EFL five things: Rescue acts and derby delights

The competitive nature of the Championship means you could probably make a case for any team from 16th place to reach the play-offs.

To do that will require a run of consistent form, you know, the kind of run Birmingham City have hit.

One defeat from their past 10 league games has Blues tucked nicely into 11th place, two points short of the top six but with a big test coming in the next nine days.

Trips to in-form Norwich and third-placed Millwall will be followed by a home meeting with Middlesbrough, who are second.

“We look like a team that’s ready to fight and we’ve got quality, so we just have to keep believing and keep pushing,” said boss Chris Davies.

A visit to Norwich on Saturday (15:00 GMT) would not have caused too many issues for Birmingham a couple of months ago but the Canaries are suddenly flying with five wins from their past six Championship outings, pulling them seven points clear of trouble.

Philippe Clement’s side are 17th, nine points adrift of the play-offs themselves, surely too far short for a surprise late challenge?