Leeds United and Burnley are now on the cusp of sealing promotion to the Premier League after extending their lead to five points over third-placed Sheffield United in the Championship standings on Friday.
Burnley staged an impressive comeback to claim a 2-1 victory at Watford, with Zian Flemming and Josh Brownhill getting on the scoresheet.
The win saw the Clarets equal a long-standing club record of 30 league matches without a loss. A home win against Sheffield United at Turf Moor on Monday will mathematically confirm their return to the top flight.
“I’m immensely proud of this group and what we have done this year. We are very close now,” said manager Scott Parker. “On Monday night we can get this done. Hopefully we can go and get the result.”
Meanwhile, Leeds edged back to the summit of the table on goal difference after a gritty 1-0 away win at Oxford.
Manor Solomon fired home the decisive goal in the 33rd minute to secure the three points.
Leeds could also clinch promotion on Monday if they beat Stoke and Burnley avoid defeat against Sheffield United.
Elsewhere, Sheffield United reignited their promotion campaign following a run of three straight defeats by overcoming Cardiff 2-0.
Gustavo Hamer and Ben Brereton Diaz found the net for the Blades, ensuring Chris Wilder’s side will finish no lower than third.
“It’s been a really emotionally draining week for everybody,” Wilder admitted. “It was absolutely vital we got the three points to keep the pressure on the teams above us.”
In the play-off race, Bristol City solidified their grip on a top-six spot with a 2-1 win over Sunderland, opening up a four-point buffer.
Frank Lampard’s Coventry also stayed firmly in the mix with a 2-0 victory over West Brom, preserving their three-point advantage over seventh-placed Middlesbrough.
Boro kept their hopes alive thanks to a late penalty from Tommy Conway, which secured a dramatic 2-1 win over struggling Plymouth.
At the other end of the table, Luton gave their survival fight a much-needed lift by snatching a 1-0 win away to fellow relegation candidates Derby, boosting their chances of avoiding back-to-back demotions.
