The detailed analysis of where Sunderland, Coventry, Portsmouth and League One contenders will stand if season resumes

The EFL earlier this week outlined its intention to complete the current campaign whenever it is safe to do so.
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All professional fixtures have been postponed until April 31st at the earliest, while the ‘indefinite’ extension of the season means fixtures can now potentially be played through June and beyond.

The situation is fast moving and dependent entirely on how the outbreak of COVID-19 develops, but the announcements give clubs and the league time to step up contingency planning.

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Many options will be explored, including the possibility of playing games behind closed doors.

Coventry City have built an imposing lead at the top of League OneCoventry City have built an imposing lead at the top of League One
Coventry City have built an imposing lead at the top of League One

With that in mind, and the league set for a lengthy pause, we take a look at where the main contenders stand and, using analysis by soccerstats.com, assess how the dynamics of the promotion race could in future be affected by any decisions.

To do so, we look at the average points-per-game of the opponents each side has left to face, weighted to take into account home and away form.

COVENTRY CITY

V Shrewsbury Town (H) 1.06 PPG

V Lincoln City (A) 1.94 PPG

V Wycombe Wanderers (H) 1.06

V Accrington Stanley (A) 1.35 PPG

V Peterborough United (H) 1.11 PPG

V Gillingham (A) 1.76 PPG

V Oxford United (H) 1.33 PPG

V Blackpool (A) 1.71 PPG

V Burton Albion (H) 1.22 PPG

V MK Dons (A) 1.33 PPG

AVERAGE PPG OF OPPONENTS LEFT: 1.39

PPG taken from last eight: 2.75

With ten games to go, Coventry City will have one of the more hectic fixture schedules if and when the season resumes.

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They also have one of the toughest fixture lists remaining. Though it may not look overly daunting on paper, they face a number of mid-to-lower table teams who have been very strong on home turf this season.

Their biggest advantage at the moment is that all their games against teams at the top will be played on ‘home’ turf at St Andrews.

Their recent form has been exceptional, particularly in defence, and their lead at the top now looks imposing.

ROTHERHAM UNITED

V Southend United (H) 0.50 PPG

V Fleetwood Town (A) 2.06 PPG

V Gillingham (H) 1.17 PPG

V Wycombe Wanderers (A) 2.33 PPG

V Portsmouth (H) 1.06 PPG

V Tranmere Rovers (A) 0.88 PPG

V Doncaster Rovers (H) 1.27 PPG

V Bolton Wanderers (A) 1.18 PPG

V Sunderland (H) 1.24 PPG

OVERALL PPG OF OPPONENTS LEFT: 1.30

PPG taken from last eight: 1.88

Some disappointing results just checked Rotherham’s progress in recent weeks but they remain right in contention.

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Some tough fixtures beckon should the league be completed, and key could potentially be away fixtures at Fleetwood and Wycombe, who boast very impressive records.

Rotherham’s away record, it’s worth pointing out, is the best in the league.

OXFORD UNITED

V MK Dons (H) 0.53 PPG

V Wycombe Wanderers (A) 2.33 PPG

V Portsmouth (H) 1.06 PPG

V Rochdale (A) 1.19 PPG

V Bristol Rovers (H) 1.06 PPG

V Coventry City (A) 2.24 PPG

V Fleetwood Town (H) 1.35 PPG

V Tranmere Rovers (A) 0.88 PPG

V Bolton Wanderers (H) 0.35 PPG

OVERALL PPG OF OPPONENTS LEFT: 1.22

PPG taken from last eight: 2.00

Oxford’s season looked to be fading away when Sunderland held on for a crucial 1-0 lead at the Kassam earlier this year.

Cup exertions and the sale of Tariqe Fosu and Shandon Baptiste looked to be taking its toll, but they rebounded impressively.

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A remarkable 3-2 win over Shrewsbury Town last time out, in which they had been losing 2-0 in the first half, took them to the brink of the automatic promotion slots.

They have, theoretically, one of the easier run-ins and should football return this season, they would have every right to approach it in confident mood, particularly if they come through trips to Adams Park and St Andrews largely unscathed.

PORTSMOUTH

V Accrington Stanley (H) 0.94 PPG

V Doncaster Rovers (H) 1.27 PPG

V Ipswich Town (A) 1.35 PPG

V Oxford United (A) 2.12 PPG

V Rotherham United (A) 1.71 PPG

V Blackpool (H) 0.89 PPG

V Southend United (H) 0.59 PPG

V Bristol Rovers (H) 1.06 PPG

V Burton Albion (A) 1.53 PPG

OVERALL PPG OF OPPONENTS LEFT: 1.27

PPG taken from last eight: 1.63

That run of three tough away fixtures on the horizon would surely make or break Portsmouth’s campaign.

Fratton Park has proven to be one of the two most imposing venues in League One this season and their form there has been nothing short of exceptional.

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Away from home has been considerably tougher going and their form heading into the long postponement across the board had dropped off the pace being set by their rivals.

FLEETWOOD TOWN

V Gillingham (A) 1.76 PPG

V Rotherham United (H) 1.83 PPG

V Bolton Wanderers (H) 0.35 PPG

V MK Dons (A) 1.56 PPG

V Accrington Stanley (A) 1.35 PPG

V Lincoln City (H) 0.50 PPG

V Oxford United (A) 2.12 PPG

V Tranmere Rovers (H) 0.88 PPG

V Southend United (H) 0.50 PPG

AVERAGE PPG OF OPPONENTS LEFT: 1.21

PPG taken from last eight: 2.25

Fleetwood Town were on a remarkable run heading into the postponement and have, on paper at least, the best run-in of any side in the top eight.

Should the season be played to a conclusion, they should firmly be considered automatic promotion contenders, particularly if they were to come through those next two games in decent order.

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

V Bolton Wanderers (A) 1.18 PPG

V Bristol Rovers (H) 1.06 PPG

V Blackpool (H) 0.89 PPG

V Coventry City (A) 2.24 PPG

V MK Dons (H) 0.53 PPG

V Sunderland (A) 2.00 PPG

V Shrewsbury Town (H) 1.06 PPG

V Rochdale (A) 1.19 PPG

V Tranmere Rovers (H) 1.00 PPG

AVERAGE PPG OF OPPONENTS LEFT: 1.24

PPG taken from last eight: 2.38

Potential away trips to Coventry City and Sunderland could be key for Darren Ferguson’s side, who have five fixtures on home turf where they have been excellent this season.

SUNDERLAND

V Blackpool (A) 1.71 PPG

V Southend United (A) 0.59 PPG

V Shrewsbury Town (H) 1.06 PPG

V AFC Wimbledon (A) 1.33 PPG

V Peterborough United (H) 1.11 PPG

V Burton Albion (A) 1.53 PPG

V Accrington Stanley (H) 0.94 PPG

V Rotherham United (A) 1.71 PPG

AVERAGE PPG OF OPPONENTS LEFT: 1.25

PPG taken from last eight: 1.75

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With ten games to go, Sunderland had rightly been seen as one of the sides with a run-in that could see them push towards the top two.

A disappointing defeat to Gillingham and an even more disappointing defeat at Bristol Rovers checked their progress significantly.

Their run-in remains relatively kind, but with just three home games left, they would be dependent on an improvement in their away form to trouble the teams at the top.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS

V Burton Albion (A) 1.53 PPG

V Oxford United (H) 1.33 PPG

V Coventry City (A) 2.24 PPG

V Shrewsbury Town (A) 1.35 PPG

V Rotherham United (H) 1.83 PPG

V Southend United (A) 0.59 PPG

V AFC Wimbledon (H) 0.65 PPG

V Lincoln City (A) 1.94 PPG

V Gillingham (H) 1.17 PPG

V Accrington Stanley (A) 1.75 PPG

AVERAGE PPG OF OPPONENTS LEFT: 1.40 PPG

PPG taken from last eight: 1.50

Should football resume, a number of factors leave Wycombe with work to do.

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They face the toughest run-in of the top eight, and their form is the weakest of those sides.

They would face a tough schedule in trying to fit in ten games and with one of the smaller squads competing.

One hope would be that their form has remained outstanding, though they have just four games remaining at Adams Park.

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