Early indications are that this could be a 'tasty' encounter at Ewood Park, as they say.

Rovers left-back Harry Pickering is back in the side after missing the last two games and he wastes no time in making his presence felt, sending Jacob Brown flying.

Luton quickly draw level in terms of bookings, though, with Jordan Clark yellow-carded for his foul on Lewis Travis.

An early sight of goal for Millwall as Boro defender Luke Ayling blocks Femi Azeez's effort.

Another reminder, in case you really needed it, that today is Neil Harris' last game in charge of the Lions.

Laura Kenyon
BBC Final Score

A nice moment for Swansea legend Lee Trundle on the pitch before kick off.

He was awarded an honorary master’s degree from Swansea University midweek and was just presented to the home crowd here alongside mascot, Cyril the Swan who was wearing a gown and mortarboard – Cyril looking very academic today. Quite the scholar!

Both of these sides are without a win for six games. Can either break that unwanted recent run today?

Right, the early games brought thrills and spills aplenty and now it's time for the 15:00 GMT games to take centre stage.

Can Sheffield United continue their remarkable home form to go three points clear at the top of the table?

Naz Premji
Final Score

Wayne Rooney brings his Pilgrims side to one of the hardest places to win at in the Championship.

Sheffield United are motoring under Chris Wilder who is having a wonderful second spell in charge.

The Blades have conceded the second lowest amount of goals of anyone in the 92 this season and Plymouth have let in the most goals of anyone in the 92 this season.

Everything points to a home win and a comfortable one at that. It will also be an interesting game for United keeper Michael Cooper who swapped Home Park for Bramall Lane in the summer and he hasn't conceded a goal at his new home so far this campaign.

Hull remain rooted to the bottom of the table following that defeat by Coventry.

Can Plymouth or Cardiff open up a bit of daylight between them with a win today?

Here's how things stand at the top of the table after that late Leeds equaliser at Preston.

Leeds sit top by goal difference alone ahead of Sheffield United.

Laura Kenyon
BBC Final Score

Swansea are upping the stakes in football’s ‘best food’ awards. There was a full-blown Christmas lunch in the media room – turkey, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, all the trimmings. It's got us properly in the mood for the start of a packed festive schedule.

A big shout out too to the dedicated fans travelling this festive season with more than 12,000 making a 730 mile round trip from Sunderland today - the away end is sold out. Christmas jumpers blazoned with club badges everywhere.

Image source, Rex Features

It's been a tricky few weeks for Stoke City and Cardiff City who are both currently embroiled in the battle for survival.

The Potters have lost three on the bounce and are now winless in six - a run which has seen them slip to 18th, just four points above the drop.

Since going on a six-game unbeaten run, the Bluebirds have also struggled in their past six, drawing three and losing three, including a 2-0 defeat at home to Preston in midweek which leaves them in the bottom three.

Omer Riza's side have failed to win away from home in the Championship so far this season in nine attempts (D5 L4). Could it be 10th time lucky?

Narcis Pelach's men will hope not and know victory could give them a little more breathing space from the danger zone. For now, at least.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales at the Swansea.com Stadium

Sunderland visit the Swansea.com Stadium this afternoon with Luke Williams believing the home side are in the midst of their most consistent run of performances since he took charge 11 months ago.

Swansea City have lost only two of their last eight matches and head into this one in confident mood following their midweek win at Plymouth Argyle.

However, they will have to change the record if they are to deliver another victory this afternoon.

Sunderland are the only side among the Championship's current top seven that Swansea have not faced this season - and they have lost to the other six.

After a mixed start to the season, they went 563 minutes without scoring at one point, Swansea have got their season going in the right direction and a win over promotion-hopefuls Sunderland could move them to within striking distance of the top six.

The South Wales outfit have an excellent recent record against the Lads from Wearside, losing just two of the past 22 meetings between the sides.

Sunderland's top two chances have been dented by a run of six draws in their past eight matches.

The Black Cats certainly haven't benefitted from a huge amount of luck in the injury department and impressive teenage forward Tommy Watson was ruled out for two months on Thursday.

Image source, PA

There can be few games taking place in world football this weekend that look like a home banker quite as much as today's match at Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United have won their past eight home games without so much as conceding a single goal and will end the day top of the tree with another win this afternoon.

In the away dressing room? A Plymouth side who have won none of their past 12 games away from Home Park and lost their past two road games by scorelines of 6-1 and 4-0...

Then again, it is the time of year for a miracle I suppose ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Image source, Getty Images

Neil Harris' final game in charge of Millwall will likely prove to be a stern test as his side travel to Middlesbrough.

The Lions' nine-game unbeaten run had only just come to an end with a 1-0 defeat at home to Coventry when it was announced that Harris would be leaving the club.

Millwall suffered another narrow defeat against Sheffield United and are now without a win in five, seven points off the top six.

Boro's free-scoring exploits have been slightly halted in recent weeks with a tough past two games, drawing 1-1 at Burnley before a 3-1 loss at Leeds on Tuesday night.

Michael Carrick's side had previously won four of five, scoring 18 goals in the process.

Victory today could lift Middlesbrough back into the play-off spots as they are currently just one point behind West Brom in sixth, who visit Watford Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

Oxford’s home form is keeping them afloat in the Championship at the moment – so they could probably do without hosting a Sheffield Wednesday side who are performing strongly on the road.

The U’s have won just once overall in their last 14 games, against Hull at the Kassam Stadium – where they have also seen off Norwich, Preston and Stoke since gaining promotion to the Championship in May

It’s been a different story for Des Buckingham’s side away from those familiar surroundings, picking up just two points so far and slumping to a 2-0 defeat at QPR on Wednesday night.

By contrast the Owls, who began the day perched exactly halfway in the table, have been impressive on their travels, winning four of their last five fixtures away from Hillsborough – the only blip coming in the Steel City derby at Bramall Lane.

However, Wednesday have not won any of their last six league meetings with Oxford – their most recent success came in a top-flight fixture back in April 1988 at the U’s former Manor Ground home.

Image source, Rex Features

Injury crisis, so what? A lengthy list of absentees doesn’t appear to have derailed Blackburn Rovers’ promotion charge as they seek a sixth straight win at home to struggling Luton.

Rovers recorded their fourth consecutive 1-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, despite missing nine first-teamers and manager John Eustace says every member of his squad can become ‘heroes’.

“It just shows whoever is needed and ready,” Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire. “We’ve got 27 games to go so those who aren’t heroes at the moment will certainly be heroes at the end of the season.”

Although Rovers are brimming with confidence, they must overcome a less than impressive recent record against Luton – namely just a single win from their last 11 meetings with the Bedfordshire side.

The Hatters, who started the day five points above the drop zone, earned themselves some breathing space in midweek with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Stoke at Kenilworth Road, their first in four games.

Plenty of late drama in our first three Championship offerings today - and we've got six more games to come in around half an hour's time!

Stay with us for all the build-up...

Clive Eakin
BBC CWR Sport

Coventry were the better side by some distance, but they had to work for it after a frustrating first half.

Coventry see out a deserved win and that's their first victory on home soil for four games.

Joao Pedro put Hull City ahead completely against the run of play shortly before half-time, guiding home after Ryan Longman's header cannoned off the post into his path.

But the Sky Blues came from behind in the second period to secure Frank Lampard's second win in his fourth game as head coach.

Ephron Mason-Clark bundled in at the back post from Victor Torp's excellent cross in the 52nd-minute before turning provider for Jack Rudoni to head home the winner 20 minutes later.

Torp missed a penalty before Coventry went ahead but it mattered not. Ruben Selles has a big job on his hands as the Tigers' winless run stretches to 13 games and it's now seven defeats from eight.

Coventry hook it clear after a bit of pinball in their own half. They're almost there now.