EFL 4/1 Acca – Gab Sutton

A return of 11 points from their last five league games has seen Birmingham ascend the Championship standings from 17th to 13th, closing the gap to the Play-Offs from nine points to five.

Chris Davies’ side have shown signs of banishing their away day blues, with victories at strugglers Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford, and are hoping to return to home dominance.

The second city outfit have been helped by some promising January business, with left-back Kai Wagner, midfielder Jhon Solis, attacking midfielder Carlos Vicente, winger Ibrahim Osman and striker August Priske all making early contributions.

Birmingham are facing Leicester at a good time, too: the Foxes have lost seven of their last 10 league games, nine of which came under Marti Cifuentes, who was subsequently dismissed, but the fanbase are in no doubt that the biggest problems lie higher up.

It’s nine wins in 17 league games for Peterborough United, since Luke Williams was appointed manager in October, with the Posh flying up League One from being bottom of the table, reaching the top half.

There’s a lot of excitement around London Road right now, prompted by a period that they’ve had a couple of years of selling key players who got them to the Play-Offs in 2023 and 2024, and now the next generation of talent is a bit further on in their development, under a fabulous coach.

As such, Peterborough feel they can challenge for promotion next season, although they still have an outside shot at the Play-Offs this term, at 10 points off with a game in hand.

Wigan Athletic, meanwhile, are looking down rather than up, having taken just two points from their six league games in 2026, with that run of form landing Ryan Lowe’s side in the drop zone.

Notts County have soared to second in League Two, with Martin Paterson’s side securing a fifth consecutive victory against Gillingham in midweek, as January recruit James Belshaw inspired them to a 1-0 win.

The former Harrogate goalkeeper has made a big difference to the Magpies, who have attained each of their five successes by a one-goal margin, since his debut at Crawley last month.

Notts County have some top players for the level, too, in defender Jacob Bedeau, wing-back Jodi Jones, attacking midfielder Tom Iorpenda, plus forwards Alassana Jatta and Matthew Dennis.

Visitors Barrow, on the other hand, have lost their last four league games, a run that’s moved them within four points of the relegation zone, and made them thankful that neither of the bottom two incumbents, Newport and Harrogate, have shown many signs of life.