The best and toughest run-ins revealed as Sunderland and their League One promotion rivals go under the microscope

Here, we assess the recent form of the sides still in contention in what has been one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory.

We also assess their remaining fixtures to see who could have the crucial advantage….

COVENTRY CITY

LAST 10: W8 D2 L0

Points-per-game (Last 10 games): 2.6

AVERAGE XG FOR (Last 10 games): 0.73

AVERAGE XG AGAINST (Last 10 games): 0.90

AVERAGE POINTS-PER-GAME OF TEAMS TO PLAY: 1.40

Coventry have been on an outstanding run of form, particularly notable given the calibre of opponents they have produced positive results against during that time.

As their data suggests, despite their well-earned reputation for being a good passing team, that form has been built on the back of an excellent defence that showed its strength in the rearguard against Sunderland on Sunday.

The clinical Matt Godden has also been key, just as he was against Phil Parkinson’s side.

They have some tough fixtures ahead but perhaps crucially, only Ipswich Town this weekend is the one that they will have to travel for.

A tougher run-in than many of their competitors, which could make this lead they have amassed all the more important.

FIXTURES: Ipswich Town (A), Shrewsbury Town (H), Lincoln City (A), Wycombe Wanderers (H), Accrington Stanley (A), Peterborough United (H), Gillingham (A), Oxford United (H), Blackpool (A)

ROTHERHAM UNITED

LAST 10: W6 D3 L1

PPG: 2.1

XG FOR: 1.84

XG AGAINST: 0.92

AVERAGE PPG OF TEAMS TO PLAY: 1.26

Rotherham have long been seen as the team to beat, particularly after a strong January window in which they kept their team together and added some proven quality.

They have had some frustrating results at home, dropping points against AFC Wimbledon and more recently, MK Dons. Their statistics suggested they were unlucky in both, and they are clearly a side with an excellent balance.

Their run-in is relatively kind, with a trip to Fleetwood their most daunting task.

That final day clash against Sunderland could be absolutely key.

FIXTURES: Rochdale (A), Southend United (H), Fleetwood (A), Gillingham (H), Wycombe (A), Portsmouth (H), Tranmere (A), Doncaster (H), Bolton (A), Sunderland (H)

PORTSMOUTH

LAST 10: W7 D0 L3

PPG: 2.1

XG FOR: 1.66

XG AGAINST 1.01

AVERAGE PPG OF TEAMS TO PLAY: 1.42

Statistically, they have the toughest run-in of any side in the top nine. Crunch clashes against Peterborough and Fleetwood loom, two games that will reveal much about where they will end the season.

The numbers have long suggested a promotion charge, and that has turned into fruition after Kenny Jackett came through a testing period at the start of the season.

Most interesting will be whether they can sustain the pace, as they struggled to do with their Checkatrade commitments last season, just like Sunderland.

They are in the final again this year and only just exited the FA Cup in the fifth round.

Whether Jackett has been able to balance his squad better this year could be key. They certainly have both the talent and the home form to get over the line if he has.

FIXTURES: Peterborough (A), Fleetwood (A), Accrington Stanley (H), Doncaster Rovers (H), Ipswich Town (A), Oxford United (A), Bristol Rovers (H), Rotherham United (A), Blackpool (H), Southend United (A), Burton Albion (A)

WYCOMBE

LAST 10: W5 D0 L5

PPG: 1.5

XG FOR: 1.51

XG AGAINST: 1.56

AVERAGE PPG OF TEAMS TO PLAY: 1.33

Superb home form has allowed Wycombe to stay right in the promotion mix even as their rivals have applied a huge amount of pressure.

Defensively they started the season in exceptional form but their recent numbers show they are a team who can struggle to contain top opposition.

The confirmation of new ownership and a long-term deal for Gareth Ainsworth last week will no doubt help keep the feel-good factor going, but it will be a superb achievement to hold onto a place in the top six with some very difficult fixtures on the horizon.

FIXTURES: Burton (A), Oxford United (H), Coventry City (A), Shrewsbury Town (A), Rotherham United (H), Southend United (A), AFC Wimbledon (H), Lincoln City (A), Gillingham (A), Accrington Stanley (A)

SUNDERLAND

LAST 10: W6 D2 L2

PPG: 2

XG FOR: 1.4

XG AGAINST: 0.87

AVERAGE PPG OF TEAMS TO PLAY: 1.28

Sunderland enjoy an easier run-in on paper to many of the teams currently above them, and are one of a clutch of teams who will feel they still have a big chance of surging towards the top.

Their trip to Rotherham on the final day could be crucial, and there is plenty of time before then to close the gap and build some real momentum.

They face a lot of mid-table opposition, teams who they struggled agaisnt when Phil Parkinson first took charge, but have taken on in impressive style of late.

Maintaining that could make all the difference, and the other benefit it brings is they have fewer games against teams at the very top, who will potentially take more points off each other in the coming weeks.

FIXTURES: Gillingham (H), Bristol Rovers (A), Blackpool (A), Southend United (A), Shrewsbury Town (H), AFC Wimbledon (A), Peterborough United (H), Burton Albion (A), Accrington Stanley (H), Rotherham United (A)

OXFORD UNITED

LAST 10: W5 D3 L2

PPG: 1.8

XG FOR: 1.56

XG AGAINST: 1.29

AVERAGE PPG OF TEAMS TO PLAY: 1.29

A difficult spell at the end of January was perhaps to be expected, given Oxford’s cup commitments and the departures of key players Shandon Baptiste and Tariqe Fosu to Brentford on deadline day.

Since then they have steadied significantly, with the arrival of Matty Taylor absolutely crucial.

His goals have helped turn the tide, while the imminent return of Liverpool loanee Ben Woodburn, who has been injured for five months, comes as another timely boost.

One of the best attacking sides in the division, they will fancy their chances of holding into the sixth position they recently seized.

FIXTURES: Shrewsbury Town (A), MK Dons (H), Wycombe Wanderers (A), Portsmouth (H), Rochdale (A), Bristol Rovers (H), Coventry City (A), Fleetwood Town (H), Tranmere Rovers (A), Bolton Wanderers (H)

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

LAST 10: W6 D2 L2

PPG: 2

XG FOR: 1.68

XG AGAINST: 0.83

AVERAGE PPG OF TEAMS TO PLAY: 1.26

The departure of Marcus Maddison allowed Peterborough to reset and after a poor run, they surged up the table as Darren Ferguson shuffled his pack.

Their attacking quality is a match of anyone and with Ivan Toney up front, they have a chance of making a late run.

Their momentum has stalled just at the wrong time, and taking points away at Coventry and SUnderland is crucial if they are to have any chance of reaching the top two.

FIXTURES: Portsmouth (H), Bolton Wanderers (A), Bristol Rovers (H), Blackpool (H), Coventry City (A), MK Dons (H), Sunderland (A), Shrewsbury Town (H), Rochdale (A), Tranmere Rovers (H)

FLEETWOOD TOWN

LAST 10: W5 D4 L1

PPG: 1.9

XG FOR: 1.11

XG AGAINST: 0.87

AVERAGE PPG OF TEAMS TO PLAY: 1.22

Joey Barton’s side are one to watch and a victory over Ipswich Town on Tuesday night would throw them right into the mix for automatic promotion.

They are unbeaten in nine, and their statistics back up what many have seen this season, they are a resilient side with real defensive quality.

Their January business was good and they will feel they are just one or two results away from surging into contention.

FIXTURES: Ipswich Town (A), Blackpool (H), Portsmouth (A), Gillingham (A), Rotherham United (H), Bolton (H), MK Dons (H), Accrington Stanley (A), Lincoln City (H), Oxford United (A), Southend United (A)

IPSWICH TOWN

LAST 10: W3 D2 L5

PPG: 1.1

XG FOR: 1.52 XG

AGAINST: 1.12

AVERAGE PPG OF TEAMS TO PLAY: 1.24

Their form over a long period of time has been desperately poor, though Paul Lambert has insisted that of late they have been unlucky.

The numbers would suggest that is the case, but they are running out of time to turn those performances into points.

Home games against Fleetwood and Coventry this week could leave them adrift, or right back in contention.

They place the majority of their remaining games at Portman Road, though in truth, their season so far suggests that is not quite the advantage it immediately seems. They are 17th in the table when it comes to home matches.

FIXTURES: Fleetwood (H), Coventry City (H), Bristol Rovers (A), Portsmouth (H), Southend United (H), Bolton Wanderers (H), Shrewsbury Town (A), Rochdale (H), Doncaster Rovers (A), MK Dons (H)

*All XG stats courtesy of wyscout.com