League One in focus as Sunderland and Sheff Wed bid to escape 'crazy' division

League One is awash with more big names than ever before.

Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton Wanderers and Ipswich Town are names more accustomed to life in the top flight than the third tier of English football. But football is about what happens out on the pitch, not how many fans come through the turnstiles and the aforementioned quartet are among a cast of clubs itching to escape a division that has proven to be hugely difficult to escape.

With less than a quarter of the season remaining, it offers us the perfect chance to take stock and assess the promotion picture, in a league where as many as 11 teams still harbour promotion ambitions.

David Prutton, who presents Sky Sports coverage of the EFL, said: "Teams in that division that are sticking out, for me, are Rotherham who know what they're doing and Wigan who got a good result last week. Wednesday seem to have sorted themselves out to a degree.

"You've also Sunderland, Plymouth, Oxford, MK Dons. Wycombe know how to get out of it and then Ipswich and Portsmouth have been sleeping giants in there for too long. It's a crazy division."

Here, we look at the runners and riders in contention for a place in next season's Championship.

Rotherham United

The Millers have been hugely consistent this season as they bid to continue their remarkable yo-yo form of the last few years. Paul Warne's side have either been promoted from League One or relegated from the Championship in each of the last five campaigns.

And with his side sitting top of the table with just seven games remaining, he'll be confident of extending that remarkable stat. They have seen a slight dip from their high standards in recent weeks however, with just one win in the last five league games.

And with a Wembley EFL Trophy final against Sutton United on the horizon, and a tough-looking run-in including games with Portsmouth, Sunderland and Oxford, the Millers face a season-defining April.

Wigan Athletic

The Latics are in fine form, and their only league losses in 2022 have come to Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday.

Crucially, they are just a point behind Rotherham but have two games in hand. They take on promotion rivals Ipswich and Plymouth in the run-in but Leam Richardson will be confident his side can accrue enough points to hang on to an automatic spot - and perhaps even usurp Rotherham.

It is a world away from their struggles of last season, when they only just avoided the drop into League Two.

MK Dons

One of the best teams to watch in the EFL, MK Dons have pushed on under new manager Liam Manning.

The brand of football that won them many admirers under Russell Martin has been upgraded to one that is still easy on the eye but also one that garners more points than plaudits. They are on a superb run right now, and are unbeaten since January. They face Wednesday, Oxford and Plymouth inside their final seven games and while they may fall short of automatic spots, they look a nailed-on bet for the play-offs.

Which three teams will get promoted to the Championship? Let us know in the comments

Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth are the form side right now in League One, having racked up six successive wins with the midweek win over Cheltenham. Manager Steven Schumacher said of that latest victory: "It's been an incredible achievement. To get five wins on the spin was a record, to get six on the spin is unheard of."

They face a huge test on Saturday when they travel to Ipswich Town and the Pilgrims' run-in looks mightily tough, with further games against Oxford, Wycombe, Sunderland, Wigan and MK. If they do get into the play-offs, they'll have certainly earned it.

Oxford United

The great entertainers of League One, Oxford are the division's highest scorers with 74 goals. Karl Robinson's side are hoping it will be third time lucky after qualifying for the play-offs in each of the last two seasons.

They haven't been in the second tier since 1999 and supporters feel a spell in the Championship is long overdue. Matty Taylor and Cameron Brannagan are the key pair for Oxford, with 34 league goals combined. Those two will need to show a similar kind of ruthlessness in the final batch of games, which includes testing clashes with against four of the current top five.

Sunderland

It's rarely dull on Wearside, with Sunderland now in their fourth successive season at this level. Alex Neil arrived in February and their form has improved but they look set for a scrap to confirm their top-six berth.

They suffered a blow this week when Jermain Defoe announced his retirement with immediate effect. The veteran only returned to the Stadium of Light last month but is now hanging up his boots after just seven appearances in his second spell. Tough games remain against Oxford, Plymouth and Rotherham.

Sheffield Wednesday

The Owls are looking to bounce straight back to the Championship following last season's final day relegation. Form has been patchy this season, with Wednesdayites grumbles over too many draws.

That was evident in their last two matches, with stalemates against Accrington and Gillingham seeing them miss out on the chance to move into the top six. Wednesday's run-in is perhaps one of the most favourable of all teams chasing promotion, with the trip to MK Dons on Easter Saturday looking particular tasty.

Wycombe

Wycombe won plenty of plaudits last season for their spirited efforts in attempting to stave off Championship relegation. And they've made a decent fist of plotting an instant return. Form has improved over the last month, with three wins and two draws from their last five with four clean sheets in that run.

Gareth Ainsworth's side have history of conquering the play-offs and aside from games against Plymouth and Wednesday, their run-in looks kind.

Ipswich

Kieran McKenna took a bold step in leaving Manchester United and taking up his first managerial post in December. But the gamble looks to be paying off so far.

Ipswich are unbeaten in their last ten outings and they'll need to continue that manner of form in their last seven games. That run-in begins with a blockbuster clash at home to Plymouth on Saturday with further acid tests against the top two, Rotherham and Wigan.

Portsmouth

Pompey have a game in hand on many of the sides above them but the eight-point deficit may prove a bridge too far for Danny Cowley's side.

They face Rotherham, Wigan and Wednesday in their remaining games and they have little wiggle room if they are to gatecrash the top six.

Bolton Wanderers

With 58 points, Bolton sit nine points off the top six with seven games remaining. They are the major outsiders in the race for the playoff spots.

And with huge games against Wigan, Pompey and Sheffield Wednesday in their next three matches, you have to expect that their fate will soon be sealed.

But this is football. What if they won all three? Think of the confidence that would instil and where they would then find themselves. Certainly it's a long shot, but whether they make it or not, Ian Evatt's men will have a major say on what the top six looks like when the season reaches its conclusion.