Summary

  • Swansea thrash Cardiff for first league double over rivals

  • Reading rally to draw at fellow strugglers Barnsley

  • Derby move off bottom with victory over Preston

  • Top two Fulham and Bournemouth both win

  • Forest thump Blackpool in early game to go fifth

  • Bodvarsson earns point for Bolton at Wigan in League One derby

  1. League Two fixturespublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    All games kick off at 15:00 BST

    Forest Green mascotImage source, Rex Features

    Eleven games in League Two today.

    Top hosts bottom as out-of-form Forest Green will look to get back to winning ways against seemingly doomed Scunthorpe.

    Exeter City could yet pinch top spot before the season's end but they face a tricky trip to fifth-placed Newport County.

    Third-placed Northampton will also face a stern test as they visit Mansfield while fourth-placed Port Vale are at Phil Brown's struggling Barrow.

    There's a massive clash at the bottom as Steve Evans' 23rd-placed Stevenage host John Sheridan's Oldham, who are 22nd.

    • Barrow v Port Vale
    • Bristol Rovers v Bradford City
    • Forest Green Rovers v Scunthorpe United
    • Harrogate Town v Colchester United
    • Hartlepool United v Salford City
    • Mansfield Town v Northampton Town
    • Newport County v Exeter City
    • Rochdale v Swindon Town
    • Stevenage v Oldham Athletic
    • Tranmere Rovers v Carlisle United
    • Walsall v Leyton Orient
  2. League One game of the daypublished at 14:53 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    MK Dons v Shrewsbury Town (15:00 BST)

    Joe Thompson
    Former Rochdale and Tranmere midfielder on Squad Goals

    League One sees third-placed MK Dons take on mid-table Shrewsbury at home.

    But don’t be fooled by the 28 points that separate these two sides because Shrewsbury have won their last three and come to Stadium MK meaning business. They won the reverse fixture 1-0 and Steve Cotterill will be making sure his players end the season on a high for the Salop faithful.

    MK Dons have been incredible all season. Liam Manning was a surprise successor to Russell Martin at the start of the season but has really impressed.

    His forward thinking and expansive style of football has seen them now go 12 games unbeaten, winning six of their past seven. Due to internationals Manning’s Dons haven’t played for a fortnight. But he says it was a welcome break and his squad is sharp and ready for the promotion push.

    A win today will see them move within a point of league leaders Rotherham.

    I’m expecting a great game.

  3. League One fixturespublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    All games kick off at 15:00 BST

    Armed Forces Day at Home ParkImage source, Rex Features

    Ten third tier games coming up for you.

    With leaders Rotherham not in league action this weekend thanks to their involvement in the Papa John's Trophy final on Sunday, third-placed MK Dons will look to keep the pressure on with victory over improving Shrewsbury Town.

    There's a massive game in Devon as fourth-placed Plymouth host fifth-placed Oxford United, and sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday will look to take advantage against lowly AFC Wimbledon. The Dons sacked Mark Robinson and placed Mark Bowen in charge until the end of the campaign in the week.

    Down at the bottom, Crewe HAVE to beat fellow strugglers Fleetwood if they're to have any chance of staying up, while Doncaster face a tough trip to Wycombe.

    • Accrington Stanley v Cheltenham Town
    • Charlton Athletic v Lincoln City
    • Crewe Alexandra v Fleetwood Town
    • Ipswich Town v Cambridge United
    • Milton Keynes Dons v Shrewsbury Town
    • Morecambe v Burton Albion
    • Plymouth Argyle v Oxford United
    • Sheffield Wednesday v AFC Wimbledon
    • Sunderland v Gillingham
    • Wycombe Wanderers v Doncaster Rovers
  4. A rare 3pm south Wales derbypublished at 14:50 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    Cardiff v Swansea (15:00 BST)

    Michael Pearlman
    BBC Sport Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium

    It's extremely rare that a south Wales derby is staged at 15:00 BST on a Saturday, with television or the police usually ensuring the game kicks off earlier, or on a Sunday, etc.

    As you would expect, the Cardiff City Stadium has been a little flat in recent times with the club enduring a bang average season, but this game really gets everyone going in this part of the world.

    Security getting into the ground today was like Fort Knox, with the Swansea fans having arrived on on coaches at around 13:00.

    It's going to be lively in south Wales, that is absolutely certain, with the sold out signs stuck up long ago.

    Swans coach and police on horseImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  5. Play-off chaserspublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    Coventry v Blackburn; Luton v Millwall; Peterborough v Middlesbrough (all 15:00 BST)

    Kenilworth RoadImage source, PA Media

    Coventry City host Blackburn with both teams in need of a win to boost their flagging play-off bid. Rovers start the day just outside the top six but their recent form is poor at best.

    There's another meeting between play-off chasing rivals at Kenilworth Road as surprise package Luton welcome, well, surprise package Millwall. The Hatters will go back up to third with a victory, while the Lions need to avoid defeat to stay in touching distance of the top six.

    Peterborough need points for an altogether different reason as they welcome eighth-placed Middlesbrough. The Posh looked dead and buried but a 3-1 win at QPR last time out has boosted their flagging survival hopes. Boro's recent form is excellent but they're not the best on the road.

  6. Wins required for Derbypublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    Derby v Preston (15:00 BST)

    Derby fansImage source, PA Media

    Off the field, Derby's agonising wait for new owners - and to finally be taken out of administration - goes on.

    On it, Wayne Rooney's side were stuttering prior to the international break and are running out of games if they are to pull off a miraculous survival act.

    The Rams sit bottom and are eight points from safety, with visitors Preston safely in mid-table and looking to bounce back from their 4-0 humbling at Luton last time out.

  7. A can't lose game for Cardiffpublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    Cardiff v Swansea (15:00 BST)

    Michael Pearlman
    BBC Sport Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium

    Derby games always shred the nerves of fans, but the stakes are higher for Cardiff fans today than Swansea fans.

    If Cardiff win? They get the bragging rights, this time.

    If Swansea win? They complete the first league double in the 110-year history of the south Wales derby. Bragging rights? An understatement.

    Cardiff simply can't lose today, they will be desperate to avoid making unwanted history.

    Cardiff fans greet the Swansea coachImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  8. Cherries get set for hectic run-inpublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    Bournemouth v Bristol City (15:00 BST)

    Bournemouth playersImage source, Getty Images

    Various reasons mean Bournemouth go into the final five weeks of the season with 10 matches still to play.

    Premier League promotion is, however, firmly in their hands.

    The Cherries are three points clear of third-placed Huddersfield with a whopping four games in hand on the Terriers.

    They'll look to make a positive start to their busy run-in with a positive result against a Bristol City side who are already looking towards next season in the Championship.

  9. Potters look to play party pooperspublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    Stoke v Sheff Utd (15:00 BST)

    Stoke City could yet have quite a large say in who finishes in the play-off places even if their own bid for a top six finish fell apart some weeks ago.

    Six of the Potters' eight remaining games are against teams who, at present anyway, have a shot of claiming one of the play-off spots.

    That starts with today's visit of Sheffield United.

    The Blades start the game in sixth place and they'll hope that come full-time today they remain there or higher.

  10. Revenge on the menu in west London?published at 14:39 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    QPR v Fulham (15:00 BST)

    Harry WilsonImage source, PA Media

    League leaders Fulham have had quite some time to lick their wounds after falling to a 1-0 defeat at West Brom on 15 March.

    The Whites remain firmly on top of the second tier but a win today would boost confidence heading into their final eight games and, perhaps just as crucially for their fans, dent QPR's chances of a top six finish.

    The R's are in decidedly indifferent form themselves and come into this off the back of a humbling 3-1 home loss by lowly Peterborough.

    Mark Warburton's men were hammered 4-1 in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season.

  11. Derby day in Walespublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    Cardiff v Swansea (15:00 BST)

    Swansea fansImage source, Getty Images

    Fans of Cardiff and Swansea could justifiably bristle at suggestions that this isn't the biggest game of the day in the EFL.

    As it goes, these Welsh rivals find themselves in the hinterland where they're very unlikely to get dragged into relegation danger and are way too far back to push for a top six finish.

    Not that that will matter to either set of fans today.

    Victory for the Bluebirds would see them move above the Swans and, far more importantly, give them bragging rights until they meet again next season

  12. This place ain't big enough for the both of uspublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    Barnsley v Reading (15:00 BST)

    OakwellImage source, Rex Features

    It's reached the stage of the season where the biggest match of the day sees 22nd host 21st.

    With the teams above Reading having a decent-sized cushion above the bottom three it seems highly likely that the three relegated sides will come from the teams occupying the bottom four spots.

    The Royals have a five-point advantage over Barnsley going into this crunch match and, realistically, it's a game the Tykes can't afford to lose if they're to preserve their second tier status.

  13. Championship fixturespublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    All games kick off at 15:00 BST

    • Barnsley v Reading
    • AFC Bournemouth v Bristol City
    • Cardiff City v Swansea City
    • Coventry City v Blackburn Rovers
    • Derby County v Preston North End
    • Luton Town v Millwall
    • Peterborough United v Middlesbrough
    • Queens Park Rangers v Fulham
    • Stoke City v Sheffield United
  14. Moving on...published at 14:33 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    QPR fansImage source, PA Media

    Now the early action in Lancashire is wrapped up it's time to turn our attention to the 15:00 BST action.

    Let's get cracking.

  15. Postpublished at 14:33 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    FT: Blackpool 1-4 Nott'm Forest; Wigan 1-1 Bolton

    So that's the story of our lunchtime kick-offs.

    There's plenty to get through between now and the 15:00 BST kick-offs, so it's a good time to introduce Ian Woodcock and Steve Mather.

    Take it away.

  16. FULL-TIMEpublished at 14:33 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    Wigan 1-1 Bolton

    And there is the full-time whistle on 99 minutes as the points are shared in this League One derby.

    Jon Dadi Bodvarsson's late header rescued a draw for Bolton after James McClean's first-half opener.

    Wigan stay second behind Rotherham, both on 80 points, but the Latics have still played a game less.

    Bolton look certain to finish mid-table.

  17. Postpublished at 14:32 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    Wigan 1-1 Bolton

    James McClean hobbles off for Wigan. They're into the ninth minute of stoppage time at the DW!

  18. League One latestpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    Wigan 1-1 Bolton

    Into five minutes of stoppage time at the DW Stadium.

    Plenty of time for a winner.

  19. FULL-TIMEpublished at 14:23 British Summer Time 2 April 2022

    Blackpool 1-4 Nott'm Forest

    Eight games unbeaten for Nottingham Forest in the league and back on the horse after their cup defeat by Liverpool.

    Forest scored four, two from Brennan Johnson and strikes for Philip Zinckernagel and Sam Surridge, and go into the top six at least for now.

    Blackpool were blown away by Forest first-half but showed real character to stick with it and got a reward from Callum Connolly's late goal.

    The promotion dream lives on for Steve Cooper and co.

  20. Postpublished at 90+3 mins

    Blackpool 1-4 Nott'm Forest

    Have to say Forest look very comfortable at the back with the three centre-halves.

    Shut down most things that have come their way. Scott McKenna a welcome returnee.