Five things in the Premier League: March wins can bring May flowers

Not only are the promotion and play-off races in the Championship tight, but the scramble for the bottom is already a tough sell with five teams separated by just four points with two vacant places.

Third-placed Oxford face their toughest task when they head to Southampton (15:00 GMT), who are unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions after climbing into the top six for the first time since the opening day of the season, thanks to Wednesday’s 1-0 home win over Norwich.

However, the U’s cruised to a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day and were on the verge of making it four wins in a row, only for a stoppage-time penalty to secure Charlton a point at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.

Leicester is one point behind Oxford before facing Watford (15:00 GMT), which remains in the qualifying round.

However, the green shoots of recovery that Foxes fans saw in the draw with Ipswich and home win over Bristol City were snuffed out by QPR’s comeback from a goal down to win 3-1 at the King Power Stadium last time out.

While it was a fifth defeat in six home matches, Leicester are also nine defeats without a win on the road dating back to December 6, although the last two games have been draws with high-flying Middlesbrough and Ipswich.

After a thumping win over Hull at The Hawthorns took them out of the bottom three, West Brom will look to end a 15-game winless run dating back to October 1, when they visit Bristol City (15:00 GMT), who have taken just one point from their four matches at Ashton Gate.

Portsmouth is ahead of Albion on goal difference before its trip to Queens Park Rangers (15:00 GMT), and is seeking its first win in six matches, with only one point from its past five matches.