The EFL never fails to bring you the best and worse moments in English football. With 72 teams going at it every weekend it can be incredibly hard to keep up with.
This weekend saw Leeds United and Burnley return to the Premier League, whilst Shrewsbury Town and Morecambe had their relegations to League Two and the National League confirmed.
From the good, to the bad, to the downright funny, here’s five things you may have missed from the EFL this weekend.
A New Meaning to Behind
On Friday Stoke City hosted Sheffield Wednesday as they looked to confirm safety in the Championship.
The game itself was your classic ‘we’re on the beach’ type as Stoke took an early lead through winger Million Manhoef.
As Potters fans assumed they were walking to a 1-0 win, they bagged another, of a different type.
A long throw in from Stoke was knocked on and collected by Wednesday keeper Pierce Charles. Easy right? Yeah, no. Pierce went to launch the ball up field and blasted the ball into Ben Wilmot’s rear end.
A new way to make it 2-0, but Wilmot won’t care how they go in.
Orient’s Four Goal Comeback
At the start of play on Friday, the League One play-off race was too close to call but it was Reading who held onto the all-important sixth spot.
Orient faced Barnsley, who have nothing in particular to play for. Easy? It never is in the EFL.
By 20 minutes, Richie Wellens side were 2-0 down and being dominated.
A rocket of a half-time talk saw Orient got one back within six minutes. Unfortunately, less than 10 minutes later it was 3-1.
Most teams might fold but not this team. Charlie Kelman got involved on 68 before Sean Clare and Omar Beckles iced it in two minutes on 72 and 74.
The result saw Wellens team leapfrog Reading who lost Lincoln City. They would back it up on Monday beating Cambridge United, a win that see’s them in the driving seat for the play-offs with two games to go.
Reeco Hackett’s Quick Thinking
Michael Skubala’s Lincoln City have hit a purple patch just as they take on two play-off hopefuls.
On Friday they defeated Reading 1-0 before they took on Bolton Wanderers on Easter Monday.
Unsurprisingly, Lincoln shot out of the blocks to an early two goal lead. The lead didn’t last long, with Wanderer’s levelling the game up before half-time.
Bolton started the second half brighter but couldn’t find the back of the net, opening the door for the Imps. James Collins bagged his second before Reeco Hackett turned his footballing IQ up.
Lincoln had one a free kick on the left-hand side and after a quick look over to the management team, turned to see Bolton keep Nathan Baxter well off his line, took his shot and scored off the post.
Lincoln continues their winning streak, this time ending the Trotters play-off hopes.
League Two’s Crazy Promotion Race
League Two is the gift that keeps on giving. In the EFL’s daftest promotion race Monday’s games did not disappoint.
Going into Easter Monday’s fixtures, Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale, Bradford City, Wimbledon and Walsall occupied the top five, all separated by just two points.
Walsall travelled to Newport County needing a win to make sure they would stay in the automatic promotion places. Matt Sadler’s team have fallen off the wagon horrendously but thought they had a last minute, only for it to be ruled out for handball. 0-0.
Bradford went away to Chesterfield, a team attempting to get into the play-offs. The Bantams took an early 2-0 lead but nothing’s easy in this league. Jenson Metcalfe got the host back into before half-time and yet Bradford scored again early in the second to make it 3-1.
Even that wasn’t enough as Chesterfield would score twice in the last 20 minutes. 3-3.
Doncaster Rovers knew there was a chance of top spot if they could get past play-off hopefuls Colchester United, something they did with flying colours. 3-0.
AFC Wimbledon had once occupied the top three for a good amount of time, but results have seen them fall into the play-offs. They made the short trip to Gillingham only to fall short, resulting in full-time clashes with fans. 1-0.
Port Vale, the top three’s form side, hosted Grimsby Town, ready to hold onto top spot. On 58 minutes it was 2-0 Grimsby, not exactly in the script, was it? Nothing is in this promotion race.
Vale stayed in it with Jess Debrah scoring 95th minute equaliser that keeps the team in the top three. 2-2.
Cam Branagan’s Rocket
There were some solid strikes in the EFL at the weekend but the one that take the biscuit came from Oxford United’s Cameron Branagan.
On Easter Monday, the Yellows played Cardiff City, looking to move away from the relegation zone and keep the Welsh side in the bottom three.
Late in the game it was 1-0 to Cardiff and craving something special. Up stepped Branagan.
Tyler Goodrham rolled a free kick just outside of the box to Branagan and he smashed it home. A goal worthy of all but confirming Championship football for Oxford next season.
