Playmaker's Top 4 Tier Power Rankings return to guide you through the 10 best performing teams in England.

Now at the business end of the season, good form can be more important than ever, with every club in our list making crucial efforts to boost their seasons.

The rules are the same, only competitions all teams play in are considered, so no European business or EFL Trophy lark, this is the top four tiers only. Oh and just in case you forgot, a win or loss after 90 minutes still counts as a draw!
 

10th, Barnsley

Last 5: WWDLW

With only a shock loss against Sheffield Wednesday in their last 14, Barnsley recover with wins against Luton, and at the weekend Middlesbrough, as good as booting a play-off competitor out of the picture.

Now with a five-point cushion to seventh, the Tykes just need to hold on for the final five games to complete what will be one of the stories of the season.

9th, Charlton

Last 5: WWDLW

Continuing to respond post-Lee Bowyer, Charlton pick up another win, with this one being one of their biggest of the season, downing automatic promotion hopefuls Sunderland away from home.

An own-goal and an effort from Alex Gilbey secured the 2-1 win, moving Nigel Adkins side to within a point from the League One play-offs.
 

8th, Peterborough

Last 5: WDWWL

Solidifying their automatic promotion spot, Peterborough do what Sunderland couldn’t after their draw last time out, following it up with a big win to move five points ahead of the Black Cats.

A 3-0 win over Swindon with more goals from Siriki Dembele and Jonson Clarke-Harris brings promotion tantalisingly close.
 

7th, Hull

Last 5: WWWDD

Extending their gap to the play-offs to eight points, Hull go ten unbeaten at the top of League One with eight wins in that spell.

Swatting aside three of the newly-promoted sides in a row, Hull are on cruise control as they head back towards the Championship, and will be hoping 20-year-old Keane Lewis-Potter sticks with them as he makes it 11 goals and five assists for the season.

📈 Most league wins by 3+ goals (top 4 tiers; 2020/21):

8⃣: 👊@HullCity*👊, Man City
7⃣: Peterborough
6⃣: Brentford
5⃣: Chelsea, Leicester, Spurs, Villa; Cardiff; Oxford; Exeter

* v Rochdale, Ipswich, Accrington, Pompey, Wigan, Wimbledon, Northampton, Plymouth.#hcafc pic.twitter.com/Nqwu9Ntd2b

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) April 12, 2021

6th, Watford

Last 5: WDWWW

With an Ismaïla Sarr brace at the weekend ruining Reading’s season, Watford as good as confirmed their return to the Premier League, eight points ahead of Brentford in third with eighteen points left to play for.
 

5th, Leeds

Last 5: WWWDL

Capping off a three-game win streak in headline fashion, Leeds down runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City with an incredible display at the Etihad, helping Marcelo Bielsa’s side mark their top-flight return with a top-half finish.

📊Most points by promoted #PL sides after 31 games:

54⬆️: Newcastle 93/94
47⬆️: Wolves 18/19
45⬆️: ⚪️LEEDS 20/21⚪️, West Ham 05/06, Charlton 00/01
44⬆️: Reading 06/07, Sheff Utd 19/20, Birmingham 09/10 #LUFC #MOT pic.twitter.com/3yyvmDXFnU

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) April 12, 2021

4th, Manchester United

Last 5: WWLWW

The post-match moment between Jose Mourinho and Luke Shaw at the weekend will undoubtedly go down as one of the pictures of the season, and shows just how far United have moved past their old manager.

Mourinho once described finishing second behind Manchester City one of his biggest achievements in football, but Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side are set to better his gap to the eventual champions by eight points, and they look far more likely to improve on it next season than his team ever did.

 

3rd, Port Vale

Last 5: WWWWW

Making it six wins on the bounce under Darrell Clark after an eight-game winless streak, Port Vale steer well clear of an impending relegation battle and now sit 13th in League Two, just eight points short of the play-offs.

Saturday’s 1-0 win over top-six side Morecambe, courtesy of Nathan Smith, makes it 10 goals scored and two conceded during this run.
 

2nd, Bournemouth

Last 5: WWWLW

Just when this season was looking to get away from Bournemouth, the Cherries string together four consecutive league wins and regain their top-six spot with a game in hand.

A 4-1 win over Coventry featuring an Arnaut Danjuma double and efforts from Dominic Solanke and David Brookes shows Jonathan Woodgate’s side have more than enough firepower to head back up via the play-offs.
 

1st, West Ham

Last 5: WWDLW

©Getty /

Maintaining their Champions League spot, and deservedly so, West Ham continue rewarding their supporters with one of the most entertaining seasons in modern history as they fought off a Leicester come back to take a 3-2 win at the weekend.

Even without Declan Rice, Moyes’ boys keep producing the goods, and with Jesse Lingard the league’s form player, West Ham have every chance of sealing a spot in sport’s premier club competition.

💪 THE MIGHTY DELTA #2💪

Our fanzine with @thegraphicbomb is back!

💥 Features with #PL + #EFL players inc. @padraigamond21
💥 A lead article on Mourinho feat. @LastWordOnSpurs
💥 Diary of a Secret Agent
💥 Frank Discussion @FrankNouble

🗞 Subscribe: https://t.co/FjZpGaDTkH pic.twitter.com/TtzVDoShA9

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) December 14, 2020