EFL preview: Open-top buses booked as finish line comes into view

EFL preview: Open-top buses booked as finish line comes into viewImage source, ShutterstockImage caption, Frank Lampard's Coventry City could end a 25-year exile from the top flight on SaturdayByAlex HoadBBC Sport journalistPublished10 April 202697 CommentsThe open-top buses have been reserved for weeks, the local authorities have been put on notice for road closures, the fridges are stocked and you just know there are boxes of gaudy celebratory merchandise lurking in warehouses waiting for the green light to be shipped to a stadium.We're approaching the finish line on the final straight of the marathon EFL race and there are podium places up for grabs this weekend.There are also some huge games in the battle to avoid dropping through the relegation trapdoor in the Championship, League One and at the very foot of the EFL.Calculators at the ready, here are five things to look out for this weekend.Champions elect are almost thereImage source, Opta/ShutterstockImage caption, Coventry will be promoted to the Premier League on Saturday should they beat Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall and Middlesbrough fail to secure three pointsCoventry began the Championship season with a 12-game unbeaten run, rising to the summit at the start of October and, despite a wobble early in 2026, have remained there ever since.That run of 16 points from 13 games either side of Christmas allowed Middlesbrough to temporarily wipe out an eight-point deficit to go level on points with the Sky Blues in February, but a 3-1 win over Boro launched a run of eight wins in nine games and moved Frank Lampard's men 12 points clear and has fans counting down the days until their 25-year exile from the top flight comes to an end.That could happen on Saturday. Should Millwall fail to win at West Brom on Friday (20:00 BST) then Coventry will host rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (12:30 BST) knowing a win would mean Middlesbrough must beat Portsmouth at the Riverside at 15:00 BST to...