Summary

  • Leaders Wolves held at 10-man Preston

  • Cardiff go second after win against Middlesbrough

  • Fulham beat Aston Villa, who slip to third

  • Sunderland beaten 2-0 at home by Brentford

  • Get involved via #bbcefl on Twitter

  1. Bolton marching on?published at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2018

    QPR v Bolton (15:00 GMT)

    They are out of the relegation places but, with one win in their past six games in all competitions, it's a nervous stage of the season for Bolton Wanderers.

    The Trotters face Ian Holloway's Queens Park Rangers this afternoon but they are winless in their past four meetings with the Rs.

    However, Phil Parkinson's side could give themselves from breathing space away from the Championship drop zone with a win today.

    That being said, Bolton have won just once on their travels in the league so far this season. That's fewer away wins than any other team in the Championship.

    Time to buck the trend?

  2. Exeter target play-off spotpublished at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2018

    League Two fixtures

    Paul TisdaleImage source, Getty Images

    Now this is a bit more like it.

    Eleven League Two games, the pick of which might be at Exeter where the hosts will look to climb into the play-off places with victory over Mansfield.

    Leaders Luton are not in action, and neither are Coventry, who are playing in the fifth round of the FA Cup this weekend.

    • Barnet v Accrington
    • Cambridge v Grimsby
    • Carlisle v Chesterfield
    • Cheltenham v Wycombe
    • Crawley v Lincoln
    • Crewe v Colchester
    • Exeter v Mansfield
    • Morecambe v Forest Green
    • Newport v Notts County
    • Stevenage v Yeovil
    • Swindon v Port Vale
  3. Avoiding the droppublished at 14:21 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2018

    Sunderland v Brentford (15:00 GMT)

    A return from the brink on the cards on Wearside?

    Sunderland goalkeeper Lee Camp has past experience of a relegation battle, and he believes the Black Cats can avoid a second relegation in as many seasons.

    Chris Coleman's side are currently three points from safety in the Championship after last Saturday's exciting 3-3 draw with Bristol City.

    Camp, who is on loan from Cardiff for the rest of the campaign, was part of the Nottingham Forest side that avoided relegation to League One in 2008-09.

    "Confidence is a big thing, a bit of luck and the rub of the green helps," Camp told BBC Newcastle.

    "Essentially, it comes down to us being organised, being disciplined, doing the right things and sacrificing a few things along the way and the result will come."

  4. A mental battlepublished at 14:18 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2018

    Burton Albion v Nottingham Forest (15:00 GMT)

    Nigel CloughImage source, Getty Images

    Is the great escape on?

    Burton Albion are four points adrift at the foot of the Championship table and boss Nigel Clough has challenged his players to be "mentally tough enough" to turn around their poor home form.

    The Brewers have taken just eight points from 15 home matches and host out-of-form local rivals Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

    "We just say to the players 'go out and play the same way'," said Clough.

    "They have to be mentally strong enough to do that. Away from home it is easier in some ways because you don't have that pressure with the onus being on you."

  5. Embrace the pressurepublished at 14:14 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2018

    Cardiff City v Middlesbrough (15:00 GMT)

    Neil WarnockImage source, Getty Images

    Pressure? Try talking to Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock about pressure. He's just happy they won't get relegated!

    The Bluebirds boss has urged his side to embrace the pressure of their end-of-season run-in as they target promotion to the Premier League.

    After beating Bolton Wanderers 2-0 on Tuesday, Warnock's side are one point off the Championship promotion places with 15 games left to play.

    "We've just got to enjoy the moment," Warnock said.

    "We're safe now, we can't get relegated, so let's enjoy it. We've got a good side and I think we can get better."

  6. Shrews look to capitalise on Latics absencepublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2018

    League One fixtures

    Stefan PayneImage source, Getty Images

    What's this? Only eight League One fixtures?

    Wigan and Rochdale's continued participation in the FA Cup has helped pare down the fixture list somewhat, but there's still more than enough for fans to sink their teeth into.

    Shrewsbury will look to move four points clear of the Latics at the top of the table as they take on fourth-placed Rotherham, while Wimbledon will hope to move out of the bottom four with victory over Bristol Rovers.

    • AFC Wimbledon v Bristol Rovers
    • Doncaster v Fleetwood
    • Gillingham v Walsall
    • MK Dons v Charlton
    • Oxford v Plymouth
    • Scunthorpe v Northampton
    • Shrewsbury v Rotherham
    • Southend v Portsmouth
  7. How it stands at the toppublished at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2018

    Championship top sixImage source, .

    Wolves could go a whopping 16 points clear of third today, providing they win at Preston and Cardiff lose to Middlesbrough. Second-placed Derby aren't in action this weekend.

    The other big game at the sharp end of the table is at Craven Cottage, where fifth-placed Fulham host second-placed Aston Villa.

  8. Ahoy hoypublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2018

    It's been a cracking day for Team GB. Izzy Atkin,19, won Great Britain's first-ever medal in a skiing event as she took bronze in the women's slopestyle final and Lizzy Yarnold retained her Winter Olympic title in the skeleton, while Laura Deas won bronze in the same event.

    However, you can forget all that Winter Olympics lark. Saturday's events have now finished and it's time for football. You can forget the FA Cup too - if your team's been knocked out, at least.

    Today we move from battles on the track and ice to good old fashioned battles for promotion or against relegation.

    We will be bringing you the latest on a whopping 26 games in the English Football League this afternoon.

    Get yourself a cuppa and maybe even some biscuits - something involving chocolate would be preferable - and turn the heating up. You're not in freezing Pyeongchang, you're in Blighty and football is happening.

    Kick-off is coming soon.