Championship
Fixture: Preston 1-1 Sheffield United
Venue: Deepdale (Preston home)
Kick-off: 9.45pm BST (Fri)
Verdict: There is no doubting the irresistibility of Preston's push into the play-offs. Many are pointing at a similar push by Crystal Palace in 2004. But there are key differences that make this a much less attractive position for Preston. First, Palace were immediately up against a Sunderland side in the semi-finals who were stuttering at best. Sunderland had only won two in six in the run-in, including a 3-0 defeat to Palace themselves. Meanwhile, West Ham their opponents in the final had also been beaten by Palace in the run-in. Preston, meanwhile, face something very different in a Sheffield United side on top form and unlucky not to be promoted automatically after an incredible push in the run-in.
Betting Advice: 4pts Sheff Utd to qualify at 4/6 (1.66 generally)
Fixture: Burnley 1-0 Reading
Venue: Turf Moor (Burnley home)
Kick-off: 5.20pm BST (Sat)
Verdict: Meanwhile, Reading managed to halt their appalling form briefly in the run-in with a 2-0 win over abject Norwich to give their fans perhaps false hope that they hadn't blown promotion. For all intents and purposes they have. While Burnley scored for fun in the run-in Reading managed just eight goals in the last ten games (in just three wins). In the same period Burnley managed 18 goals and five wins. Form is everything at this stage, so Burnley should take the home leg.
Betting Advice: 4pts Burnley to win at 6/4 (2.5 at extrabet)
League One
Fixture: Scunthorpe 1-1 MK Dons
Venue: Glanford Park (Scunthorpe home)
Kick-off: 7.45pm BST (Fri)
Verdict: MK Dons have been a class apart among the play-off contenders and while the Championship play-offs is a little bit of a lottery, the League One affair is not with third place well ahead in terms of promotion. The Dons major strength this season was home and away form, and they will see the away leg as there to be won - like their last three away games.
Betting Advice: 3pts MK Dons win at 9/5 (2.8 at Paddy Power and extrabet)
Fixture: Millwall 1-0 Leeds
Venue: New Den (Millwall home)
Kick-off: 12.45pm BST (Sat)
Verdict: This is set to be a real humdinger with both these sides not averse to a bit of fisticuffs on and off the pitch. However, as far as football is concerned, Leeds have the bit up front with Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio, which is all the difference at this stage of the season.
Betting Advice: 2pts Leeds to win at 7/4 (2.75 generally); 5pts Leeds to qualify at 8/13 (1.62 at Coral)
