Our weekly pick of the one-to-watch fixture from each of England's top four tiers finds you some top of the table beauties, as title challengers take on promotion pushers.
There’s a glut of sides on 31 points from 10th downwards, and realistically right now they’re still in the fight, with Brighton just five points back and Watford a further three.
Watford were previously dead and buried in last place, but Nigel Pearson’s turnaround saw them move clear, recently though, winless in three, they’re back in trouble, and will be desperate for a result this weekend.
The reverse fixture saw a comfortable away win for Brighton against the first of Watford’s three managers this season, Javi Gracia, but it’s unlikely they’ll have things so easy this weekend as the Seagulls are winless in six and only West Ham have worse form.
It's likely to be a battle of the captains, with Deeney's return coinciding in Watford's improved from, while Dunk will be the man stopping him and setting the standard.
⚪️🔴With #LFC breaking Premier League records this season, the extra wins & points have had to come from somewhere.
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) January 28, 2020
📈Playmaker takes a deep dive on the numbers to find out where, and if questioning the quality of the league is actually fair...
👉https://t.co/QyfEGwLxLE👈 pic.twitter.com/3Jz2S1DBZi
This might be the game where the season truly drifts away from Leeds, facing a Forest side primed to take advantage of their run of slip-ups that has seen their security in the automatic promotion places drift away.
Short of a big goal swing Leeds will retain their top two spot this weekend, but with defeat against Forest and if Fulham can beat Blackburn, their previous 11 point gap to third will be obliterated.
Season narratives can change quickly, and a 3-2 comeback win against Millwall featuring a Patrick Bamford brace looked like exactly the kind of result to put their season back on course. Following it up with a home loss to Wigan means anything less than a win this weekend could spell the beginning of full crisis mode.
Forest themselves missed a huge opportunity last time out with defeat to Birmingham, but could quickly readdress things as they continue to look like one of the few sides ready to take advantage of West Brom and Leeds’ dire runs.
Two strikers that have been far more profligate than their fans would hope have a big chance to readdress things this weekend.
📝 Missing chances is part of a true goalscorer's lot - often it's how they react to missing that matters.
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 5, 2020
In this article, Playmaker's Sam Bevan @AllDayLUFC looks at the EFL players to miss most 'Big Chances' this season...
👉 https://t.co/EA0mlLSIa2#EFL pic.twitter.com/UA548slqPT
Peterborough are coming off the back of a four game winning run that's seen 12 goals scored and two conceded, whilst Oxford are currently experiencing a slight stumble in their entertaining season that’s seen a promotion push and multiple cup runs.
If Posh can extend their stellar run to five games they could be back in the top two after drifting all the way down to 10th, while Oxford, on the back of taking Newcastle to 210 minutes of FA Cup football will be looking to re-enter the top six with a win. As far as EFL Thigh Rubbers go, this one’s a can’t miss.
Szmodics has four in three for Peterborough who have regained their goal scoring reputation, and it will be up to Oxford captain Mousinho to stop him.
↗️Highest EFL goalscorers (league; 2019/20):
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 1, 2020
56⚽️: 🔥PETERBOROUGH🔥
55⚽️: Swindon, Crewe
53⚽️: Rotherham, West Brom
49⚽️: Brentford@theposhofficial #PUFC pic.twitter.com/H6VF7smssa
As far as winning form goes in League Two, it’s hard to look past Plymouth, and when it comes to staying unbeaten, Colchester’s incredible 16 game run can only be admired despite ending last time out against Cambridge.
Plymouth will be desperate to cement their place in the automatic promotion places, while Colchester are aiming to do the same in a top six that looks like it may finally be breaking away from the chasing pack with those outside showing some appalling form.
Much like Oxford in the league above, Colchester have had plenty of fun in the cups this season, but are now emerging from those highs as a solid promotion pick. A win on Saturday would see them two points behind Plymouth who are third, while Argyle have an outside shot of closing the gap to leaders Swindon down to two as well.
Jephcott has looked dangerous up top since his return to Devon, while keeper Gerken has been the key man in Colchester's recent resilience.
📈 Most league assists in 2020 (top 4 tiers):
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 6, 2020
6🅰: @georgecoopsx
4🅰: Adam Armstrong, Siriki Dembele, Daniel Barlaser, Charlie Kirk#PAFC @Only1Argyle #pufc @theposhofficial #BRFC #RUFC #CreweAlex pic.twitter.com/DdM0WGZYxT
🏆First place in Germany, seven consecutive titles in Austria, four F1 championships.
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) January 30, 2020
🇵🇹🇪🇸 Red Bull are on the rise, are about to add Portugal to their list, & are aiming for La Liga.
⚠️Could Red Bull begin a take over of European football?
Full story:👉https://t.co/Eqxp6DmuI6 pic.twitter.com/wwH3GVr554