Summary

  • Fans back at six games across Championship, League One & League Two

  • Luton, Wycombe, Charlton, Shrewsbury, Carlisle & Cambridge all hosted supporters

  • Hatters beat Championship leaders Norwich 3-1

  • Also wins for Middlesbrough, Blackburn & Stoke

  • Watford draw at Nottm Forest, Reading held by 10-man Sheff Wed

  1. Team news from the Riversidepublished at 18:54 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    Middlesbrough v Swansea (19:00 GMT)

    Middlesbrough make three changes, as Sam Morsy, Duncan Watmore and Chuba Akpom replace Anfernee Dijksteel, George Saville and Britt Assombalonga.

    Visitors Swansea also change three, from their impressive win at Nottingham Forest, with Kyle Naughton, Jake Bidwell and Matt Grimes all dropping to the bench.

    Boro XI: Bettinelli, Spence, Fry, McNair, Bola, Howson, Morsy, Watmore, Tavernier, Johnson, Akpom.

    Swans XI: Woodman, Guehi, Bennett, Cabango, Roberts, Smith, Fulton, Palmer, Manning, Lowe, Ayew.

  2. Tonight's Championship actionpublished at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    And in the Championship tonight we've got some huge games, with four of the top six in action (all times GMT):

    • Middlesbrough v Swansea (19:00)
    • Blackburn v Millwall
    • Luton v Norwich
    • Nottingham Forest v Watford
    • Sheff Wed v Reading
    • Wycombe v Stoke
  3. Tonight's League Two actionpublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    We've got three matches in League Two this evening and only one of them - Walsall v Stevenage - will be played without any spectators. Here's the line-up (all times GMT):

    • Carlisle United v Salford City (19:00)
    • Walsall v Stevenage (19:00)
    • Cambridge United v Mansfield Town (19:45)
  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:45 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    #bbcefl

    Joseph Whiteaker: I'm on my way to watch the might @wwfcofficial, external for the first time in the Championship! I couldn't be much more excited. It has been a long wait!

    Colo: I'll be cheering on @NorwichCityFC, external from my home in Norwich. Would love it if the injury-ravaged Canaries could get a result at @LutonTown, external, although I'd settle for a draw and 11 games unbeaten. Amazing to see the fans back, even if they're not cheering for us!

  5. When you go to the wrong ground...published at 18:42 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Peterborough

    Speaking of that early kick-off at Plough Lane...

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    ... But all's well that ends well, eh?

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  6. Tonight's League One actionpublished at 18:40 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    There are five games in League One tonight, three of which are behind closed doors. Leaders Hull could extend their advantage at the top of the table to four points, if they beat Doncaster. Here's what's coming up (all kick-off times GMT). Our first game is already under way...

    • AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Peterborough (38 minutes gone)
    • Bristol Rovers v Gillingham (19:00)
    • Hull v Doncaster (19:00)
    • Charlton v MK Dons (19:45, with up to 2,000 fans)
    • Shrewsbury v Accrington (19:45, with up to 2,000 fans)
  7. Masks onpublished at 18:38 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    Carlisle v Salford (19:00 GMT)

    We mentioned earlier that, by virtue of their 19:00 GMT kick-off, Carlisle fans would be the lucky first few to watch their side in league action post-lockdown...

    Carlisle fansImage source, Rex Features

    ... And, complete with masks, quite a few have already started to turn up at Brunton Park.

  8. 'Welcome back'published at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    Carlisle v Salford City (19:00 GMT)

    Mike Minay
    BBC Radio Manchester

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  9. Do you care more about your team now than pre-Covid?published at 18:34 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    Further to the poll we mentioned a little while ago at 18:31, the data also showed that:

    • About half of football fans who regularly attended matches before the pandemic said they would return to watch their team regularly before a vaccine was available, while 12% said they would never go back without a vaccine.
    • 28% said they cared more about their team now than before the Covid-19 pandemic.
    • Younger fans (18-34) were more likely to say they cared more for their club since the coronavirus outbreak.
    • Fans are split over who should bear the financial responsibility of ensuring clubs' survival.

    You can find more detail here.

  10. Parking uppublished at 18:31 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    Wycombe v Stoke (19:45 GMT)

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    If you've ever been to Adams Park, you'll know its stadium car park offers one of the best views of a ground from a car park anywhere in the EFL. What a backdrop that is.

  11. Postpublished at 18:29 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    Charlton v MK Dons (19:45 GMT)

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    I really want to know what's in that hot cup... Tea, hot chocolate... Bovril?

  12. 'We've missed the fans a lot'published at 18:25 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    Media caption,

    England captain and Spurs striker on the return of supporters to the Premier League.

    England skipper Harry Kane has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 live about how much footballers have missed having fans in the stadiums.

  13. Poll finds division among supporterspublished at 18:21 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    Despite tonight's excitement for many, a BBC Sport poll suggests fans are divided over whether they should be allowed to return before a Covid-19 vaccine is rolled out.

    In a Savanta ComRes poll of 2,100 football fans, 52% said they should be allowed to return to watch matches in person before a vaccine is available, while 45% said they should not.

    You can read more here.

  14. On their way inpublished at 18:19 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    Wycombe v Stoke (19:45 GMT)

    Adams ParkImage source, Rex Features

    Now then, this line outside Wycombe's Adams Park might not be quite as long as the queues seen outside stores of a well-known high street fashion chain this morning, but this is still a queue, folks.

    A queue of people arriving at a football ground. You love to see it!

  15. get involved

    Get Involved via #bbceflpublished at 18:13 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    If you are heading to a game tonight, we'd love to hear from you.

    How does it feel? How dusty was that bronx hat? How lovely and green does that grass look?

    Or, if you're watching from afar back home, please also let us know who you're backing tonight and where from. How much are you looking forward to returning to your home ground?

    You can have your say via #bbcefl on social media.

  16. Why are some fans back while others aren't?published at 18:10 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    Tonight's return of a small number of supporters come as clubs in certain areas of England have been allowed a limited number of fans into their stadiums following a relaxation of coronavirus restrictions.

    The nationwide lockdown in England ended at midnight last night, meaning clubs in tier one of the new restrictions can have up to 4,000 fans at matches, with up to 2,000 allowed at games in tier-two areas.

    If you live in a tier-three area, spectators aren't allowed at any sporting events yet. Additionally, some clubs in tier two are still in talks with their local authorities.

    We should also remind you - the new rules allow only home supporters to attend. So there are no away fans at any games tonight.

  17. Which games will fans be at tonight?published at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    And those games in question are the following six, where very limited crowds have been permitted (all times GMT):

    Championship

    Luton v Norwich (19:45)

    Wycombe v Stoke (19:45)

    League One

    Charlton v MK Dons (19:45)

    Shrewsbury v Accrington (19:45)

    League Two

    Carlisle v Salford City (19:00)

    Cambridge v Mansfield (19:45)

    That means that Carlisle's Brunton Park will be the first EFL ground to welcome back supporters, with their earlier kick-off.

  18. FANS. ARE. BACK.published at 18:02 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    CarlisleImage source, Reuters

    Here's a sight we've not seen for a fair while. This lucky fella collected a ticket for tonight's match at Carlisle, and he's in.

    Let's hope there are some good games tonight, for those able to see them in person.

  19. The long, long wait is overpublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2020

    After 266 long, long days, the big night has come. Yes, some football fans will return to English Football League games this evening. It's been quite a wait!

    For many of us, it's still too soon. If you live in 'tier three', the exile continues. And even for those lucky few, capacities have been greatly reduced for safety reasons.

    But for around 10-12,000 lucky supporters across the country, tonight will be a night they will probably never forget, as football takes a big, symbolic step on the slow, lengthy road back to normality.

    Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of tonight's EFL fixtures.