Image source, Getty Images

Coventry have slowly been chipping their way up the Championship mountain and could land in the play-off places if they beat Oxford United.

When Frank Lampard took over in November, they were 17th but since his arrival, they have only lost four out of 17 league games, with seven victories in their past eight in the Championship.

In fact, Since the weekend of Lampard’s first match, only the current top three of Leeds, Sheffield United and Burnley have earned more points in the Championship than the Sky Blues (32).

That leaves Cov a point outside of the play-off spots and momentum on their side. As former Republic of Ireland international Andy Reid told the BBC's Football Daily podcast this week: "Coventry are the ones you look at and they've put themselves in with a great chance because of how quickly the games come where you can gather the momentum and fire up that league quickly."

All the stars are aligning for Lampard as well. Ben Sheaf and Haji Wright – who netted 16 goals last season – are quickly returning to full fitness after spells on the sidelines. Both are on the bench today, with last season's top-scorer Wright back in a matchday squad for the first time in almost four months.

The U's are bobbling along, eight points above the relegation zone but on a six-match winless run and a four-game goalless streak – they haven’t blanked five times in a row since 1996!

Things are looking pretty bleak for Luton and Derby at the bottom of the table.

But the good news for the pair of them is they can close the gap on the dreaded dotted line, with Hull not in action this weekend.

Plymouth are also hiding away from their league predicament as they face Manchester City in the FA Cup, so things could be even tighter down there.

On the other hand, wins for Portsmouth and Oxford United may well give them double-digit gaps to the bottom three.

Image source, Rex Features

Sunderland revived their outside hopes of automatic promotion on Friday night thanks to Eliezer Mayenda's double as they won at Sheffield Wednesday.

After successive defeats by Leeds and Hull the Black Cats urgently needed three points and went ahead controversially in the first half as Mayenda appeared to use his arm to control the ball before scoring.

They were pegged back by Callum Paterson's header just after the break before 19-year-old Spanish forward Mayenda, brought into the team for top scorer Wilson Isidor, nodded in the winner.

Sunderland stay fourth and are now five points behind second-placed Sheffield United, albeit having played a game more.

It was a third straight loss for Wednesday who remain 13th, six points outside the play-offs.

The top two are in action today, as the race for the Premier League hots up.

Leeds will be looking to pull out an eight-point lead at the top of the table when they go first at 12:30 GMT, before Sheffield United look to respond at 15:00 GMT.

The battle for the play-off spots is no less electric. West Brom's tough visit to Elland Road could present an opportunity for Blackburn and Coventry to overtake them. All three sides play at 12:30 GMT.

• Blackburn Rovers v Norwich City (12:30 GMT)
• Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion (12:30 GMT)
• Oxford United v Coventry City (12:30 GMT)
• Luton Town v Portsmouth
• Middlesbrough v Derby County
• Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United
• Stoke City v Watford

Image source, Rex Features

Welcome to March... otherwise known as the official start of the business end of the EFL season.

It's traditionally the month when open top buses are reserved, next season's season tickets are released and fans add score notifications from rival teams to their phones.

We might have five second-tier sides distracted by FA Cup fifth round ties this weekend, but there is still a feast of football to enjoy this afternoon, with plenty of intrigue at the summit and basement of the Championship.

Let's dive right in, shall we?