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It's been a mixed season for both Middlesbrough and Stoke.

Both have made progress from their lower-midtable Championship finishes in 2019-20, but currently find themselves on the fringes in the battle for a play-off spot.

Boro trail a red-hot Barnsley, who have rapidly ascended to sixth of late, by eight points while for Stoke it's 10.

Today's game pits the Teessiders, seemingly afflicted by an aversion to playing at the Riverside with one win in seven at home, against a Potters who have not won away in nine. Goalless draw it is then...

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The seaside air of Bournemouth (and Boscombe) will be thick with the intensity of a proper six-pointer this afternoon as the league's form team, Barnsley, hit town.

Bournemouth, in fifth, have steadied the ship they hope is promotion-bound this season, following Jason Tindall's departure in early February. Two wins and a draw in the past three games, and three wins from four at home are keeping them in the mix.

However, it's the Tykes who seem to have brought the joys of spring to the Championship. Valerien Ismael inherited a side 21st in the league when he arrived in October, but their sensational form of late - no defeat since 19 January and seven wins from the past eight has rocketed them up the table.

They are functional, just ask Wayne Rooney after the midweek draw with Derby, but it works. Can the likes of Alex Mowatt, Conor Chaplin and Daryl Dike emulate the work of Neil Redfearn, Clint Marcelle and Ashley Ward?

It'd be some story. Don't bank on Bournemouth reading the script today though.

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Birmingham continue to teeter dangerously above the relegation zone and must be wary of Rotherham, who are three points behind them with three games in hand - with the Millers also not playing today because of a coronavirus outbreak.

Aitor Karanka's Blues are looking to win consecutive league games at St Andrew's for the first time since October 2019 and have lost just one of their past 10 Championship home games against Bristol City.

The mid-table Robins started well under new boss Nigel Pearson but back-to-back home defeats to Bournemouth and QPR mean his honeymoon period is already over.

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This one was a Premier League fixture the last time it was played in Wales, Watford's Gerard Deulofeu scoring a hat-trick in a 5-1 victory.

Despite the high-flying Hornets winning six of their past seven games it's hard to see them sticking five past a Mick McCarthy side - Cardiff are unbeaten in 11 league matches and just four points off a play-off spot.

Xisco Munoz is also doing a great job - only Norwich have won more Championship points since than Watford's 32 since his first game in charge.

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It's been almost a year waiting in the wings, but finally Portsmouth and Salford City get to face each other for the first time in a competitive fixture when they meet at Wembley Stadium this afternoon in the delayed 2020 Papa John's Trophy final.

It's the first part of what the EFL have dubbed their "Wembley Weekender" as Sunderland and Tranmere Rovers play this year's final on Sunday.

More than 60,000 tickets were sold before the first coronavirus lockdown saw today's final originally postponed, but it'll be a behind-closed-doors affair instead for Pompey and The Ammies.

Salford boss Richie Wellens admits the rearranged fixture is "a distraction".

"There are no supporters there," he told ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Manchester. "I've played at Wembley in front of 80,000 so it's not going to do anything for me.

"It's a bit of a hindrance but, for the players, it will be a huge honour and we'll treat it very seriously."

Pompey meanwhile can retain the trophy they won in 2019 when they beat Sunderland on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw, even if they'll only be "the holders" for about 24 hours.

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The last time 'Austin' and 'Chair' made such a big impact as they have at QPR in recent times was back in the late 90s when Stone Cold Steve Austin was wrapping a steel one across the backs of The Rock or whoever in the old WWF.

Charlie Austin's five goals in 12 games and Ilias Chair's two-in-two run have been a big part of Rangers' recent revival, with six wins in nine lifting them well away from the bottom and into midtable.

Huddersfield, with one win in the past 13 league games, look ripe for being on the end of a Rangers' 'stunner' this afternoon, although two draws in their last two games might have generated some confidence.

Fraizer Campbell is carrying much of their goal-threat with Josh Koroma out injured. Carlos Corberan's side need to pull themselves clear of danger.

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Wayne Rooney's Derby are certainly not firing on all cylinders but nevertheless they have a useful seven-point buffer over the relegation zone going into the visit of draw specialists Milllwall.

The game sees Lions boss Gary Rowett return to his old stomping ground, with his side losing two of their past three after a nine-match unbeaten run.

Millwall are as mid-table as they come while Derby still need points - could that prove crucial?

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Wycombe are in last-chance saloon territory - 12 points from safety with 11 games remaining.

They come up against a Preston side marooned in mid-table, with indifferent recent form, though striker Ched Evans has scored two in three games and has been on target in each of his past two appearances against Wycombe.

Gareth Ainsworth's Chairboys have already beaten Preston in the FA Cup this season - can they repeat that feat and keep their faint survival hopes alive?

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Much like the British monarchy, Reading's footballing Royals are also also making plenty of headlines at the moment.

Veljko Paunovic's side have won their past three games in the Championship to maintain their place in the top six, after a stutter threatened to see them lose ground.

Their hosts, Forest, this afternoon have endured a little stumble of their own, following a streak of four wins in six with a run of three without a victory - including narrow defeats by Luton and Watford.

One of the big differences between these two teams is goals, Forest have 28 and Reading 49. It's highlighted by the fact Forest's top scorer is Lyle Taylor with five. Lucas Joao has 21...

We've already had one game in the Championship, with Conor Hourihane's third-minute goal enough for Swansea to win at Luton and move up to second in the table.

Watford can go back above them if they win at Cardiff this afternoon.

League games galore and a cup final - here's a taste of what's to come from 15:00 GMT:

Championship

• Birmingham v Bristol City
• AFC Bournemouth v Barnsley
• Cardiff v Watford
• Derby v Millwall
• Middlesbrough v Stoke
• Nottm Forest v Reading
• QPR v Huddersfield
• Wycombe v Preston

Papa John's Trophy final

• Portsmouth v Salford

We'll also keep you updated on the key headlines across League One and League Two.

Us reporters are a tad fatigued with this incessant football, so imagine how weary the players must be.

Anyway we go again, as they say, and have coverage of 28 games across the EFL to bring you... plus updates on the Papa John's Trophy final at Wembley between Portsmouth and Salford.

No time to delay, let's get on with it. Welcome.