Off we go in our seven remaining Christmas time Championship games today.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland looked to be falling to a second defeat in four games last week when they fell 2-0 down at Swansea in the opening 20 minutes.

However, the Black Cats clawed their way back into it and Jobe Bellingham's winner will have boosted the mood among players and fans alike that they could yet achieve something special this season.

Today's visitors Norwich have seen their own top six aspirations dented by a run of three games without victory.

They do boast a strong recent record at the Stadium of Light though, with just one defeat from their past six trips to Wearside.

Queens Park Rangers come into today looking for a third home victory in a row.

The improved form of Marti Cifuentes' side sees them now four points clear of the relegation zone, though they will be conscious of keeping that buffer zone after Hull's win in the lunchtime game.

Contrasting recent fortunes see Preston North End on a run of one win in their last eleven league games, though they did beat Cardiff City on the road ten days ago.

As far as matches between the two sides go, QPR won both of last season's battles without conceding a goal.

With Preston in 18th just one place above them, the hosts will see this as a brilliant opportunity to continue their recent rise up the table.

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Sixsmith
Final Score reporter

With Christmas around the corner, the Sunderland fans I’ve seen around the Stadium of Light feeling festive - and who can blame them after an unbeaten start to the season at ho ho home?

They take on a Canaries side struggling to find their voice on the road - with no wins in their past eight.

Black Cats fans are understandably confident then - “Who needs Santa when you’ve got Regis Le Bris” said one of them. Quite.

Seeing the names Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick in the same line-up has a familiar feel and it isn't the first time that the two former Manchester United team-mates have faced each other in the dugout, either.

Middlesbrough boss Carrick was victorious at the Riverside Stadium last season when Rooney was in charge of Birmingham City.

But the pair are also used to watching from the sidelines together as their sons are part of the same United youth team.

On the pitch, Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last eight away league games against Plymouth Argyle.

There is a high chance of that run continuing today, as Rooney's team have lost their last four Championship games.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Rex Features

A meeting with the Championship's most in-form team might not be the game interim Millwall boss David Livermore would have picked for his first in charge, but that's the task at hand.

The Lions' first match without the now departed Neil Harris sees them take on Blackburn who have won six games on the bounce.

Millwall, meanwhile, are on a run of six games without a win and have lost three in a row following a narrow 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough last weekend.

John Eustace's Blackburn side eased past Luton last time out, keeping a fifth consecutive clean sheet in the process and have now gone 467 minutes without conceding a goal.

It's likely to be a tight affair at The Den, though, with no side in the past 13 games involving Millwall scoring more than a single goal.

Oxford United made the surprising decision to part ways with promotion-winning boss Des Buckingham on Sunday.

Experienced Championship gaffer Gary Rowett has been brought in to try and steer them clear of trouble at the bottom but he's taking a watching brief for today's trip to West Yorkshire.

He's probably not too unhappy not to have this as his first game as U's boss.

Second-placed Leeds have won their past eight home matches by an aggregate score of 20-2, while the Yellows are without an away win this season.

The last time they won a game away from home at this level was 1999.

Image source, Getty Images

Struggling Cardiff could almost certainly do without a visit from Championship leaders Sheffield United.

The Welsh side are without a win in their past six games and their hopes of securing a first away win of the season last time out were dashed by an injury-time equaliser for Stoke.

The Blades continue to move serenely forward as they look to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Chris Wilder's men are unbeaten since 23 October and, depending on results elsewhere, could spend Christmas with an eight-point buffer from third.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

Cardiff's home game against Watford a fortnight ago was postponed as Storm Darragh wreaked havoc across the UK.

The wind and rain is not quite that extreme today, but Cardiff City Stadium is certainly getting lashed again by some seriously tempestuous conditions.

The struggling Bluebirds, who are winless in seven, will be hoping the weather can be something of a leveller today as they take on Championship leaders Sheffield United.

Whereas Cardiff have dropped back into the relegation zone following Portsmouth's win over Coventry, the Blades are riding high on a 10-match unbeaten run which includes eight wins.

In terms of form, there can't be many starker contrasts in the Championship today.

Image source, Getty Images

This is a big one at Turf Moor this afternoon as two clubs very much vying for promotion go head-to-head.

Nothing is completely won or lost by Christmas but victory against the other teams around you certainly helps the long-term cause.

Third-placed Burnley came from behind to win 2-1 in impressive fashion at Norwich last weekend to stretch their unbeaten run to eight games.

The Clarets have now lost just once in 18 matches, while Watford are six games unbeaten themselves.

The Hornets, who are seventh and within striking distance of the play-offs, won 2-1 at home to West Brom last Sunday but have struggled for victories away from home, winning just twice on the road so far (D2 L6).

Is there to be a sting in their tail today?

Phew. Now the fun and games in our three early fixtures are done and dusted, there's more action to get stuck into.

Let's turn our attentions to today's 15:00 GMT Championship fixtures.

Portsmouth striker Callum Lang speaking to Sky Sports after scoring four goals:

"Obviously a good day but it's always good playing here with the atmosphere.

"To top it off with my first hat-trick and to nick another one, it's a nice feeling."

On which goal was his favourite: "Probably the last one, just a tap in on the line. You don't get many of them, so it's nice to be fair.

"It's a good team performance and a massive result for us. We're going to be fighting all season to stay in the league, so it's a massive three points."

On whether Pompey can stay up: "Friday was a blip for us. We've had some good performances the last few weeks and really picked up as a side.

"I think our home form is what should hopefully keep us in the league. If we keep that right, we've got a chance so that's the most important thing."

On the fans: "I've never seen anything like it and from the first day I've been here, it's been amazing really. It helps us as players on the pitch massively."

Clive Eakin
BBC CWR Sport

The first 10 minutes were positive. The lead lasted 11 minutes before Lang started his scoring streak. 2-1 at half time, we were still in the game, and it's ended 4-1 here.

A second half that Coventry will want to forget.

Ten-man Sheffield Wednesday heap more misery on sinking Stoke City.

A real game of two halves this.

Next to nothing happened in the first 45 aside from Owls defender Di'Shon Bernard being sent off five minutes before the break.

The away side could not make the most of the man advantage and fell behind when Josh Windass scrambled in from close range.

The Potters were then denied a penalty for a clear handball by Barry Bannan and things went from bad to worse when sub Callum Paterson made it 2-0.

Things then went from worse to... worser (?) for Stoke when Tom Cannon missed the chance to get them back in it when his tame penalty was saved by James Beadle.

Eight without a win for Narcis Pelach's men now and they're going in the wrong direction towards the bottom.

Wednesday? They're eyeing a play-off tilt.

Shea Charles, who has been excellent, is subbed off in the final seconds to a standing ovation.

Charlie McNeil is on for the home side for about 30 seconds or so.

Image source, Rex Features

An excellent performance by Portsmouth and that's three points wrapped up for Christmas.

That's now just one defeat in six games for John Mousinho's side, who completely blew Coventry away.

The Sky Blues went ahead after three minutes through Norman Bassette but four Callum Lang goals - two either side of the break - saw Pompey come back in style.

Portsmouth are out of the drop zone and up to 20th for now. Coventry are closer to the botttom three than the top six.

Credit where it's due to the Owls today.

Down to 10 men for the whole of this half and not in great nick here at home, they have put in an excellent display in this second half to come away with the points.

Hull's first victory in fourteen Championship games lifts them off the bottom of the table and - at least temporarily - out of the relegation zone.

Joao Pedro's deflected strike gave them a first-half lead, before Harry Darling headed in for Swansea against the run of play.

The Tigers squandered several great chances before substitute forward Mason Burstow fired a bouncing ball beyond the reach of Swans keeper Lawrence Vigoroux.

Ruben Selles will be delighted to get three points for the first time as Hull head coach.

Image source, rex

Another chance for the away side from a long throw from Junior Thachamdeu but nobody can get a clean contact on the bouncing ball.

The home side scramble it away.

Coventry finally have a shot in the second half in the 91st minute and it's a powerful drive from the edge of the box by Jack Rudoni.

Pompey keeper Nicolas Schmid does well to beat it away.