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Good Friday

Championship: Middlesbrough v Millwall

12.30 on ITV, STV, ITVX and Sky Sports Football, Main Event & Ultra
This is a familiar journey for Alex Neil who would have passed through Middlesbrough on his way up to the North East when he took charge at Sunderland briefly in 2022. In a short but successful stint on Wearside, he got the Lads promoted out of League One and now stands on the verge of doing something similar with Millwall. It’s thirty-six years since Millwall last played in England’s top division; surely it’s time for their return? For those unfamiliar, Millwall FC sits in Bermondsey — the heart of one of London’s former industrial areas. It’s had its fair share of problems over the years, not unlike Middlesbrough. That said, I’ve been to both grounds and didn’t really see anything other than passionate fans just hoping they’ll finally get a run of luck. Well, this could be a special season for the visitors. The Lions sit fourth in the Championship, just two points behind their hosts, meaning a win could potentially send them into automatic promotion territory. Obviously, there’s the small matter of overcoming a Boro side who beat them soundly in the reverse fixture at the Den back in August. A decent run of four straight wins came to a crashing halt in mid-March with a defeat at lowly Blackburn in a game Millwall might have gotten a result from had they not lost Zak Sturge to a red card. However, they redeemed themselves the following week with a good point at Nigel Farage’s Ipswich Town. Their goalscorer that day was former Boro forward, Josh Coburn, who, according to the one Smoggie I spoke to for this piece, is definitely going to grab a goal today. With Boro enduring a bit of a patchy run of late, this could end up being quite an open game — it’s certainly worth a watch. JB

Championship: Coventry City v Derby County

20.00 on Sky Sports Football, Main Event & Ultra
Frank Lampard’s Coventry re-established their momentum a fortnight ago with a convincing 3-0 win against Swansea. The win should settle any nerves after losing 2-1 to an improving Southampton side; a game that either side could have won. Fortunately for them, their nearest challengers, Middlesbrough failed to capitalise and the gap between the two teams is at a healthy nine points and more crucially, eleven points to third place Ipswich. With seven games left and two of those happening this weekend, there is a chance to get right up to the finish line. But they face a couple of tough games: fifth placed Hull City on Monday and before that a much-improved Derby who are three point off the play-off zone. The last time Derby were this close to the play-offs was when they were Frank Lampard’s Derby in 2019 when he took them to the final at Wembley only to lose against Villa. Head coach, John Eustace, who spent eight years at Coventry as a player, took over the Rams in February last year. He turned the club’s relegation form around and brought them back in the promotion conversation with four wins in their last five. The reverse fixture at the beginning of the season was a goal fest with Derby losing 5-3 at Pride Park. Ipswich and Wrexham are the only other teams to have scored three against Coventry this season. TD

Saturday

FA Cup quarter-final: Manchester City v Liverpool

12.45 on TNT Sports 1 & Ultimate and HBOMax
Could this be another milestone in City’s quest for a domestic treble? Well, yes, City are still in the title race but a nine point gap requires an extreme case of Arsenalchokeitis for Pep Guardiola and co to overhaul the league leaders. How about Liverpool for two trophies this season? Well, yes, Liverpool are still in the Champions League but have first PSG and then Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in their way before they even get to the final. It’s not inconceivable that the Reds could have one of those seasons where their European form doesn’t reflect league performances, but even so, beating City would give Arne Slot’s team a massive confidence boost going into the business end of the season. And, Arsenal aside, there’s a good argument that whoever wins this tie could be considered favourites for the cup. Knockout tournaments seem to suit Liverpool a bit better given the inconsistent nature of their performances, but City are, well, City, and have made the past three finals. The carpenters who specialise in trophy cabinet extensions are standing by the phone. GA

FA Cup quarter-final: Chelsea v Port Vale

17.15 on BBC One & iPlayer, TNT Sports 1 & Ultimate and HBOMax
How much more fun would this game have been if it were at Vale Park? After having been treated with the utmost leniency for widespread cheating over a decade, the FA Cup draw gave The Blues a home draw against the lowest ranked team left in the competition. Vale’s valiant journey to the quarterfinals coincides with their 150th anniversary (this is disputed but never mind). The Cup run also comes at a time when the club are at their lowest ebb in League 1, sitting as they are at the bottom of the table. Under coach Darren Moore they were promoted last season but, despite the efforts of Moore’s replacement, Jon Brady, they are certain to be back in the fourth tier come May so the fans and players should relish this moment. What then, are the chances of an upset? Well, Cheatsea FC are struggling for form themselves with under-pressure coach, Liam Rosenior, having to whip into shape a group of players returning from far-flung parts after the international break. Their last win was five games ago, in the Cup, where they laboured to produce a win after extra time against Wrexham. The April Fools trolls have been bothering review writers everywhere by erroneously reporting that Rosenior has been fired. Cheeky scamps. But with the cheating controversy still in the memory and the club struggling to reach the top four, there is a lot riding on this match which brings extra pressure. Realistically, an away win would be the second biggest upset in the FA Cup this season but even if Chelsea win it only papers over the cracks of a disappointing campaign and a vastly diminished reputation. Or as a mate of mine has just told me over WhatsApp: “Port Vale will lose, yet Chelsea are the real losers, just because!” TD

FA Cup quarter-final: Southampton v Arsenal

20.00 on BBC One & iPlayer, TNT Sports 1 & Ultimate and HBOMax
International breaks are tough times for producers of football content, especially when it’s low stake friendly matches, but journalists and commentators alike seemed to enjoy utilising the narrative of Arsenal players being called back early en masse to their club as something for fans of other clubs to get angry about. Unless, of course, like Ben White they had the temerity to actually play for England — then they could get even angrier. Of course, the 35 strong squad Thomas Tuchel named for these games was entirely designed to be a part-time arrangement for most players, but that doesn’t make good content, or any outrage (unless you really try). As it is, Noni Madueke has injured himself playing for England so won’t be available for this and there are question marks over others who went away. With a relentless schedule ahead Mikel Arteta could decide to shuffle his pack which could open the door for a Southampton side in a rich vein of form. The Saints are on a run of fourteen without defeat, a run that has seen them climb from 15th in the Championship into the play-off places. They’ve already seen off Premier League opposition in this competition: an injury time Ross Stewart penalty won their fifth round tie against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Having lost the League Cup final in their most recent match, it’s not out of the question that the Gunners could allow another competition to slip from their grasp while their eyes are focused on bigger prizes ahead. GS

Easter Sunday

Women’s FA Cup quarter-final: Charlton Athletic v Liverpool

14.30 on TNT Sports 2 and HBOMax
Back at the end of February, when the draw was made for this round, Charlton were riding high of WSL2 and looked sure to win promotion. Liverpool meanwhile were just a point above the line for the relegation play-off in the top flight. Much has changed since then: two wins and a draw for Liverpool has seen them build an 8 point gap between themselves and Leicester, while for Charlton three defeats have seen their lead evaporate with Birmingham overtaking them on goal difference at the top. All of which has completely changed the narrative for this game which the Addicks should have gone in to already preparing for life in the top division. In truth, the turnaround in fortunes for Gareth Taylor’s Liverpool side has been long overdue, but with top flight status next season now almost certain, they can concentrate efforts on this competition and should secure a place in the semi-final with not fanciful expectations of progressing to Wembley. The other ties in this round are Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion (13.00 on TNT Sports 1 and Ultimate), Birmingham City v Manchester City (Monday, 17.00 on TNT Sports 1 and Ultimate) and Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur (Monday, 13.30 on Channel 4 and TNT Sports 1). GS

FA Cup quarter-final: West Ham United v Leeds United

16.30 on TNT Sports 1 & Ultimate and HBOMax
This has the feeling of a dress rehearsal. These two sides meet on the final day of the season and, assuming Spurs haven’t done everybody a favour and got themselves relegated before the end of May, then this league fixture could go a long way to determine who’ll be playing in the Championship next season. And, yes, both sets of supporters would love trip to Wembley, but both managers will be conscious of balancing league survival with not ceding a psychological advantage to a relegation rival. The other sub-plot is that Leeds have been abject on the road this season and West Ham’s home stadium is not exactly a fortress. Both sides have the form you’d expect from teams towards the bottom of the table, but Nuno Espírito Santo has wrestled a bit of coherency from a side that looked doomed for the drop. If Jarrod Bowen is in the mood and Leeds suffer their customary travel sickness, then this could be a big win for the Hammers. GA

Whatever you watch, have a very happy Easter.

Graham, Terry, Jan and Gary