While the Championship took a weekend’s break for international commitments, League One and League Two were in full throttle as the season reaches its final furlong.

Saturday’s action in League One saw leaders Sheffield United stretch their unbeaten run to ten games, though they were held to a 1-1 draw on their travels at Oldham Athletic, with Jay O’Shea securing a point for Chris Wilder’s men.

The Blades’ stalemate meant that their nearest challengers, Bolton Wanderers, closed the gap to four-points at the summit after second half goals from Mark Beevers and Adam Le Fondre defeated relegation-threatened Shrewsbury Town 2-0 at the New Meadow. The win takes Phil Parkinson’s in-form side one step closer to automatic promotion.

Third-placed Fleetwood Town are now six points adrift of the automatic promotion places in the division. The Cod Army were involved in a goalless draw with Bury at Gigg Lane.

Meanwhile in League Two, Sonny Bradley’s second half header was enough to win a battle of the top two for Plymouth Argyle away at table-toppers Doncaster Rovers on Sunday.

At Fratton Park, Portsmouth, who are third, increased their automatic promotion chances by beating second-bottom Newport County 2-1.

So, here are FIVE things we learned from another action-packed weekend in the EFL…

Bolton’s automatic promotion charge continues with a fifth successive win

Bolton Wanderers’ charge towards automatic promotion to the Championship continued following a professional display to see off Shrewsbury Town at the New Meadow.

Phil Parkinson’s high-flying Trotters have now won their last five consecutive games in League One, as two goals in 15 second-half minutes separated the sides on a sun-kissed spring afternoon in Shropshire.

Centre-back Mark Beevers looped a header over Salop goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler six minutes after the break, before industrious forward Adam Le Fondre lashed home from close-range, with both goals being assisted by winger Filipe Morais, who has created an astonishing 11 goals for his team-mates since signing in February.

The three points at the home of the struggling Shrews tightened Bolton’s grip on second spot, and coupled with table-toppers Sheffield United as well as Fleetwood Town both dropping points, it proved to be a fruitful weekend all-round for the Greater Manchester outfit.

Phil Brown marks four years at Southend in style, while Scunthorpe claim a topsy turvy triumph over Bradford

Phil Brown marked four years as Southend United manager in style, guiding the Shrimpers to an impressive 2-0 win away at AFC Wimbledon, a result that strengthens their hopes of ending the campaign in a play-off position.

Goals from Nile Ranger and Simon Cox made it an anniversary to remember for the 57-year-old. Southend are now sixth in the division, and have won three successive games as Brown eyes another promotion – he took the Essex club up from League Two under the Wembley arch in May 2015.

Elsewhere, there was a meeting between fourth and fifth at Glanford Park on Sunday, as Scunthorpe United edged Bradford City out in a five-goal thriller.

Matt Crooks’ header with eight minutes left settled a pulsating encounter in Lincolnshire to give Graham Alexander’s Iron the win in a topsy-turvy game.

Rock-bottom Coventry record back-to-back wins

It has been a bleak, bleak season for all involved at Coventry City.

The Sky Blues, who are onto their third permanent manager of the campaign after re-appointing Mark Robins as Russell Slade’s successor, are rock bottom of the division, amongst the backdrop of significant protests from their supporters over owners Sisu.

On Saturday, City recorded back-to-back wins for the first time in five months after beating play-off hopefuls Bristol Rovers 1-0 at the Ricoh Arena, courtesy of George Thomas’ thumping effort in the closing 10 minutes.

Coventry are now 11 points from safety with six fixtures of current term remaining.

Plymouth Argyle break Doncaster’s seven-game unbeaten run

The Keepmoat Stadium was the setting for a meeting between the top two in League Two, as Doncaster Rovers locked horns with fellow promotion-rivals Plymouth Argyle.

It would be the Pilgrims who took maximum points away from South Yorkshire having made the long trip up from Devon, after Sonny Bradley netted the only goal of the game for Derek Adams’ men early in the second half, which brought an end to Doncaster’s seven-match unbeaten run in the fourth tier.

The win for Argyle cements their place within the top three of the division. The West Country outfit are sandwiched in-between leaders Doncaster and third-placed Portsmouth.

Kevin Nolan’s Notts County revolution rolls on, as Leyton Orient and Newport County edge closer to the drop

Kevin Nolan has completely transformed the fortunes of Notts County ever since his appointment at Meadow Lane in January.

When the 34-year-old replaced John Sheridan as boss, the club had lost 10 successive league games on the spin, and were embroiled deep in a relegation scrap.

However, Saturday’s win over Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park, with the solitary goal scored by Nolan’s former Newcastle United team-mate Shola Ameobi, has pulled County 13 points clear of the relegation zone.

The remarkable turnaround of form under Nolan’s stewardship has seen the Magpies take 27 points from 14 games.

By contrast, Nolan’s former club, Leyton Orient, who prop up the league, are seven points from safety after losing 3-0 at Crawley Town, while Newport County are also deep in bother following their narrow defeat at Portsmouth.