No goals in the second tier so far... who will crack first?

Gary Gardner has a hasty entrance into the fray for Villa, replacing Henri Lansbury who was injured in the warm-up...

BBC Radio Manchester's Paul Rowley at the DW Stadium:

"Could it be another 'Great Escape' for Wigan? The technique, deployed repeatedly in the eight years that the Latics survived in the Premier League, could be back on. 

"Their 1-0 win at Birmingham City on Tuesday gives Warren Joyce's side hope after a run of four games without victory. Another three points against fellow relegation strugglers Bristol City, just a point above, could lift them out of the drop zone. 

"But they need to address a miserable home record, with just three wins at the DW Stadium this campaign."

Pies and pints been troughed and quaffed, you've taken your place in the stand and you're waiting for it all to get under way.

That's where we are in the EFL this afternoon. Let's get those earsplitting PAs turned off and let the games begin...

As well as following our live text commentary of this afternoon's action, you can keep up to date with everything that's going on across the Premier League, EFL and non-league by watching Final Score.

Just click on the video icon at the top of this page to join Jason Mohammad, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Kevin Kilbane.

Up and down the land, BBC local radio stations are ready to bring you commentary of this afternoon's EFL action involving their local teams across FM, AM and DAB frequencies.

Unfortunately, rights restrictions mean we are unable to bring you those commentaries online.

As you can see, BBC Radio Berkshire's sports editor Tim Dellor, has been in place at Deepdale for some time now as play-off chasing Reading face Preston.

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Image source, Rex Features

Here are a few things to watch out for this afternoon across the Championship.

• Golden Boot battle - Leeds' Chris Wood (22), Newcastle's Dwight Gayle (21) and Bristol City's Tammy Abraham (18) could all extend their tallies in the bid for the top scorers prize.
• Rafa's one year anniversary - Rafael Benitez has been in charge at Newcastle for an entire year. They will be on top for it regardless of the result today, barring a nine-goal swing!
• Big Mick back in Barnsley - Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy visits his hometown club for whom he made more than 270 appearances as a player.
• Did Cloughie make the right choice? - Nigel Clough turned down Nottingham Forest to stay with Burton. The two clubs meet today seeking precious points.
• Jota's lookin' hot - Spanish forward Jota has six goals in seven for Brentford, and all of his seven for the season have come in the current calendar year of 2017.

Of course the EFL is not the only place to be. It's FA Cup quarter-final weekend don't forget.

Manchester City are already through to the semi-finals courtesy of a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough, while Arsenal host non-league Lincoln City in today's other tie, which gets going later this evening.

Image source, Reuters

In the meantime, should you so desire, you can keep keep across this afternoon's three Premier League fixtures by clicking this link.

Just to emphasise the excitement at the 'wrong' end of the Championship, it's extremely tight.

Poor Rotherham have it all to do, they've conceded a frankly eye-watering 81 goals in just 36 games.

However, above that Wigan, Bristol City, Wolves, Blackburn, Burton and even Forest above them can all easily be drawn into it...

The fact we've got three six-pointers between those six teams this afternoon just adds to the intrigue.

Image source, BBC Sport

Is the relegation run-in more exciting than the shoot-out at the top?

With Newcastle and Brighton looking as though they might have sewn up the Championship's automatic promotion conundrum - and the the play-offs looking fairly settled too - is the real drama at the foot of the table? 

Six of the bottom seven are playing each other today and just six points separate Wigan in 23rd and Nottingham Forest in 18th. Are Rotherham doomed? And, if so, who will join them? 

Tell us what you think, get involved via #bbcefl

No tracksuit for Alan Irvine this afternoon, it's a smart suit and a yellow tie. Norwich City sacked Alex Neil last night, and gave Irvine the task of taking charge this afternoon.

His side still have the opportunity to break into the top six and get back into the Premier League although it's a tough ask.

Today's opponents Blackburn are in trouble at the other end of the table but have hit form under new boss Tony Mowbray. Norwich would like some of that 'bounce back' here today.

Image source, Rex Features

There's some tasty action in League One today with second-placed Fleetwood against fourth-placed Bolton the pick of the games.

The Cod Army's chances of reeling in (it gets worse, sorry) Sheffield United look remote, but Uwe Rosler's side could close the gap as the Blades are resting up because their scheduled opponents Millwall have bigger fish to fry thanks to their magnificent FA Cup run.

Image source, Rex Features

At the other end of the table floundering north west rivals Oldham and Bury meet with a huge incentive to land a victory and potentially move six or seven points above the relegation zone.

Elsewhere the Shrimpers of Southend can go to within a point of the play-offs should they secure victory against the Pirates of Bristol Rovers. 

Newport may have dropped anchor at the bottom of the English Football League, but they do have a fresh outlook and  a new man at the helm  in caretaker manager Mike Flynn after sacking Graham Westley last week.

Three points against Crewe would bring some renewed hope and will definitely see their survival chances improve, as fellow League Two strugglers Notts County and Hartlepool meet at Meadow Lane.

Image source, Rex Features

Mouthwatering stuff at the other end of the table sees the second-placed Pilgrims of Plymouth set sail for a meeting with play-off chasing Mansfield.

And another promotion tussle has Luton boss Nathan Jones continuing his quest to  "become the best manager in the world"  - by hoping to get a win against Stevenage.

Image source, Rex Features

How pivotal will Bristol City's Tammy Abraham be this afternoon? The 18-goal striker, on loan from Chelsea, has been the Robins' chief supply line of goals. Crucial since Jonathan Kodjia left for Aston Villa in August.

When he was out injured, they managed only three goals in five, compared to 42 in 31 games when he was present.

The old song 'Tammy' by Debbie Reynolds (as sampled by The Avalanches) is a perfect terrace chant in waiting.

Preston North End v Reading:Preston hand a home debut to Andy Boyle after he made his first appearance in midweek, but Paul Gallagher is out with a knock. Reading are without defender Liam Moore, so Jordan Obita comes in.

Wigan Athletic v Bristol City:  One change for Wigan, with David Perkins replacing the injured Max Power. Bristol City welcome 18-goal top scorer Tammy Abraham back from injury. Lee Tomlin and Matty Taylor also start.

Wolves v Rotherham United: Wolves recall Mike Wiliamson after suspension, while Helder Costa and Conor Coady also return to the starting XI. Rotherham welcome 10-goal top scorer Danny Ward back from injury.

Cardiff City v Birmingham City: Two changes for Cardiff  as Aron Gunnarsson and Anthony Pilkington come in. Three changes for Birmingham as Krystian Bielik, Jonathan Grounds and Lukas Jutkiewicz all start.

Leeds United v QPR: Full-back Luke Ayling and top scoring striker Chris Wood return to the starting line-up for Leeds.  Joel Lynch returns to the centre of defence for QPR but striker Jamie Mackie has to be content with a place on the bench.

Newcastle United v Fulham: The big news for Newcastle  is the return to the starting line-up for top scorer Dwight Gayle in attack. Chris Martin is left on the bench for Fulham this afternoon, as Neeskens Kebano comes in, Denis Odoi replaces Ryan Fredericks.

Norwich City v Blackburn Rovers: Alex Pritchard and Wes Hoolahan come in for Norwich, as interim boss Alan Irvine names the squad after Alex Neil's exit. Tommie Hoban, Danny Graham and Elliott Bennett are Blackburn's three changes. 

Aston Villa v Sheffield Wednesday: Defender Alan Hutton is on the bench for Villa after recovering from injury but the starting line-up is unchanged following the 1-0 loss at Huddersfield. Sheffield Wednesday make one change from their midweek draw with Burton, with Adam Reach starting in place of Fernando Forestieri.

Barnsley v Ipswich Town:  Gethin Jones replaces Callum Elder in the Barnsley defence, while Adam Hammill and Tom Bradshaw come in for Ryan Kent and Alex Mowatt, who are on the bench. Ipswich make three changes from their last outing, with Jordan Spence, Myles Kenlock and Emyr Huws all starting. 

Brentford v Huddersfield Town: There is just one change for Brentford after the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, Florian Jozefzoon coming in for Sergi Canos.  Huddersfield have Danny Ward back in goal after a thigh injury and Philip Billing and Nahki Wells start in place of Aaron Mooy and Izzy Brown.

Burton Albion v Nottingham Forest: On-loan winger Michael Kightly is on the bench for Burton who make two changes with Luke Murphy and Cauley Woodrow both starting. Nottingham Forest  make five changes after losing to Brentford, with Michael Mancienne returning in defence and attacking trio Ben Brereton, Zach Clough and Ross McCormack all starting.

It's time for some team news in all of our Championship games.

We'll start in alphabetical order with Aston Villa v Sheffield Wednesday...

Image source, Rex

This match has all the hallmarks of a battle for a discounted telly in a supermarket on 'Black Friday', essentially a desperate, frenzied scramble to come out on top.

Wigan Athletic were League One title winners in 2015-16, largely thanks to 25-goal Will Grigg being 'on fire' but on promotion to the Championship there's been little triggering of the smoke alarms.

Grigg has managed seven, while the team as a whole has just 31 goals in 36 league games - and only 12 at the DW.

Bristol City, meanwhile, have relied on Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham for goals, all 18 of them in the league.

They've not won in seven games and the last one before that came in December.