By Charlie Elliott
Leeds United stay top of the Championship (just about) despite a surprising 1-0 defeat away to Portsmouth as goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid came to Pompey‘s rescue.
In League One, it was a pretty subdued affair, and the majority of teams stayed put, with Bolton Wanderers emerging as the main beneficiaries, moving back into the playoff spots.
Tranmere Rovers put some space between them and the League Two relegation places with a huge comeback win against Bromley.
From top to bottom in all the leagues, we saw that the EFL has the capacity to provide some shocks and great moments.
Here is Charlie Elliott’s Team of the Week from the weekend.
Nicolas Schmid (Portsmouth)
Pompey well and truly played up in their huge 1-0 win over Championship table-toppers Leeds United, thanks in large part to a mammoth goalkeeping performance from Austrian keeper Schmid.
Four saves, all from shots that were taken in the box, as well as some solid play in commanding his box, get him a well-deserved spot in this team.
Plenty of keepers played well this weekend, but given the magnitude of Portsmouth’s win, Schmid is good value for the number one jersey.
Kayne Ramsay (Charlton Athletic)
In much less glamorous fashion than Portsmouth’s win, Charlton Athletic secured a goalless draw away to Stockport County.
Not a classic by any means, but right back Kayne Ramsay gets in this side yet again after an assured game at the back.
The former Southampton man had the most tackles in the match, the most dribbles and was the most successful passer.
It keeps the Addicks in the playoff race in League One and was not a bad point by any stretch of the imagination.
Lloyd Jones (Charlton Athletic)
Like Ramsay, Lloyd Jones was very solid at the back in Charlton’s draw.
He won the most duels and kept a usually potent County attack at bay very well.
Jones pretty much did the basics to a very good level, as most of his team did, and they will take the draw in a tough game.
Chris Mepham (Sunderland)
Sunderland just about scraped past Cardiff City in a 2-1 home victory, which sees them stay in fourth place in the Championship and effectively guarantee a playoff spot.
They have not been in the best form recently, but the win was crucial in lifting spirits ahead of the expected playoff games in ten games time.
Wales international Chris Mepham was the man who got the winner, scoring from extremely close range to break Bluebirds hearts with just under 15 minutes to go.
Overall, he was solid defensively, and the fact that he got the winner seals his place in this team.
Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United)
Still putting pressure on Leeds, Sheffield United grinded out another crucial, narrow 1-0 win against Preston North End to go level on points at the top of the Championship.
Harrison Burrows continues to show why he is one of the best attacking fullbacks in the league, with an absolute wand of a left foot that can create chances out of nothing.
Not only did he create the joint most chances in the game, but he got the assist for the only goal of the game.
A perfect cross landed right on Tyrese Campbell’s head, who beat the North End keeper to the ball to head home.
If the Blades are to go up, a large part of it will be down to the magic of Burrows.
Regan Hendry (Tranmere Rovers)
Rovers have finally put a bit of daylight between themselves and the relegation places in League Two.
They are now four points ahead of the second-bottom side, Morecambe, after a 2-1 win at home to Bromley.
Scottish midfielder Regan Hendry got a brace of assists in what could prove to be a huge win for the Wirral club.
Two very good finishes mean that he was quite fortunate to get the two assists, but the numbers don’t lie.
Easily the best midfielder on their team, when he plays, Tranmere appears to be a much stronger side, and he will be essential for their survival hopes.
Victor Torp (Coventry City)
Frank Lampard keeps proving the doubters wrong, as Coventry City stay in the playoffs after a late 3-2 win over Stoke City.
Victor Torp got the first couple of goals to put his side 2-0 up, with a lovely, glanced header and a tidy finish from close range.
The Sky Blues made hard work of it but eventually got over the line, thanks in large part to the exploits of the Danish midfielder earlier on in the game.
Albie Morgan (Blackpool)
Blackpool got a surprisingly comfortable 3-0 win at Oakwell against Barnsley in a mid-table League One battle, with midfield maestro Albie Morgan getting a couple of assists.
His first was a simple pass, which teammate Sonny Carey (more on him later) turned into an assist from some lovely running and a great finish.
The second was a great bit of quality, putting in a great ball for Ashley Fletcher to head home.
A tale of two very different assists for the former Charlton man, who seems to be enjoying life by the sea.
Sonny Carey (Blackpool)
As promised, Carey wasn’t going to be left out after a brilliant brace for Blackpool.
The winger opened the scoring with a brilliant low finish from outside the box, which came after a run of about 30 yards.
It was exactly what you want from a winger.
Similarly to Morgan, it was a tale of two different goals, with his second goal being a rebounded tap in to give the Tangerines a three-goal advantage and finish the game off.
They all count.
Sam Gallagher (Stoke City)
Hugely unlucky to be on the losing side, Sam Gallagher was the second player in Stoke’s 3-2 loss to Coventry to get a brace.
After Torp put the Sky Blues 2-0 up, the Scottish striker hit back with a double of his own to get the Potters on level terms.
A tap in for his first goal, followed by a nice header from a free kick, got his side back in the game.
It would all be for nothing because Bobby Thomas won it for Coventry in dramatic fashion.
Jayden Luker (Grimsby Town)
Walsall’s horrendous run of form continued with a 3-1 home loss to Grimsby Town.
The Saddlers may be top, but they are well and truly on the brink of a huge bottling, with Bradford City now only two points behind.
Young winger Jayden Luker, on loan from Luton Town, got a double to make sure the points went back to Lincolnshire.
He equalised with a curled finish from the edge of the box after a short free kick routine, before slotting home for the third with a cool finish after he was put through one-on-one with the keeper.
An exciting player and a great talent, Luton probably wishes that they had him in their squad at the moment.
