Image source, Rex Features

It's 13 years since Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League.

The following (baker's) dozen years have been filled with more lows than highs but the Whites now look like putting together a serious promotion challenge.

Garry Monk's men have won five of their last seven matches and are fifth in the table.

They face a Rotherham side who are 11 points off safety at the bottom of the Championship.

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Upwardly mobile Reading travel to a rather derailing Bristol City this afternoon.

A run of five straight defeats and eight losses from their past nine games have seen Bristol City's early-season promise vanish.

Reading, meanwhile, are now firmly ensconced in the play-off picture and despite Friday night's abandonment against Fulham, remain third in Jaap Stam's first season in charge.

Omens point to an away win, with Bristol City having won just once in their past six attempts at home to Reading in league competition.

Brighton claimed more points in 2016 than any club in England's top four divisions and could easily have started the new year top of the Championship had fog not caused Friday's game against Cardiff to be postponed.

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Instead, Chris Hughton's Seagulls begin 2017 a point and a place behind leaders Newcastle.

They visit eighth-placed Fulham this afternoon, who they have beaten in each of their last four meetings, including a come-from-behind 2-1 win at the Amex last month.

But the Whites are also unbeaten in their last six games at Craven Cottage - and they both can't keep those records going.

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The match at Ewood Park will also attract protests by home fans against Rovers' owners Venky's, with a pre-match march from Blackburn Town Hall to Ewood Park followed by a 30-minute sit-in at the stadium after the match.

Fans have already co-ordinated protests once before this season, in a 1-1 draw against Wolves on 29 October.

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As mentioned earlier, Newcastle took advantage of clear skies in the north east on Friday night to leapfrog Brighton back to the top of the Championship.

Dwight Gayle took his goal tally to an impressive 19 so far this season with a brace against Nottingham Forest.

Rafael Benitez's side travel to a beleaguered Blackburn Rovers this afternoon where the former Premier League champions are three points adrift of safety in 22nd.

But, an encouraging 1-1 draw at Huddersfield on New Year's Eve should give Rovers fans some optimism.

However, boss Owen Coyle has a long injury list despite Jason Lowe's return from suspension.

Ben Marshall, Danny Guthrie and Corry Evans join Elliott Ward, Adam Henley and Tommie Hoban on the sidelines.

Team news in, time for us to look ahead to our four featured Championship matches this afternoon....

Paul Thompson: Beating Newcastle 1-0 in the first game we played against them this season. We could do the double today but still go down!

QPR v Ipswich Town: QPR make two changes to the side that won at Wolves, with Ariel Borysiuk and Jordan Cousins coming in. Ipswich replace Grant Ward with Josh Emmanuel in their only change.

Sheffield Wednesday v Wolves: Fernando Forestieri is fit to return to the Sheffield Wednesday line-up, while winger Callum McManaman makes his debut after joining on loan from West Brom. Wolves hand a debut to teenage midfielder Connor Ronan as one of three changes to the side beaten by QPR. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Joe Mason also come in. 

Wigan Athletic v Huddersfield Town: Nick Powell has recovered from a hamstring injury in time to replace Andy Kellett in the Wigan line-up. Ryan Colclough is on the bench after being recalled from his loan at MK Dons. Huddersfield make seven changes to their starting line-up. Rajiv van La Parra is out with a knee injury but Joe Lolley is fit to return on the bench after suffeing a foot injury at Aston Villa in August.

Leeds United v Rotherham United: Leeds United make three changes to the team that drew at Aston Villa with Kyle Bartley, Pablo Hernandez and Chris Wood returning. Rotherham make one change to the team that lost to Burton, Kirk Broadfoot replaces Richard Wood in defence.

Norwich City v Derby County: Norwich City are without wing-back Robbie Brady after their appeal against his sending off at Brentford was unsuccessful. Steven Naismith and Wes Hoolahan come into the team. Derby make two changes to the team that drew with Wigan, with Craig Bryson and Matej Vydra replacing Will Hughes and Darren Bent respectively.

Nottingham Forest v Barnsley: Nottingham Forest are without suspended defender Matt Mills while striker Nicklas Bendtner is dropped to the bench. Barnsley make four changes to the XI that drew with Birmingham City, with winger Adam Hammill among those returning to the team.

Final Score

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There's not just EFL action this afternoon, but also six matches in the Premier League as well.

Final Score will be across all the action with reporters at grounds up and down the country.

It's just kicked-off right here at the top of this page and also on the Red Button before Jason Mohammed, Danny Mills and John Hartson pop up on BBC Two as well from 16:00.

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One man who is certainly feeling wanted already this year is Chris Martin.

The on-loan striker is once again missing from the Fulham line-up this afternoon after "making himself unavailable" for Friday's abandoned game at Reading.

Martin is wanted back by boss Steve McClaren at parent club Derby County, but Whites boss Slavisa Jokanovic has said he must respect his contract at Craven Cottage because the club is "not a train station."

But just where will Martin be come the end of the month? Watch this space.

Burton Albion v Preston North End: Burton make one change to the team that beat Rotherham with John Brayford being replaced by Jamie Ward.Preston boss Simon Grayson makes four changes to the team that drew tih Sheffield Wednesday with Eoin Doyle and Jordan Hugill among those recalled.

Cardiff City v Aston Villa: Cardiff welcome back defender Sol Bamvba after his three-match ban and winger Kadeem Harris also returns to the team.Aston Villa are without top scorer Jonathan Kodjia after the Ivory Coast turned down Villa's request for him to be allowed to play in the fixture. Former Cardiff man Ross McCormack takes his place.

Fulham v Brighton & Hove Albion: Fulham have striker Matt Smith back in the starting XI. On-loan Derby man Chris Martin, who has said he wishes to return to the Rams, is not included in the 18. Brighton make one change from their win over QPR, with Jiri Skalak replacing Solly March.

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Birmingham City v Brentford: Gianfranco Zola goes hunting a first win as Birmingham manager with three changes in the shape of Lukas Jutkiewicz, David Cotterill and Robert Tesche all returning. Three changes for Brentford also from the goalless draw against Norwich on New Year's Eve, Yoann Barbet, Lasse Vide and Romaine Sawyers all come in to Dean Smith's side.

Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle United: Jason Lowe and Marvin Emnes return to the starting eleven as the only two changes for Blackburn. Newcastle welcome back Vernun Anita, Mo Diame and Yoann Goufrran to their starting line-up.

Bristol City v Reading: Bristol City make four changes from the 2-1 defeat at Ipswich on Friday. Adam Matthews, Joe Bryan, Korey Smith and Callum O'Dowda get the nod in the starting XI. Reading boss Jaap Stam makes three changes to his side, Paul McShane, Roy Beerens and John Swift all return.

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One game already in progress in today's EFL action is in south-west London in League One.

They've just reached the hour mark at the Cherry Red Records Stadium where AFC Wimbledon and Millwall are level at 2-2.

Lyle Taylor earlier netted the home side's first goal to make it 1-1 either side of strikes for Millwall from Aiden O'Brien and Steve Morison.

Tom Elliott has brought Wimbledon level again on 51 minutes.

Ready for some Championship team news?

On its way shortly, after we've told you about the action that's already started....

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So, 2017 is now officially in full swing and New Year's resolutions have no doubt already been broken up and down the land.

I'm trying to palm off the last boxes of chocolates and biscuits I received on the rest of the office in a bid to kick-start mine as early as possible.

But, after a feast of festive season action over the past 10 days or so, what's been your highlight from the EFL?

Tweet your suggestions via #bbcefl

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It might have escaped your notice with all the New Year's celebrations, but the transfer window has opened once again.

Clubs have the chance to strengthen their squads up until 31 January and while few deals have gone through so far, the speculating has begun with Derby County looking to lure Nottingham Forest's Henri Lansbury across the A52 with a £2.5m offer.

Forest have rejected that offer, but expect that one to rumble on some more.

Keep up to date with all the deals done so far right here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Newcastle returned to the top of the table on Friday night courtesy of a 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest but also due to Brighton's match at home to Cardiff being postponed due to thick fog on the south coast.

Reading match at home to Fulham also fell foul of the weather on Friday when fog forced the game to be abandoned after half-time at 0-0.

Both sides will be hoping for clear skies and three points to kick off their new year in perfect style this afternoon.

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All 15:00 GMT kick-offs:

• Accrington Stanley v Hartlepool United
• Barnet v Plymouth Argyle
• Blackpool v Mansfield Town
• Cambridge United v Notts County
• Carlisle United v Grimsby Town
• Colchester United v Cheltenham Town
• Crawley Town v Yeovil Town
• Doncaster Rovers v Stevenage
• Exeter City v Leyton Orient
• Morecambe v Crewe Alexandra
• Portsmouth v Luton Town
• Wycombe Wanderers v Newport County 

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All 15:00 GMT kick-offs unless stated:

• Wimbledon v Millwall (13:00 GMT)
• Bury v Sheffield United
• Charlton v Bristol Rovers
• Chesterfield v MK Dons
• Coventry v Bolton
• Gillingham v Oxford Utd
• Northampton Town v Bradford City
• Oldham v Port Vale
• Scunthorpe v Peterborough
• Shrewsbury v Fleetwood
• Swindon v Southend
• Walsall v Rochdale