Summary

  • Wolves drew 2-2 at Millwall and are eight points clear at top of Championship

  • Bristol City beat Reading to go second in table

  • Fulham beat Cardiff 4-2 - Welsh side slipped to third

  • Aston Villa drop out of play-off places after loss at Brentford

  • New boss Tony Pulis watched Middlesbrough beat Bolton 2-0

  1. Villa's festive failingspublished at 19:08 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Brentford v Aston Villa (19:30 GMT)

    Steve BruceImage source, Empics

    It's meant to be the best day of the footballing calendar but Boxing Day has not been kind to travelling Aston Villa fans over the years.

    That's actually an understatement - the Villans have only one won of their past 21 away games on this date, which was a 2-0 victory at Derby in 1999.

  2. Draws at Griffin Parkpublished at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Brentford v Aston Villa (19:30 GMT)

    Andreas BjellandImage source, Getty Images

    It's been a strange old season for Brentford at Griffin Park - despite losing there only once they have only the 16th best home record in the Championship.

    That's because of a league-high seven draws from their 11 games in west London.

    Opponents Aston Villa have shared the spoils in three of their past four matches, so are we expecting things to be even-stevens tonight?

  3. Welcome backpublished at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Brentford v Aston Villa (19:30 GMT)

    Leftovers eaten, drinks drunk and Boxing Day naps taken?

    In that case, welcome back to our Championship live text coverage as Brentford host Aston Villa.

  4. We'll be back...published at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Brentford v Aston Villa (19:30 GMT)

    Not a bad start to the day, was it?

    Fortunately for you lucky football fans, there's still a bit more Championship action to come, as Brentford host Aston Villa in a 19:30 GMT kick-off.

    Josh Hunt will be back at 19:00 GMT with full coverage of that late game.

  5. How they standpublished at 17:13 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Well, as discussed, Bristol City are now up in an automatic promotion spot in the Championship, while Sheffield United are back into the play-off places thanks to their win over Sunderland.

    Championship top sixImage source, BBC Sport

    No change in positions at the foot of the table, where the bottom four all lost and there were draws for Barnsley and Hull...

    Championship bottom sixImage source, BBC Sport
  6. Postpublished at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    So how do today's results affect the Championship table?

  7. League Two full-time scorespublished at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Adebayo AkinfenwaImage source, Rex Features

    League Two's top sides have shown their worth today, with leaders Luton winning 5-0 at Swindon and second-placed Notts County finishing 4-1 victors at Morecambe.

    Lincoln climb to third thanks to their 3-0 victory over visitors Stevenage, while Wycombe are up to fourth after beating Newport.

    Coventry were the only team inside the top seven to lose today, Port Vale picking up a 1-0 win over the Sky Blues.

    • Cambridge 1-0 Barnet
    • Carlisle 3-1 Accrington
    • Cheltenham 0-2 Yeovil
    • Chesterfield 0-2 Crewe
    • Crawley 0-2 Colchester
    • Exeter A-A Forest Green - Match abandoned at half-time.
    • Lincoln 3-0 Stevenage
    • Morecambe 1-4 Notts County
    • Port Vale 1-0 Coventry
    • Swindon 0-5 Luton
    • Wycombe 2-0 Newport
  8. League One full-time scorespublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Jack Marriott scores for Peterborough against BradfordImage source, Rex Features

    The promotion battle between leaders Wigan and second-placed Shrewsbury failed to deliver, with both sides taking a point from a goalless draw.

    Peterborough boosted their play-off hopes with victory at Bradford, while Fleetwood held on at Oldham to claim their first victory since 28 October.

    • Blackburn 2-0 Rochdale
    • Blackpool 2-3 Scunthorpe
    • Bradford 1-3 Peterborough
    • Bury 0-3 Rotherham
    • Doncaster 3-0 Northampton
    • MK Dons 0-1 Plymouth
    • Oldham 1-2 Fleetwood
    • Portsmouth 2-1 Wimbledon
    • Walsall 0-0 Bristol Rovers
    • Wigan 0-0 Shrewsbury
  9. Championship headlinespublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Jamie PatersonImage source, Empics
    • Bristol City beat Reading 2-0 to go second in the Championship.
    • Cardiff lose at home for the first time this season, beaten 4-2 by Fulham, while Derby draw 0-0 at Hull.
    • Wolves will end the day eight points clear at the top of the table after drawing 2-2 at Millwall in the day's early kick-off.
    • Middlesbrough, with new boss Tony Pulis watching in the stand, and managerless Sheffield Wednesday both win on Boxing Day.
  10. Postpublished at 17:01 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    You can hardly be expected to have kept up with all those late twists...

    So have yourselves some full-time headlines from across the EFL.

  11. FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:59 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Cardiff 2-4 Fulham

    A barnstorming match but no consolation for Cardiff, who have dropped out of the Championship's automatic promotion places.

    They did have a buffer over the chasing pack but have fallen below Bristol City and are level on points with Derby.

    Ryan SessegnonImage source, Rex Features
  12. goal

    GOAL: Cardiff 2-4 Fulhampublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Stefan Johansen (90+5 mins)

    A sixth goal in Wales!

    It's not a dramatic equaliser though as Stefan Johansen breaks clear to seal it for Fulham.

    A fifth win in seven is theirs.

  13. FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:56 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Bristol City 2-0 Reading

    The Robins are now Wolves' nearest challengers... unless Cardiff can do something?

    Jamie Paterson's curler and a late deflected effort from Lloyd Kelly seal the points for Lee Johnson's side.

  14. goal

    GOAL: Bristol City 2-0 Readingpublished at 16:54 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Lloyd Kelly (90+3 mins)

    Bristol City look like ending the day in second place.

    Youngster Lloyd Kelly shoots and it goes in via a deflection - they all count.

  15. goal

    GOAL: Cardiff 2-3 Fulhampublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Callum Paterson (90+2 mins)

    Three minutes for Cardiff to find what would be a spectacular leveller.

    It's Callum Paterson who pulls one back for the hosts with a head from just a few yards out.

  16. Postpublished at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Bristol City 1-0 Reading

    Is that to be Reading's last chance of salvaging something?

    Replacement Garath McCleary has a go and his effort falls to Modou Barrow - who is denied by City keeper Frank Fielding.

    Fielding did very well to smother that shot.

  17. Postpublished at 16:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Burton 1-2 Leeds

    Save your nails Leeds fans, you have SIX minutes of stoppage time to hold out.

    Burton aren't exactly knocking on the door but they've won their last two and have hand an air of confidence about them at times today.

  18. Postpublished at 16:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Cardiff 1-3 Fulham

    Are Wolves going to end the day eight points clear at the top of the Championship, or can Cardiff produce something really special in these last five minutes.

    It seems unlikely at best, it must be said.

    Still 0-0 at Ipswich, but QPR have had Josh Scowen sent off for a second bookable offence.

  19. Postpublished at 16:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Bristol City 1-0 Reading

    Reading are pushing for a leveller - throwing Roy Beerens on, but the hosts are still threatening.

    It's that man Aden Flint throwing his weight about up top.

    He gets on the end of Jamie Paterson's corner but his header is saved by Vito Mannone.

  20. goal

    GOAL: Cardiff 1-3 Fulhampublished at 16:38 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Ryan Sessegnon (78 mins)

    Ryan SessegnonImage source, Rex Features

    The 17-year-old has scored against Cardiff again!

    It's a sumptuous ball in from Rui Fonte and Fulham winger Ryan Sessegnon shows his cool - chesting the ball down and calmly slotting in.

    He's played against the Welsh side four times and scored on all four occasions - this result is really opening the door for the likes of Bristol City and Derby.