Summary

  • Easter Monday brings 11 matches in both L1 & L2

  • Lincoln City beat Reading and are promoted to the Championship

  • Imps to play second-tier football for the first time since 1961

  • Second-placed Cardiff held to draw at Peterborough

  • Bolton draw 2-2 with Stockport in clash of promotion chasers

  • Second-placed MK Dons held to draw and move within four points of L2 leaders Bromley who play on Tuesday

  • Notts County win 3-1 to leapfrog Cambridge into top three

  1. Postpublished at 15:04 BST 6 April

    Peterborough 0-0 Cardiff

    A decent start to this one. First Kyrell Lisbie spins in behind for Peterborough but is denied.

    Another cross then comes in for the hosts but Cardiff are able to clear. And then at the other end, Rubin Colwill has an effort from the edge of the area well blocked.

  2. Postpublished at 15:04 BST 6 April

    Oldham 0-0 MK Dons

    Oldham's Kane Taylor starts after coming off the bench to score against Colchester last time out.

    Calum Kavanagh also starts with Josh Hawkes dropping to the bench, as does Ollie Hammond.

    One change for MK Dons as Jon Mellish misses out and is replaced by Aaron Nemane.

  3. 'A great atmosphere'published at 15:02 BST 6 April

    Bolton 0-0 Stockport

    Josh Watton
    BBC Radio Manchester commentator

    There is a great atmosphere inside the Toughsheet Community Stadium, and Stockport are already looking the livelier of the two teams.

    There is a big game feel about this one!

  4. Postpublished at 15:02 BST 6 April

    Notts County 0-0 Newport

    Notts County are without striker Alassana Jatta who has been handed a three-match ban for an incident in Friday's 2-1 defeat by Salford City. Matthew Dennis is named on the bench as Lee Ndlovu starts up top with Oliver Norburn returning to the starting XI.

    Liam Shephard and Ryan Delaney both miss out at the back for Newport, so Joe Thomas and Lee Jenkins come in. Cameron Evans is named on the bench with Matt Smith getting the nod to start in the middle. Ben Lloyd and James Crole both drop to the bench with Gerard Garner and Nathaniel Opoku getting starts.

  5. Postpublished at 15:02 BST 6 April

    Peterborough 0-0 Cardiff

    David Okagbue, Ben Woods and Bolu Shofowoke start in place of Peter Kioso, Brandon Khela and Cian Hayes for Peterborough, who make three changes from the 2-1 loss at Luton.

    Cardiff, who haven't played since 21 March, make two changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Blackpool that day.

    Skipper Calum Chambers returns, while David Turnbull also comes in. Dylan Lawlor and Alex Robertson drop out.

  6. Postpublished at 15:01 BST 6 April

    Reading 0-0 Lincoln

    Just the one change for Reading from their 1-1 draw with Huddersfield as Finley Burns replaces Derrick Williams.

    Lincoln make three changes from the last-gasp win over AFC Wimbledon.

    Ivan Varfolomeev, Dom Jefferies and Friday's match-winner Ryan One all start. Tom Bayliss, Jack Moylan and Robert Street drop to the bench.

  7. KICK-OFFpublished at 15:00 BST 6 April

    Away we go in 22 games with plenty riding on them across League One and League Two.

  8. Read all about itpublished at 14:59 BST 6 April

    League One & League Two

    BBC Local Radio

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

    Your local BBC Radio station will be providing commentary and we will have a flavour of their coverage as part of our live text service this afternoon.

  9. Elsewhere in League Onepublished at 14:57 BST 6 April

    #bbcefl

    Aside from our huge feature games, we will bring you key updates from eight more fixtures in League One.

    Bradford will be aiming to strengthen their grip on a play-off spot as they travel to Wycombe who are also seeking a top-six finish.

    Stevenage host relegation-threatened Blackpool, Plymouth travel to Barnsley, Huddersfield journey to Leyton Orient, and Luton have a short trip to AFC Wimbledon.

    The battle for survival is heating up as Exeter look to climb out of the bottom four as they host Doncaster, while Wigan, who sit three points above the drop zone, travel to second-bottom Northampton who are winless in their last 10 league games.

    Burton, in 19th, prepare for a tough test at Mansfield who are on a five-match unbeaten run.

  10. Job almost done for Imp-erious Lincolnpublished at 14:54 BST 6 April

    Reading v Lincoln (15:00 BST)

    Michael Skubala, wearing a black Lincoln with red trim, has a beaming smile on his face after the Imps beat AFC Wimbledon 1-0Image source, PA Media

    This is the face of a man who knows his side have pretty much got the job done.

    Michael Skubala's Lincoln City netted an 88th-minute winner to beat AFC Wimbledon on Friday and all but seal their promotion to the Championship.

    One more point will make it official for the Imps, but their goal difference is 24 and 32 superior to Bolton and Stockport, respectively - the only two sides who could still pip them to automatic promotion - and given those two play each other today, it's probably safe to say Lincoln are up.

    A draw between Wanderers and County would also be enough.

    Lincoln will want to put it to bed this afternoon and rubber-stamp their return to the second flight for the first time in 65 years by making it 24 games unbeaten in League One, having won 18 and drawn five since their last defeat on 22 November.

    Standing in their way is a Reading team with play-off aspirations, needing victory to fend off seventh-placed Stevenage who are just a point behind with two games in hand.

  11. Bluebirds looking to recover from mini-blippublished at 14:50 BST 6 April

    Peterborough v Cardiff (15:00 BST)

    Calum Chambers, wearing the blue Cardiff home shirt and captain's armband, in action against AFC Wimbledon in FebruaryImage source, Shutterstock

    Cardiff City are still firmly in the driving seat for a return to the Championship at the first time of asking, with an eight-point lead over third-placed Bolton and a game in hand, having not played on Good Friday.

    But the Bluebirds have made slightly harder work of automatic promotion in the past six weeks than perhaps they would have liked, with just two wins from seven games (D2 L3).

    Skipper Calum Chambers says the international break "maybe came at a good time" as a "reset moment".

    Brian Barry-Murphy's side need another 11 points from their remaining seven games to guarantee promotion, starting today at Peterborough.

    The Posh are in the relatively safety of 14th with the usually magic number of 50 points already in the bag.

    Given that Peterborough were bottom of the league and five points adrift of safety when Luke Williams replaced Darren Ferguson as boss on 29 October, it has been a job well done by the former Swansea manager.

  12. Promotion rivals collidepublished at 14:47 BST 6 April

    Bolton v Stockport (15:00 BST)

    Bolton's Max Conway celebrates with his fist pumped after scoring against PlymouthImage source, Shutterstock

    This is a big one.

    Both Bolton and Stockport need the points to keep any faint hopes of automatic promotion alive, while victory for either would also maintain a healthy cushion in a play-off spot.

    Wanderers ended a three-game winless run (D2 L1) with victory at Plymouth on Friday, despite playing the second half with 10 men.

    County are unbeaten in their past four (W3 D1) and would move level on points with the Trotters with a win this afternoon.

  13. As it standspublished at 14:45 BST 6 April

    League One

    The League One table before kick-off on 6 April - and Lincoln head coach Michael Skubala smiling as he celebrates the 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon on FridayImage source, Getty Images

    Lincoln only need a point to officially seal promotion to the Championship today, while Cardiff will take another big step to an instant return to the second tier with a win.

    Bolton and Stockport face each other, hoping to solidify a play-off spot, while Bradford will want to do the same.

    The race for the play-offs is extremely tight, with just four points separating Reading in sixth from Luton in 11th.

    At the other end, Exeter will climb out of the bottom four if they beat Doncaster and Wigan lose at fellow strugglers Northampton. The Cobblers are at risk of almost being completely cut adrift, trailing the Latics by 11 points with six games left.

  14. Elsewhere in League Twopublished at 14:43 BST 6 April

    #bbcefl

    League Two is also very tight going into this Easter Monday schedule with it all to play for at both ends of the table.

    Cambridge United occupy the final automatic promotion spot as they travel to Cheltenham, while fifth-placed Salford City journey to Crewe, Swindon, in sixth, host Walsall, and Grimsby - three points outside the top seven in 10th - head to relegation-battling Crawley.

    At the foot of the table, basement side Harrogate Town entertain Bristol Rovers, and second-bottom Barrow host play-off hopefuls Chesterfield.

    Tranmere - two places and three points above the dotted line - will be keen to end their nine-match winless run against Colchester.

  15. Notts aiming to bounce back against strugglerspublished at 14:41 BST 6 April

    Notts County v Newport (15:00 BST)

    Martin PatersonImage source, Shutterstock

    Fourth-placed Notts County will be looking to return to winning ways after suffering a 2-1 defeat at promotion rivals Salford on Good Friday. That loss keeps the Magpies outside the automatic play-off spots on goal difference, but they will have seen that as an opportunity missed.

    As is the quick succession of games during the Easter period, they'll welcome the chance to get their top three ambitions back on track and hope second-placed MK Dons and Cambridge in third slip up in their respective games.

    Newport remain just a place above the drop zone and that gap was shortened to a point on Saturday after losing their relegation scrap against Crawley 2-0.

    A win here for the Exiles is a must too boost hopes of extending their long 13-season stay in League Two.

  16. Latics have play-offs in sightpublished at 14:39 BST 6 April

    Oldham v MK Dons (15:00 BST)

    Micky MellonImage source, Getty Images

    Oldham go into this with their tails up after their 3-1 win at Colchester last time out saw them move up two eighth in League Two, just a point off the play-off positions.

    Boss Micky Mellon will be hoping forward Kane Drummond continues his fine form today after scoring his fifth goal in five games against the U’s.

    The Latics' form against today's opponents is not the best, though, having won just one of their past 11 league games against MK Dons which was a 1-0 home win back in 2018.

    Promotion-chasing MK Dons' recent form is stuttering to say the least.

    Paul Warne's side are currently sitting second but they've only managed to pick up one point from their past three outings, with the most recent a home stalemate against second-from-bottom Barrow on Good Friday.

    The Dons remain five points off leaders Bromley, with third-placed Cambridge, Notts County (4th), and Salford (5th) all just two points behind. So a win today would give them some priceless breathing space from the chasing pack.

  17. How things standpublished at 14:37 BST 6 April

    League Two

    The League Two table before kick-off on 6 April - and Salford's Matt Butcher celebrating scoring a 96th-minute winner against Notts County on FridayImage source, Shutterstock

    Bromley still have their five-point lead at the summit of League Two but with them not in action until tomorrow against Shrewsbury, the chasing pack will want to capitalise.

    MK Dons can close the gap to two points if they win at Oldham, while Cambridge, Notts County and Salford will all be hoping the Dons slip up as they have their sights on that second spot.

    Swindon and Chesterfield are the two sides that complete the top seven outlook ahead of today's games, with the Robins welcoming Walsall, and Chesterfield, who are just in the play-off spots by a point, travelling to second-bottom Barrow.

    Oldham will be hoping to get themselves into the play-off places when they welcome MK Dons, and Crewe will be looking to get themselves back into the picture after they dropped out and down to ninth following their 2-0 defeat at Accrington last time out.

    At the bottom, Harrogate's 3-1 over Grimsby on Friday put the Sulphurites level on points with Barrow and a point from safety to boost their survival hopes.

    Simon Weaver's side host Bristol Rovers today and a second win on the bounce could see them move out of the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Newport, who are just a point above the drop zone, make the trip to Notts County.

  18. In League Onepublished at 14:35 BST 6 April

    All games kick-off at 15:00 BST

    Bolton's Toughsheet Community Stadium with blue skies and sun shining at one end of the pitch and the other half of the ground in the shadeImage source, Shutterstock

    And we've also got 11 matches in League One:

    • AFC Wimbledon v Luton
    • Barnsley v Plymouth
    • Bolton v Stockport
    • Exeter v Doncaster
    • Leyton Orient v Huddersfield
    • Mansfield v Burton Albion
    • Northampton v Wigan
    • Peterborough v Cardiff
    • Reading v Lincoln
    • Stevenage v Blackpool
    • Wycombe v Bradford
  19. Today's League Two fixturespublished at 14:33 BST 6 April

    All games kick-off at 15:00 BST

    The Joe Royle Stand at Oldham's Boundary Park ground before kick-off against MK DonsImage source, Shutterstock

    We've got 11 games in League Two today:

    • Barrow v Chesterfield
    • Cheltenham v Cambridge
    • Crawley v Grimsby
    • Crewe v Salford
    • Fleetwood v Barnet
    • Gillingham v Accrington
    • Harrogate v Bristol Rovers
    • Notts County v Newport
    • Oldham v MK Dons
    • Swindon v Walsall
    • Tranmere v Colchester
  20. In the hunt for Easter...published at 14:30 BST 6 April

    League One & League Two

    Reading's Select Car Leasing Stadium with the sun shining brightly before kick-off against Lincoln CityImage source, PA Media

    Good afternoon and a happy Easter Monday to those of you who celebrate!

    Had time to process Good Friday's results yet? Probably not, but we're at it again in the EFL.

    And we've got a bumper day of action with 22 games across League One and League Two.

    Will today be the day Lincoln City are finally promoted to the second tier after 65 years? The Imps need just a point to make it official.

    Plenty of other sides are also in the hunt for promotion, play-off spots and survival as the finish line comes into sharp focus.

    Let's get to it...