Swansea host West Ham at 15:00 BST on Saturday in the standout fixture of this EFL preview weekend, with the Championship’s best defence facing its best attack.
Swansea sit top after four straight wins either side of the international break. The latest came through a last-gasp winner at Millwall on Tuesday. They have not been promoted in 16 years. West Ham are third, four points back, after a 6-0 win at nine-man Lincoln. They have scored 29 goals in 10 games, more than any team in the top four tiers. Swansea have conceded only seven. The Swans have not lost at home and have let in just twice in five games there. West Ham have fallen behind in eight of their 13 games in all competitions, yet remain unbeaten away in the league.
Birmingham v QPR
Birmingham are fourth after a 4-0 win over Preston, which made it 10 points from a four-match unbeaten run. QPR are fifth on goals scored after beating Derby 4-1. Birmingham have not gone up since 2009, QPR since 2014. QPR are unbeaten in five league games on the road and have conceded only four goals in that time. Saturday should show which of the two, or both, belong in the promotion race.
Leicester feel the heat
Leicester host Doncaster at 15:00 BST. They lost 3-1 to Peterborough last weekend, their third home league defeat in four games, and they have shipped nine goals in those matches. Fans chanted for Russell Martin to be sacked. He said there is “no quick fix”. Midfielder John Lundstram spoke of the team playing with “anxiety” at home. Leicester are 17th, one point above the drop zone. Away from home they are unbeaten, and six of their nine points have come on the road. Doncaster have won three in a row in all competitions without conceding.
League One bunched up
Only four points separate the top seven in League One, and any of four teams could finish Saturday on top. Leaders Plymouth have played a game more than some rivals. They host Huddersfield, who are three points back after conceding a 98th-minute equaliser against Sheffield Wednesday. Second-placed Bradford are at home to Stevenage. Stockport, Cambridge and Reading, third, fifth and sixth, all play sides from the bottom six.
The top of the Championship also looks unusual. Seven of the current top nine have spent at least six seasons outside the top flight.
Source: BBC Sport
