHIP PODCAST

As we focus on the Sky Bet Championship currently it's a good time to promote our Championship Podcast - so do please take a listen - click on the image to listen for FREE

This week we were joined by the former Norwich, Leeds, Reading and Bolton player Andrew Hughes who had some great insight into his ex clubs.

Hughes has coached also at Huddersfield Town and explains what it takes to get promoted to the Premier League and stay there

Here's two snippets of our discussions

1329 📸 ACTION SHOTS

1323 🌩 SCORE UPDATES

Lets use the break at a tense Bramall Lane to get a round up of the rest of the early kick offs. Remember at 3 we will have coverage of the key games across the EFL

Sky Bet Championship

Millwall 1-1 Brentford

In the 1pm game, Gregory give the hosts the lead and then Dasilva scores a stunner on 20 to level it up

Bristol City 0-1 Reading

62 minutes into this one and Meite's 48th minute strike could be handing the visitors their 7th point in three games

Sky Bet League One

Coventry 1-0 Bradford City

Bradford City are heading down as it stands

Oxford 2-1 Charlton

Goals from Nelson, 18, and Barbutt, 23, have turned this game on it's head, after Taylor's pen had put Charlton ahead after 5 minutes.

Sky Bet League Two

Exeter 0-0 Crawley

Exeter need the point here to keep a play off place, Crawley still need a win to ensure they don't get sucked into a late relegation fight

1320 ⏳ HALF TIME

Sheffield United 0-0 Nottingham Forest

Sheffield United have been the better team, more attacking and positive, as you'd expect from a home side desperate to get automatic promotion.

However they've not been at their best either. Not quick enough with the ball and lacking killer instinct in the final third.

Forest haven't added much to this game, but you could see them nicking a goal if United switch off at the back

• STATS
  Possession: United 59% v 41% Forest
• Corners United 4 v 2 Forest
• Shots on Target: United 0 v 1 Forest
• Shots off Target: United 5 v 2 Forest
• Fouls: United 6 v 7 Forest

1318 Sheffield United 0-0 Nottingham Forest

As four minutes of injury time is added Craine commits a silly and not needed foul and gets a yellow card.

United then break and Yacob has to incept a cross six yards out to stop a tap in for McGoldrick. Is it not going to be the Blades day again?

1316 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Bristol City 0-1 Reading

The good form of the visitors is continuing as Meite scores on 48 mins

Coventry 1-0 Bradford City

Hiwula scores against his former club. If Bradford lose this one they will be relegated down to Sky Bet League Two today

1314 Sheffield United 0-0 Nottingham Forest

Forest right back Byram is the latest player to go into the book as he commits a foul right on the edge of the area. 1mm further forward and it's a pen.

Clever free kick from the Blades as they go short rather than shooting at goal. It only wins a corner though, which comes to nothing.

But then the clearance falls to Norwood who half volleys from 30 yards into the keepers stomach

1312 🌩 GOAL FLASH

Oxford 0-1 Charlton

In Sky Bet League One, promotion chasing Charlton lead thanks to Taylor's goal after 5 minutes.

As it stands, this result would put Charlton level on points with second place Barnsley, who play at 3pm.

1310 Sheffield United 0-0 Nottingham Forest

Forest are coming back into this game and have just forced a corner and also lobed in two long throw-ins into the Blades area. All are cleared by the home side, but they look a bit nervy at the back

Keeper Henderson also has the sun in his eyes and is thus spotting a black cap

🚨 SOCCER SATURDAY PRICE BOOST

Ahead of the EFL 3pm games Sky Bet have Price Boosted the following:

• Leeds, Barnsley and West Brom all to win is 9/2
• Leeds and Barnsley to win and West Brom to draw with Hull is 10/1
• Leeds, Barnsley and Hull to win is 11/1

CHECK OUT the full odds, offers and Sky Bet Market here

1305 🔍 IN PLAY ADVICE

Despite Forest's chance there, Sheffield United are still dominant and playing the positive football.

They are 1/2 to score the first goal

1304 Sheffield United 0-0 Nottingham Forest

A warning for Sheffield United, Forest make a rare break and Murphy on the edge of the area shots across goal and wide. It's a great strike and he should have hit the target

1301 Sheffield United 0-0 Nottingham Forest

And another chance. Great deep high cross from the left to the back post McGoldrick heads back across goal and Madine at the post seems to need to just head it into a empty net, but he mistimes the jump and the ball goes over his head and out

1300 Sheffield United 0-0 Nottingham Forest

Still no shots on target in this game, but two more chances for the home side.

First Stevens gets down the left with a great run and produces an even better cross, but the whipped delivery is just a yard ahead of the onrushing Madine

Then David McGoldrick striking from around 25 yards, but he leans back and the shot is always rising.

1257 Millwall v Brentford

This gets underway at 1pm..

Millwall made one change with James Meredith replacing Conor McLaughlin.

Brentford will have to do without one of their key attackers, with Said Benrahma ruled out. Sergi Canos replaces him.

1254 Sheffield United 0-0 Nottingham Forest

Back at Bramall Lane and it has got a bit scrappy in the last few minutes with both sides making fouls. It ends up in United's Enda Stevens having lengthy treatment but he's ok.

The resulting free kick is whipped into the box by Norwood but everyone misses it and it goes out harmlessly for a free kick

1250 ⏳ HALF TIME

In the 12pm kick off it is promotion chasing Bristol City 0, relegation fighting Reading 0.

City have dominated possession and had six shots at goal, but only two on target, the same as the visitors

1248 DIVE AND YELLOW CARD

Jack Colback is yellow carded for diving in the box. That is 15 yellow cards for him and means he is now banned for three games and his season is over. Which also means his loan at Nottingham Forest is over! Did he just want an early holiday?

By the way, it was a great piece of refereeing from Andy Madley. First look and it looked a penalty as the Sheffield United player stuck his leg out at Colback, but replays show it was a dive.

1245 Sheffield United 0-0 Nottingham Forest

Gary Madine's header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by John Fleck with a cross following a corner.

Then Claudio Yacob's left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.

1242 WILDER THOUGHTS

Chris Wilder, speaking before the game address both United's injury problems and suggestions his side have blown their automatic promotion chances...

"We lost big players earlier in the season and went on to beat Reading 4-0 and beat Boro too, so we have lots of quality to come in and cover and have proven that before. As an example we have people like Martin Craine to come in, who won promotion with Huddersfield two years ago.

"This is a great chance for them to come in and show what they can do. We won’t use our injuries as an excuse.

"We are still in the race for automatic promotion. We are still in the race for it and no one has been promoted or crowned champions yet. We are still fighting and there is pressure on all of us now. Some people think it’s all over, it is not yet. We have a lot of determination to fight and prove people wrong."

1239 🔍 IN PLAY ADVICE

Early thinking here. Forest's Claudio Yacob has committed two fouls already and has clearly been told to be tough and physical today, but he's not done it in the right way so far.

As he battles with the tough McGoldrick and Madine he's going to face more meaty challenges.

He's 13/8 to be carded with Sky Bet.

1235 Sheffield United 0-0 Nottingham Forest

A bright start for Sheffield United, clearly told by Chris Wilder to get the early goal to try and calm the nerves around the home crowd.

They've had all the possession and play and forced two corners in the first five minutes but not created any chances yet.

Also, Bristol City are hosting Reading in a 12.00 kick off and we will keep you updated on that - it's 0-0 currently

1230 SHEFFIELD UNITED v NOTTINGHAM FOREST

We begin with full commentary of Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest in the Sky Bet Championship.

The Blades, after their late slip up against Millwall, need to win to go back to second for a few hours at least. If they lose today it means Norwich in the late kick-off could be promoted today.

The Blades make four changes for the game, with the likes of Basham and Sharp out injured and Egan banned

Forest are building for next season and O'Neill continues to tinker with his side with three changes.

1229 WELCOME

Welcome to Match Companion with me Gareth Jones and George Pitts - a happy Good Friday to you.

As always we are here with full coverage of today's games, with instant scores, stats, odds and Sky Bet Price Boosts and our in play betting advice across the EFL.

Below - just click on the image - are all the permutations for the Sky Bet EFL, details who can be promoted, relegated and crowned champions over the Bank Holiday Weekend..

Get your head around all the possible ups and downs here.

Odds correct at time of posting

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