sport news WONDERS OF THE PYRAMID: Who gets promoted to the Premier League, which teams ... trends now
It's Easter, the best weekend of the year for Football League fixtures. With two games in four days so close to the end of the season, teams have a chance to make or break a promotion push or survival scrap.
Let’s answer the big questions...
Who wins four-team promotion fight?
Leicester came out of the blocks flying, with 13 wins in the first 14 games back in the second tier after their fairytale era tumbled down with relegation. But the Championship is a marathon, not a sprint - and the Foxes have faltered.
Pep Guardiola’s former right-hand man Enzo Maresca looks a shrewd operator despite a budget that dwarfs most teams below, but the next two games will define just how good the Italian boss is, with just one win in the previous five games.
Leicester came out of the blocks flying, with 13 wins in the first 14 games back in the second tier
Pep Guardiola ’s former right-hand man Enzo Maresca looks a shrewd operator during his debut season in charge
Let’s not focus solely on that tricky spell but instead the 32 matches that came before it, where Maresca’s men asserted themselves as one of the best teams this division has seen with a patient, possession-based game that saw many top teams left with egg on their faces.
Jamie Vardy is still the main source of goals with 13, but Leicester look different to the team that came down, with Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi dangerous out wide. Wilfried Ndidi, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Harry Winks are a midfield trio far too good for this level.
But Leeds, as tipped in this column before a ball was kicked, have everything at their disposal to romp to the title, going into this weekend as leaders - though they have played a game more than Leicester. Daniel Farke has been there and done it twice with Norwich.
A recruitment drive to sign young, uncut gems was a reason for relegation last year, but many of those are thriving now, such as Georginio Rutter and Willy Gnonto. In 18-year-old Archie Gray, Leeds have the best youngster in the division.
Farke’s youngsters had an inconsistent start to life back in the Championship but have blown away nearly all in their wake since Christmas, taking 37 points from 39 in 2024. Welsh internationals Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon have been exceptional, too.
But Easter Weekend has haunted Leeds before. In 2019, they were in a similar position of authority in the automatic race but had back-to-back defeats to Wigan and Brentford, then fell apart in the play-offs against Frank Lampard’s Derby.
Ipswich have been the story of the season, after amassing 98 points and scoring 101 goals in League One last term. The early surge of Kieran McKenna’s side is no surprise to anyone that watched them in the third tier but their staying power is remarkable.
Losing to Cardiff after goals in the 95th and 100th minute earlier this month could have derailed their push, as could a run over Christmas where they won just once from December 12 to February 14, but the Tractor Boys won’t go away.
Jamie Vardy is still the main source of goals with 13, but Leicester look different to the team that came down
Leeds have everything at their disposal to romp to the Championship title this season
Ipswich have been the story of the season, after amassing 98 points and scoring 101 goals in League One last term
They are a point adrift of those above them. An Ipswich win over Southampton on Monday would surely rule Russell Martin’s Saints out of the automatic race. They went unbeaten in a staggering 25 games but have faltered since.
Points on the board are better than games in hand but the fact they are nine
