Coventry get us under way as Sheffield Wednesday, in their changed strip of white shirts and black shorts, have 'turned the Sky Blues around' in the first half.

The kick-off at the CBS Arena was delayed by approximately 60 seconds as a few sky blue balloons had drifted on to the pitch...

Rob Newman
Former Norwich defender on BBC Radio Norfolk

Everyone is waving their yellow and green cards, it's a fantastic sight, if Ipswich players didn't think they were in game before, they certainly will do now.

They're not just up against those 11 Norwich players, they're against the fans as well.

Is this the day of destiny?

The next 90 minutes will give us a good idea.

A full-blooded local derby with huge promotion connotations, a top vs bottom battle as the Premier League inches closer and, er QPR v Bristol City are all under way...

John Bennett
BBC Radio 5 Live at the CBS Arena

Image source, Shutterstock

Frank Lampard’s message in his manager programme notes is that the Coventry players have to stay grounded until the promotion job is officially done, but the home fans are already walking on air here, bracing themselves for a promotion party in the sunshine.

It’s normally quiet when I arrive two or three hours before kick-off but the supporters were already gathering for the big occasion.

And just before kick-off you can feel the extra energy in the stands.

Twenty-five years the supporters here have waited for this moment so they’re taking it all in just in case Portsmouth can do them a favour later.

Glenn Speller
BBC Sport England at Carrow Road

With no direct trains between Ipswich and Norwich today because of the dreaded engineering works it has already been a long morning for visiting fans with buses and coaches the order of the day.

Just to brighten the day, it has been raining and is very cold here in Norfolk and the floodlights are on under murky, leaden skies.

The atmosphere should warm things up but can the game live up to all the hype we have had this week?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Opta

Why change a winning team? Philippe Clement hasn’t. He’s picked the same Canaries XI which came from behind to win 2-1 at Millwall on Monday.

Kieran McKenna has however made four changes from the Town side which also came from behind to beat Birmingham 2-1 on the same afternoon.

Leif Davis returns from suspension while Jack Taylor and Anis Mehmeti are recalled and Jaden Philogene makes his first start since 17 January, having started and scored in the 3-1 win at Portman Road in October.

Dan Neil, Kasey McAteer, Jack Clarke and former Canary Marcelino Nunez all drop to the bench.

Clarke came off the bench in the reverse fixture to score the third goal while Nunez also made an eye-catching cameo as a substitute against his former employers.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Getty Images

And now to one of the biggest games on the calendar - what a way to start a huge Saturday of Championship football.

The days might be long but the months fly by on Planet Football and times have changed significantly for Norwich and Ipswich since their first meeting this season.

On 5 October Ipswich registered their first win over Norwich in 16 years as the Canaries nose-dived down the table under Liam Manning, dropping into the relegation zone two weeks later and staying there for the following three months.

However the arrival of Philippe Clement on 17 November transformed the club’s fortunes - since then only Coventry (50) have taken more than Norwich’s 49 points and the Canaries are top of the form table in 2026 and go into this game just eight points below the top-six.

The Tractor Boys were outside the play-off spots themselves until 6 December but have lost just twice in 2026 to sit as front-runners for automatic promotion along with the Sky Blues with three games in hand and a better goal difference than second-placed Millwall, a point ahead.

Ipswich have not won at Carrow Road for more than 20 years, while it’s been 33 since they completed the double over their old foes.

If they can end that run today there will be more than East Anglian bragging rights to celebrate.

BBC Local Radio

Because of EFL broadcasting rights we are unable to bring you audio commentary online of today's games.

Your BBC Local Radio station will have commentary and we will bring you a flavour of their coverage from selected matches as part of our live text service.

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Julien Stephan makes just one enforced change from QPR's draw with Preston on Easter Monday, with captain Jimmy Dunne ruled out.

Jake Clarke-Salter comes in to partner Ronnie Edwards at the back in just his third start of an injury-plagued 2026.

Top scorer Rumarn Burrell returns to the bench in a much needed boost for the Rs.

For the Robins and Roy Hodgson - it's a case of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. They're unchanged from Monday's home win over Sheffield United.

Image source, Opta

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Since making his surprise return to the dugout with Bristol City, Roy Hodgson has overseen a 100% winning record with two victories in two games.

Win today at Loftus Road and the former England boss will have already equalled his win tally when he was in charge of the Robins all the way back in 1981-82.

The 78-year-old won three out of 20 matches in the old Third Division [now League One].

Bristol City face a QPR side level with them on 57 points and one place below them, in 12th, on goal difference.

Julien Stephan's side are unbeaten in four games, with the play-offs probably out of reach for both teams.

Image source, Opta

Frank Lampard makes two changes to the Coventry side that were held to a goalless draw by Hull City on Easter Monday.

Brandon Thomas-Asante and Jack Rudoni return as Victor Torp drops to the bench and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto drops out entirely.

While Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen makes one alteration from the starters that drew with Leicester at Hillsborough.

Dominic Iorfa misses out and his place is taken by Sean Fusire in a back three.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Shutterstock

It is so close, Coventry City can almost reach out and touch it.

If they beat rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday, and Middlesbrough fail to beat Portsmouth at home later, the Sky Blues will be promoted to the Premier League for the first time since their relegation from the top flight 25 years ago.

Frank Lampard's side have been the dominant force in the second tier this season, leading the Championship since mid-October, and are 12 points clear of Boro at the start of the day with just five matches remaining.

Their 0-0 draw at Hull City last time out has set them up for potential wild celebrations once things are done at the Riverside, but they will be wary of facing a Sheffield Wednesday side that beat them in this fixture last season in a last-gasp 2-1 victory at the CBS Arena.

Things are very different this time around though.

If Sheffield Wednesday fail to win they will set the record for the longest winless run in all competitions by a Football League club.

It would be their 37th game without victory, breaking Derby's 36-game winless run between September 2007 and August 2008.

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There are some promotion issues which can be sorted in the EFL today.

We have picked out five things you may want to keep an eye on alongside the fortunes of your own team.

We've got three games for you up first.

League-leading Coventry host already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday.

QPR face Bristol City at Loftus Road.

And there's a mouth-watering East Anglia derby at Carrow Road - can Norwich put a big dent in their old rivals' promotion push?

Image source, BBC Sport/Getty Images

After Millwall's draw last night, Coventry know a win over Sheffield Wednesday this lunchtime will heap the pressure on Middlesbrough to beat Portsmouth to prevent the Sky Blues securing promotion today.

Ipswich can reclaim second place with a point in the East Anglian derby at Norwich.

West Brom's draw against Millwall gives them a bit of breathing space but defeat for Pompey by Boro would give Oxford and Leicester the chance to move above them.

Image source, Getty Images

Millwall moved back to second in the Championship as they were held to a goalless draw at lowly West Bromwich Albion last night.

The Lions moved one point ahead of Ipswich Town, who have three games in hand, and Middlesbrough in the race for automatic promotion before both play this afternoon.

Josh Coburn volleyed wide and Mihailo Ivanovic hit the crossbar as the away side came closest in the first half.

The Baggies did not have a shot on target until the 82nd minute, when Millwall goalkeeper Anthony Patterson diverted Jayson Molumby's shot wide from point-blank range.

But it was the hosts who ended the game the stronger as they extended their unbeaten run under James Morrison to seven matches and moved five points clear of the drop-zone.

Click here for the match report.

Image source, Getty Images

Good afternoon!

We're approaching day 250 of this simmering Championship season and things are finally coming to the boil.

By tea-time today Coventry might have ended their 25-year exile from the top-flight with the Sky Blues needing to beat Sheffield Wednesday this lunchtime and then hoping Portsmouth can deny Middlesbrough a win at the Riverside at 15:00 BST.

The East Anglian Derby has way more than local pride at stake this lunchtime as Ipswich and Norwich still have loftier goals to aim for in the coming weeks while at 15:00 BST the battle for survival takes over with Oxford, Leicester and Portsmouth all trying to stay above the dotted line.

There's a lot to get through in the next 30 minutes so let's bring you up to speed...