Summary

  • Reading beat QPR in final EFL game of Boxing Day

  • Leeds score late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Preston at Elland Road

  • Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion conceded late equaliser at Barnsley

  • Stoke scored twice in stoppage time to complete comeback win over Sheffield Wednesday

  • Get involved using #bbcefl on social media

  1. New bosses and familiar facespublished at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    League One preview

    Bristol Rovers have a new manager in place for today's visit of AFC Wimbledon. Former West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace coach Ben Garner has succeeded Graham Coughlin, who left Rovers to join League Two Mansfield.

    Meanwhile, Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson will come up against his former club Bolton today. Parkinson resigned as Wanderers manager in August, with his three-year spell often overshadowed by the club's off-field and financial issues.

    Here's the full list of games in League One, which all kick-off at 15:00 GMT:

    • Blackpool v Accrington Stanley
    • Bristol Rovers v AFC Wimbledon
    • Burton Albion v Tranmere Rovers
    • Ipswich Town v Gillingham
    • Oxford United v Lincoln City
    • Peterborough United v Doncaster Rovers
    • Portsmouth v Wycombe Wanderers
    • Rochdale v Fleetwood Town
    • Shrewsbury Town v Rotherham United
    • Southend United v MK Dons
    • Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers
  2. Blackburn without talisman Dackpublished at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Blackburn v Birmingham (15:00 GMT)

    Bradley DackImage source, Rex Features

    One person who won't be featuring for Blackburn today is Bradley Dack, who suffered what looked to be a serious knee injury in their match against Wigan on Monday.

    Rovers boss Tony Mowbray said the players were "emotional" in the dressing room following the 0-0 draw.

    "I won't say what it might be or what it is. Let's see what a proper diagnosis or scan shows but it doesn't look good," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

  3. Latics aim to build on Blackburn performancepublished at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Wigan v Derby (15:00 GMT)

    Paul CookImage source, Rex Features

    Wigan picked up a point against in-form Blackburn on Monday thanks to an excellent performance away from home.

    However, they still hover around the bottom of the table and a Boxing Day win against Derby would be the perfect Christmas present for Latics boss Paul Cook.

    That being said, Derby have won their past four away league matches against Wigan and have yet to concede in their three most recent meetings.

  4. Terriers love an away goalpublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Middlesbrough v Huddersfield (15:00 GMT)

    Huddersfield are on a fine goalscoring run of form of late and they travel to Middlesbrough aiming to continue their fine run in front of goal.

    The Terriers have scored in each of their past 12 away games in the league - a run that stretches back to their 5-0 defeat by Liverpool in the Premier League in April.

    These two sides last met on Boxing Day in 1997 when Boro took three points thanks to Kevin Gray's own goal.

    Kevin GrayImage source, Rex Features
    Image caption,

    This photograph is tremendously nineties, isn't it? Defender with his head bandaged, and look at that old-school Mitre ball. Those were the days...

  5. Bowyer's Addicks on rough patchpublished at 14:32 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Charlton v Bristol City (15:00 GMT)

    Lee BowyerImage source, Rex Features

    Lee Bowyer's Charlton have hit a rough patch in their season, possibly at the right time as well.

    The Addicks are without a win in their past 11 Championship games and have drawn their past two.

    Bristol City have already beaten Charlton this season at home and will be looking to complete a league double over them for the first time in over 10 years.

  6. Bowen to fire Hull into play-offs?published at 14:30 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Hull v Nottingham Forest (15:00 GMT)

    Jarrod BowenImage source, Rex Features

    Inconsistent they may well be, but Hull do have an ace up their sleeve when they face Nottingham Forest today.

    Jarrod Bowen is in a rich vein of form this season and has been Hull's talisman in recent times.

    Since the beginning of 2017-18, Bowen has been involved in 61 Championship goals; 51 scored by himself, and 10 assists. That's more than any other Championship player.

    With both clubs hovering outside the play-off places, this is sure to be a Christmas cracker.

  7. Harris faces former clubpublished at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Cardiff v Millwall (15:00 GMT)

    Neil HarrisImage source, Rex Features

    Today marks the first meeting of Cardiff and Millwall since ex-Lions boss Neil Harris joined the Bluebirds earlier this season.

    Since making his move to south Wales, Harris has shored up their defence and Gary Rowett's Millwall have a tough task ahead of them if they are to come away with three points.

    Cardiff have only lost one of their past 11 home games in the Championship - which was their defeat by Bristol City in November.

  8. Fulham's poor recent away formpublished at 14:25 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Luton v Fulham (15:00 GMT)

    Aleksandar MitrovicImage source, Rex Features

    West Bromwich Albion and Leeds have been setting a fast pace at the top of the Championship and the rest are trying to cling on to hopes of a top-two finish.

    Fulham are one of those sides, but Scott Parker's team are nine points behind second-placed Leeds in fourth place and come into their trip to Luton off the back of two straight away league defeats.

    Luton have also won their past two Boxing Day games - beating Swindon 5-0 two years ago and Scunthorpe 2-0 last year.

  9. goal

    GOAL: Leyton Orient 0-2 Colchesterpublished at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Harry Pell (65 mins)

    In today's early kick-off in League Two, Colchester have doubled their lead at Leyton Orient.

    Harry Pell has their second, mopping up a rebound from close range to add to Theo Robinson's first-half opener.

  10. Barnsley look to upset Baggiespublished at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Barnsley v West Brom (15:00 GMT)

    Gerhard StruberImage source, Rex Features

    Barnsley have struggled this season but have done well to turn their form around somewhat in their past few games.

    Should they beat top-of-the-table West Bromwich Albion, they would have won three consecutive Championship games for the first time since September 2016.

    Don't write the Tykes off just because they're playing arguably one of the best sides in the league, though - West Brom have won just one of their past 12 away league matches on Boxing Day.

    Can Gerhard Struber cause an upset this afternoon?

  11. Bottom at Christmas, safe in May?published at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Stoke v Sheffield Wednesday (15:00 GMT)

    Joe AllenImage source, Rex Features

    Bottom-of-the-table Stoke have had a torrid season and today welcome a Sheffield Wednesday side who are riding high in third place in the Championship.

    Stoke have won just once in their past six Championship matches and are desperate for a victory which could lift them out of the relegation zone if other results go in their favour.

  12. Swansea's poor Boxing Day recordpublished at 14:16 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Brentford v Swansea (15:00 GMT)

    Steve CooperImage source, Rex Features

    Swansea City don't have an awful lot of festive cheer of late and that might continue as they face in-form Brentford.

    The Swans have a poor recent record on Boxing Day. They have lost their past three matches on this day, scoring once and conceding a whopping 10 goals in that period.

    Brentford welcome their opponents to Griffin Park having won eight of their past 12 Championship matches and four in a row at home.

  13. Championship team newspublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Some selected Championship team news for you...

    • Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross is back from injury to face Sheffield Wednesday.
    • Pontus Jansson returns to Brentford's back line against Swansea after recovering from a hip problem.
    • Charlie Austin and Hal Robson-Kanu both start for leaders West Bromwich Albion against Barnsley.

    For full team news on your game of choice, click here for the full list of fixtures and then select your fixture.

  14. Postpublished at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    #bbcefl

    Those waiting for an update from Crawley will be chuffed to learn that the game against Northampton is ON.

    The pitch passed the inspection.

  15. Down in the dumpspublished at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    #bbcefl

    Bottom six of the Championship table graphicImage source, BBC Sport

    The unfortunate trio of Barnsley, Wigan Athletic and Stoke City are the teams stuck in the Championship's bottom three at this stage of the season.

    The Potters prop up the rest of the division, and have won just one in the past six.

    Wigan haven't won since October and that dismal run has seen them slip into the mire while Barnsley under new boss Gerhard Struber have only just picked up - winning the past two.

    Luton Town are also struggling for form with three straight losses, while Middlesbrough and Huddersfield have a useful buffer from the relegation zone but are still rather uncomfortably close for their liking.

  16. Boom time for Baggiespublished at 14:06 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    #bbcefl

    Championship top six table graphicImage source, BBC Sport

    Plenty of festive cheer around the Hawthorns at the moment as West Bromwich Albion come into the Boxing Day games top of the Championship.

    Slaven Bilic described his side's occupancy of the summit as "great, but a big obligation" as they made it 13 games unbeaten with last weekend's 1-1 draw against Brentford.

    Leeds are tucked nicely behind them, Marcelo Bielsa's Whites just the three points behind.

    Then, it's a wide-open field. QPR in 14th are only five points off the top six, and a hot-streak of four wins in five unbeaten such as that enjoyed by Sheffield Wednesday in third can really ignite a season.

  17. Macclesfield v Grimsby to go aheadpublished at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Macclesfield v Grimsby (15:00 GMT)

    Macclesfield TownImage source, PA Media

    One match that had been in doubt but will be taking place is Macclesfield's League Two fixture against Grimsby.

    The Silkmen's game against Plymouth on Saturday was called off after the financially-troubled club were given a "zero-capacity notice". However, that has now been dropped as safety issues were resolved.

    Had the match not taken place, it would have been the third Macclesfield home game in a row to be called off after their match against Crewe was postponed earlier this month.

    You can read more about the situation at the club here.

  18. Postpublished at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Muddy pitchImage source, Rex Features

    Leyton Orient's pitch looks a bit muddy - no surprise, given the huge amount of rain there's been around the country today.

    Two National League games have been postponed because of the wet weather, but at the moment we've got the all-clear in all 35 of our EFL games today.

    We say "at the moment" because there's a pitch inspection at Crawley happening right now...

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  19. Postpublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    #bbcefl

    Fans arriving at WiganImage source, Rex Features

    Nothing soothes the cotton-wool head, the groaning stomach or the bleary-eyed fatigue of the Christmas season quite like Boxing Day football.

    After a day of celebrating, gifts and perhaps a bit of overindulgence, the fixture schedule of 26 December is a festival of football, a smorgasbord of soccer if you may.

    So stuff the sales, grab some of those leftovers from yesterday's dinner and settle down with us for almost eight hours of EFL action.