Bolton are just one defeat short of equalling their highest number of losses in a single season, 26.

They'll want to keep things tight at the back early on here against Derby, who are keen to gain ground on their play-off rivals today.

Mark Duffy has an early shot at goal for the hosts, but Millwall keeper David Martin gathers that one easily.

Ipswich have not lost in their past seven home league games against Birmingham, winning four of those.

Today, the Tractor Boys simply must win against the Blues again, or they're down.

Brendon Mitchell
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Although most of the pre-match chatter at Villa Park centred around Jack Grealish's absence this afternoon - the Aston Villa midfielder is out through illness - Bristol City's team has raised a few eyebrows too.

The Robins have generally favoured a 3-5-2 formation away from home since the international break, but today they've lined up in an orthodox 4-4-2, with former Villa defender Nathan Baker replaced by striker Matty Taylor.

Adopting two out-and-out wingers, too, I don't see this ending goalless. Famous last words, obviously.

Ten Championship matches are just getting started, with a full fixture list in League One and League Two as well.

Sheffield United will move up to second if they beat Millwall.

I'm sure a few in the Leeds United camp will be checking the score at Bramall Lane.

Image source, .

That is all the previews out the way, and the action is almost upon us.

Games will be getting under way up and down the country in a couple of minutes' time.

Image source, Reuters

West Brom look on course to secure a place in the play-offs, with a nine-point cushion to seventh-placed Middlesbrough and five games remaining.

But the Baggies have lost their past two, at Millwall and Bristol City.

Caretaker manager James Shan is still in charge for now, but there has been speculation that Preston boss Alex Neil may take over at The Hawthorns.

And guess who West Brom are hosting today? Yes, North End!

But Scot Neil just has one thing on his mind.

"I'm manager of Preston and people will talk as much as they want to talk," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I'm here to do a job and my focus is on Saturday's game."

With the Lilywhites eight points off the play-offs and aiming to avoid a fourth straight defeat, Neil has plenty on his mind.

Image source, Reuters

Reading were five minutes away from a surprise win at Championship leaders Norwich City on Wednesday, and then it all went a bit wrong.

In the space of three minutes, the Royals' 1-0 lead turned into a 2-1 deficit and they appeared to be heading home with nothing.

But step up Andy Rinomhota, to salvage a point in the 97th minute with his first shot on target in the league this season.

The Berkshire club are still in danger, lingering two points above the relegation zone and with just one win in their past five.

Brentford are on course for a mid-table finish, having ended a five-match winless run at home against Ipswich Town in midweek.

Image source, Getty Images

QPR are six points above the relegation zone but are not out of danger yet, having won just one of their past 16 league games.

Rangers are still searching for a new boss after sacking Steve McClaren, but John Eustace picked up his first point in caretaker charge at Millwall in midweek.

Chief executive Lee Hoos has given an update on their search for a new manager, saying the west London club "must get it right".

“I cannot stress enough how important the next appointment is, in terms of the long-term future of the club," he told the club website., external

Swansea are nine points off the play-offs, with a game in hand on most of the teams above then, and have won their past three games.

Boss Graham Potter seems to be finally getting a tune out of his players as the Swans re-acclimatise to live in second tier following a seven-year stay in the Premier League.

Striker Oli McBurnie is eyeing his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport at Bet365 Stadium

Image source, Rex Features

Goals have been in short supply at the Bet365 Stadium this season.

The past two matches here have ended goalless and, in 20 league games played on this ground, there have just been 38 goals.

That’s the second-lowest total in the Championship, just beating the 35 scored at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.

Since Nathan Jones was appointed in January, the Potters have scored the fewest goals in the second tier - just nine.

Stoke could improve that statistic today against a Rotherham side that conceded six in their most recent away game at Derby, and have let in more goals than any other Championship club this term.

Image source, Rex

With less than a month remaining of the regular season, the promotion races across the EFL are absolutely red hot right now.

Who are you backing to get over the line for an automatic promotion spot, whether in the Championship, League One, or League Two, and why?

You can have your say via #bbcefl on social media, and we want your tips, from the Blades to Bury.

News of a takeover coming in to us from Stevenage... but it's one with a difference.

Eight young Boro fans are taking on different matchday roles for the day.

One of them, Cooper Taverner-Wright, is the team's mini-manager and has helped pick the team! Good luck Cooper!

Another club having financial troubles are League Two promotion-chasers Bury.

Their League Two game against Colchester United will go ahead as scheduled today after players reached an agreement over their unpaid wages.

Shakers players had threatened going on strike after not receiving their salaries for March.

Image source, Rex Features

Lincoln City fans are preparing for a party as they could be promoted from the fourth tier today - and even wrap up the title with four games remaining if results go their way.

The Imps have a 12-point advantage over fourth-placed Bury, who have lost their past three, and entertain mid-table Cheltenham looking to extend their 18-match unbeaten run.

Elsewhere, fifth-placed Tranmere have a chance to revive their automatic promotion bid when they host MK Dons, who sit third.

At the bottom, Sol Campbell's Macclesfield, who are unbeaten in five and out of the bottom two for the first time since August, go to Forest Green, while 23rd-placed Yeovil host 21st-placed Crawley Town.

Bottom club Notts County travel to Crewe.

Here are all the fixtures, which are all 15:00 BST kick-offs:

• Bury v Colchester
• Cambridge v Newport
• Crewe v Notts County
• Exeter v Port Vale
• Forest Green v Macclesfield
• Lincoln v Cheltenham
• Morecambe v Grimsby
• Northampton v Mansfield
• Oldham v Swindon
• Stevenage v Carlisle
• Tranmere v MK Dons
• Yeovil v Crawley

Alongside our live text coverage, you can now also watch Final Score on the BBC Red Button, on the iPlayer and at the top of this very page! Just click play, above.

Jason Mohammad is joined in the studio this afternoon by Martin Keown and Dion Dublin.

Image source, Reuters

Nottingham Forest looked like they might mount a late push for the play-offs, but that challenge has fizzled out as quickly as it began.

Having been two points off the top six at the start of the month, back-to-back defeats against Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday means Martin O'Neill's side are now languishing in 11th - eight points off the play-offs.

Blackburn are heading for a mid-table finish having bounced straight back from League One last season.

Rovers ended a run of three defeats at home to Derby County in midweek, denting the Rams' play-off hopes.

They could score an East Midlands double and kill off Forest's bid once and for all this afternoon.

Tom Gayle
BBC Sport at The Riverside

Image source, BBC Sport

Tomorrow would have been the 60th birthday of legendary BBC local radio commentator Alastair Brownlee.

A banner has been mounted at the back of the press box close to where Ali use to sit during some his 1800+ commentaries for Radio Cleveland and BBC Tees.

His last game was away against today’s opponents Hull City in November 2015 and, after being diagnosed with cancer, he passed away the following February.

Ali’s family are guests at today’s game.

A rare picture in the programme shows Ali alongside one his many summarisers, former Boro player and four time caretaker boss Harold Shepherdson at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough's home up until switch the Riverside in 1995.

Image source, Reuters

Middlesbrough arrested their worrying slide out of the play-off places on Tuesday when they ended a six-match losing run with victory at Bolton.

Tony Pulis' side had slipped from fifth to eighth during that time, but the win over the Trotters put them back up to seventh and four points off the top six.

With Aston Villa and Bristol City - the two sides immediately above the Teessiders - meeting each other at Villa Park, Boro are well poised to capitalise on any slip-up.

Hull City are not giving up the ghost of a place in the play-offs either.

The Tigers have won their past three and are just a point behind Middlesbrough.