Summary

  • Leeds stay top but Abu Kamara's double earns Hull a dramatic 3-3 draw

  • Andre Brooks on target as Sheffield United move level on points with second-placed Burnley after 2-1 win at Watford

  • Amankwah Forson scores twice in injury time as Norwich beat Coventry 2-1

  • Gabriel Otegbayo's equaliser gives Sheffield Wednesday a 2-2 draw at home to Millwall

  • Will Keane's goal for Preston prevents a fourth straight win for Oxford as it finishes 1-1 at Deepdale

  • Calum Chambers secures Cardiff a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough

  • Bristol City beat Derby 1-0 thanks to Luke McNally's first-half volley

  • Burnley's Zian Flemming decides tight derby against Blackburn

  • Mark Robins' first game in charge of Stoke ends in a 0-0 draw with Plymouth

  • Joe Allen's late goal enables Swansea to claim a 1-1 draw against West Brom

  1. That's your lotpublished at 18:20 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    Zian Flemming celebrates Burnley win over BlackburnImage source, Getty Images

    That's as far as we go in here today on the first bumper Saturday of Championship action in 2025.

    Burnley and Sheffield United made ground up on league leaders Leeds after they conceded two late goals to draw 3-3 at struggling Hull City.

    Six of today's 10 Championship games ended all-square at the end of a run which has seen the second tier sides in action four times in 10 days.

    We'll be back with more from this division tomorrow when promotion-chasing Sunderland host Portsmouth.

    Thanks for your company today and have a good evening. Cheers!

  2. Still to come this weekend...published at 18:17 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    #bbcefl

    Sunderland forward Eliezer MayendaImage source, Rex Features

    There were 21 goals across our seven 15:00 GMT kick-offs this afternoon... let's hope that's a good omen for the rest of our coverage this weekend.

    We'll be back around 14:30 GMT tomorrow to bring you all the build-up and then live text coverage of Sunderland v Portsmouth, with the Black Cats seeking to cut the gap at the top and bring the top four within three points of one another, while fourth-bottom Pompey are seeking to climb away from danger at the foot of the table.

    We'll also be here on Monday evening as Luton head to QPR for an almighty clash in the bottom half, with the Hatters only two points ahead of the bottom two, with a worse goal difference at that.

    Don't miss a minute of the action...

  3. 'I’m really pleased with the mentality and the team spirit' - Thoruppublished at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Norwich 2-1 Coventry

    Norwich City

    Norwich manager Johannes ThorupImage source, Getty Images

    Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk:

    "I’ve praised it before this season, I’m really pleased with the mentality and the team spirit of the young guys here – they keep on fighting and keep believing and they keep on chasing a goal.

    "They did it last week [to beat Luton] and against QPR here at home [to draw], and they did it again today. So of course that is the positive side, but the more negative one is that we need to see how we can avoid being 1-0 down in a game that we dominate - but that is probably for tomorrow, not today.

    "When you work in football every day and spend so many hours then of course moments like today are the moments you have to celebrate and really enjoy."

  4. 'We entertain too much' - Rohlpublished at 18:15 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Sheff Wed 2-2 Millwall

    Sheffield Wednesday

    Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl scratches his headImage source, Rex Features

    Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield:

    "I am very happy with the offensive play - how we created chances against a team who are normally very strong in defence.

    “To score two times and have some good opportunities is great but we are conceding too many goals at the moment. That is 10 goals conceded in four games and that is not good enough.

    “We are top six in the table for scoring but bottom six for conceding. It is not just a team tactical thing but individual decision-making and mistakes. We have to step up as a group if we want to achieve more. We have to improve the defending. We have to take responsibility. We entertain but we entertain too much.

    “We had good moments and movement attacking-wise, but to win games it is about clean sheets. We should win this game, but we didn’t.”

  5. 'We've shown our fragility' - Cleverleypublished at 18:10 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Watford 1-2 Sheff Utd

    Watford

    Watford boss Tom Cleverley to BBC Three Counties Radio:

    "On the balance of the second half, I thought we were good value for a point - in terms of clear-cut chances I don't remember them having much.

    "One team knew how to win, the other is pretty new to it. There's not much between the teams. I told the players the month of December finds teams out and it has found us out.

    "It is my job to knuckle down and get this group together because we've shown our fragilities these recent weeks.

    "[Not switching off from free-kicks] is a basic part of football; I was disappointed when it happened at QPR so early, we addressed it.

    "To switch off [for the second goal] was really disappointing and apart from one at the end that was one of their only chances second half."

    On Daniel Bachmann's injury: "We've ruled out an ankle dislocation or a ruptured Achilles tendon. Hopefully we continue to get more good news on that."

  6. Farke refuses to call out inexperienced Leedspublished at 18:07 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Hull City 3-3 Leeds

    Leeds boss Daniel FarkeImage source, Rex Features

    Leeds United boss Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Leeds:

    "I would be a poor leader if straight after a game I punished the individual mistakes of my players in public. I'm not willing to do this.

    "The players who were involved in the goals can't hide behind the fact they should have done better.

    "This is a sign of what we are, we are not the finished end product who can cruise easily through this league.

    "Before December started we were not in the top two and now after a busy festive period we are top of the league but we could be more we even more points.

    "We are one of the younger sides in the league. A more experienced side would have kept the ball when they were 3-1 up and maybe scored the fourth goal. We switched off."

  7. 'I needed to prove a point' - Kamarapublished at 18:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Hull City 3-3 Leeds

    Hull City

    Hull City forward Abu KamaraImage source, Getty Images

    Hull City forward Abu Kamara says he had a point to prove after scoring twice in their 3-3 draw with Championship leaders Leeds United.

    In a week in which the forward was forced to apologise for a social media post on Portsmouth's Instagram account, Kamara opened the scoring before lashing home a late equaliser at the MKM Stadium.

    "It feels great – I've had a tough period of time but to come away with the two goals fills me with confidence to push on and do more," he told BBC Radio Humberside

    "I needed to prove a point today and there were times I was thinking shall I hide away from it but I'm not that kind of person."

    The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Portsmouth before completing a £4.5m move from Norwich City in August.

    "It's been very difficult but the support around me from the team and manager, just knowing they have my back has made it easier," he added.

    "Scoring my first goals for the club is massive and to open my account in a Yorkshire derby feels great."

  8. The day in numberspublished at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    #bbcefl

    Middlesbrough winger Ben Doak goes on the attack against CardiffImage source, Rex Features

    Here are the some statistical takeaways from today's action, courtesy of Opta...

    • Burnley had just four shots in their 1-0 win against Blackburn, their fewest attempts in a league match they won since December 2019 (two vs Bournemouth in the Premier League).
    • Sheffield United have won a league match away to Watford for the first time since January 2009 (2-0), with their two goals today being the first they’ve scored at Vicarage Road since then; the Blades’ win means that Watford have now lost back-to-back league games at home after going unbeaten in 15 previously (W10 D5).
    • Leeds United are now unbeaten across their last 17 Yorkshire derbies in the league (W12 D5) with the Whites winning more points in such fixtures since the beginning of last season in the EFL than any of their Yorkshire rivals (26).
    • Ben Doak’s assist for Emmanuel Latte Lath was the on-loan Middlesbrough player’s sixth in the Championship since the start of November, with only Mohamed Salah (8) having assisted more across the top four flights of English football in that time.
    • Yan Valery has now scored two goals in his last three Championship matches for Sheffield Wednesday, as many as across his previous 72 games in the top four tiers of English football combined.
  9. 'I think it was a deserved point in the end' - Rizapublished at 17:56 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Middlesbrough 1-1 Cardiff

    Cardiff City

    Cardiff manager Omer Riza lowers both hands, indicating his team needs to calm downImage source, Rex Features

    Cardiff City head coach Omer Riza told BBC Radio Wales Sport:

    "Every point is important, we've said this before, whatever you pick up can help us to get out the position we are in, hopefully.

    "It is a tough place to come against an excellent side, we managed to contain them with some real resilience, we got a fair point in the end.

    "I think it was a deserved point in the end, if you don't allow the opposition to score goals.

    "We could have had a goal at the end as well, but I think that would have been a bit unfair on Middlesbrough."

  10. 'I am disappointed in our performance' - Carrickpublished at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Middlesbrough 1-1 Cardiff

    Middlesbrough

    Michael Carrick looks disappointed during their 1-1 draw with CardiffImage source, Rex Features

    Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:

    "It wasn't to be today and it should have been really, I think with the position we got ourselves in first half, we looked more dangerous without really threatening the goal enough.

    "I thought we looked more dangerous and had moments around the box but final pass and a couple of offsides. I am disappointed in our performance in the second half.

    "There wasn't much space but we needed to find a way and to be better.

    "The hard bit is defending right and not giving any chances away… the rest of it didn't fall into place for us."

  11. 'We can compete against anyone'published at 17:48 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Hull City 3-3 Leeds

    Hull City

    Hull City head coach Ruben Selles celebratesImage source, Getty Images

    Hull City head coach Ruben Selles told BBC Radio Humberside:

    "It's a lesson for all of us for team building and the dressing room over the last 48 hours.

    "Abu's an honest kid and we can all have bad days and we needed to protect him and we did that and it paid off.

    "Sometimes you can misunderstand people - it's important for the club and the dressing room to be able to support him and show we are strong together.

    "We've shown we can compete against anyone today."

  12. 'We've made it a really tough place to come'published at 17:43 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Bristol City 1-0 Derby

    Bristol City

    Bristol City head coach Liam Manning claps the home supportImage source, Rex Features

    Bristol City head coach Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol:

    [On home form] "We’ve not necessarily always got the results here but performance wise we’ve always been consistent, I think around some of the ones where we’ve not played great they always tend to be on the road

    "We said at the start of the season about making this a really tough place for teams to come and we’ve done that, three clean sheets in a row.

    "Today was slightly different off the back of a fifth game in 14 games, today was around finding a way, digging in, showing resilience, coming together, pulling each other through it, because the lads are flat on their feet.

    "I think today showed around the culture and what we’ve got in terms of a top group of professionals."

  13. 'West Brom links behind us' - Williamspublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Swansea 1-1 West Brom

    Swansea City head coach Luke Williams during the draw against West BromImage source, Getty Images

    Luke Williams says he has moved on from speculation linking him to West Bromwich Albion, a distraction which the Swansea City head coach admits he "handled poorly".

    Bookmakers had made Williams favourite to replace Carlos Corberan at the Hawthorns and, having initially failed to quash rumours in media interviews, Williams eventually confirmed he was staying at Swansea.

    Ironically, the Swans hosted West Brom at lunchtime and, in his programme notes before the 1-1 draw, Swansea chairman Andy Coleman described the speculation as "unhelpful".

    "It's a situation that I didn't help. I created a lot of the noise without meaning to," said Williams.

    "There's been no contact from West Brom to me or my agent or the football club. There's been no contact at all.

    "In fact, my agent has been quite unwell and been in bed for most of the Christmas period, then he phoned me up and said, 'What have you done? What's going on?'

    "I'm pleased that's behind us. The players were excellent today. Certainly my group looked like they were unaffected by all the noise."

  14. 'We need a bit of help in the squad' - Eustacepublished at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Blackburn 0-1 Burnley

    Blackburn Rovers

    Blackburn boss John EustaceImage source, Rex Features

    Blackburn Rovers head coach John Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire:

    "I was very proud of the efforts of the boys – we went toe-to-toe with a very good team with a good squad of players.

    "I was disappointed in the manner we conceded - we just switched off from a cross and it was their first effort on goal.

    "We need a bit of help in the squad, we need to keep improving and get the players back from injury as quickly as possible."

  15. 'There's a bit of relief' - Parkerpublished at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Blackburn 0-1 Burnley

    Burnley

    Burnley manager Scott Parker has his arms outstretched during the 1-0 win over BlackburnImage source, Rex Features

    Burnley boss Scott Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire:

    "It's satisfying and there's a bit of relief as well.

    "From the minute we walked into the stadium it was a hostile place, an intense atmosphere and I'm delighted we were able to seal the three points.

    "What this team have done defensively this year has been nothing short of sensational and I get it's not the most glamorous part of the game but I've been around long enough to know it's the bedrock and foundation of any team."

  16. 'That's a bad draw for us' - Bruntpublished at 17:25 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Swansea 1-1 West Brom

    West Bromwich Albion

    Chris Brunt sat on the West Brom benchImage source, Getty Images

    West Brom interim head coach Chris Brunt saw the Baggies draw for the 13th time this season after being pegged back in stoppage-time at Swansea - more than any other side in England.

    "There are good draws and bad draws, and that's probably a bad draw for us. Everyone is gutted in the changing room," he said.

    "There were a few tired bodies out there and unfortunately we just couldn't deal with that last ball into our box.

    "On the whole I don't think we deserved that. We created a lot of opportunities, asked questions of them throughout the game but let ourselves down in the final third."

  17. 'Joe Allen is a special footballer' - Williamspublished at 17:22 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Swansea 1-1 West Brom

    Swansea City

    Swansea City manager Luke Williams raises a finger in celebrationImage source, Getty Images

    Swansea head coach Luke Williams praised Joe Allen after the veteran came off the bench to flick a stoppage-time equaliser against West Brom.

    "I think we deserved a draw," Williams told BBC Sport Wales. "I don't think there was a huge amount in the game either way. Both teams looked very tired but I think we were value for a point.

    "Liam [Cullen] has played a lot of minutes and he was starting to look tired, the pitch is heavy, and he'd just started to lose his energy, and Joey Allen is a special player.

    "Some players are a full-back or a winger or a midfielder, and some are just footballers. Joe Allen is just a footballer. He knows how to handle himself in all different scenarios. He can understand things at a very high level."

  18. 'Blades were brilliant'published at 17:17 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Watford 1-2 Sheff Utd

    Sam Ashoo
    BBC Final Score at Vicarage Road

    Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder celebrates in front of the travelling support at Vicarage RoadImage source, Getty Images

    A hearty thump of the chest from Chris Wilder as he enjoys being serenaded by a couple of thousand Sheffield United fans in the Vicarage Road away end.

    Wilder’s depleted Blades were brilliant today despite missing almost half of the starting 11 due to injury. You have to wonder just how good they could be once they are afforded a full bill of health.

  19. 'Who would have expected that?'published at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    FT: Hull City 3-3 Leeds

    Peter Swan
    Former Hull City player on BBC Radio Humberside

    Who would have expected that?

    Leeds showed their qualities at time, but if this Hull side are going to succeed it is about sticking together as a team and working together as a unit.

    I have seen things in the game there like Ivor Pandur as soon as the whistle is blown, he has turned around and put his arms up and apologised for his mistake.

    They are saying, 'look, we are in this together'. And it shows when you go 3-1 down to come back against a top team and to have the character to keep pushing and pushing and to believe in yourself and what the manger has asked you to do.

  20. Top of the pilepublished at 17:13 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January

    #bbcefl

    Championship top

    Leeds United blew a 3-1 lead at struggling Hull City to settle for a point.

    They're now one point clear at the top of the league after Burnley won 1-0 at Blackburn in one of the early games and Sheffield United squeezed past Watford 2-1.

    Middlesbrough's hopes of getting into the shake-up for the automatic promotion spots are going nowhere after the drew for a fourth time in five games in a 1-1 tie with Cardiff.

    West Brom drew 1-1 at Swansea after Joe Allen's last-ditch equaliser for the home side and Bristol City are now just three points off the top six after a win over Derby.