Summary

  • Boro thrash Derby after teams reached agreement over compensation claim

  • Two late Bournemouth goals see them win from behind at Blackpool

  • Fulham's Mitrovic equals record with 31st Championship goal in Hull win

  • Barnsley get third win of season, Coventry win thriller at Reading, Forest draw with 10 men

  • Neil draws first Sunderland game, Barrow v Stevenage delayed by power cut

  1. League One previewpublished at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    Alex NeilImage source, Rex Features

    Alex Neil takes charge of Sunderland for the first time today and on paper it looks like a nice start for him as the Black Cats head to strugglers AFC Wimbledon.

    Sunderland dismissed former manager Lee Johnson following a 6-0 thrashing by Bolton and it hasn't got much better since, with a further two defeats.

    Fellow promotion hopefuls Wigan and MK Dons have home fixtures against Charlton and Ipswich respectively, while Wycombe head to Lincoln.

    One of the games to watch out for is Oxford's home fixture against upwardly mobile Bolton.

    Ian Evatt's Trotters have shot up the league after taking 16 points from a possible 18 but the Yellows will be hoping to burst their bubble to consolidate their own promotion ambitions.

    Down at the bottom, there's a crunch game between Morecambe and Gillingham, who occupy 21st and 22nd respectively. The Gills are four points behind the Shrimps, so a win would breathe new life into their hopes of staying up.

  2. Watch Final Scorepublished at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    #bbcefl

    Final ScoreImage source, BBC Sport

    Jason Mohammad is in the Final Score chair this afternoon, with reporters across the grounds and every incident covered.

    You can tune in by following the link at the top of this page.

  3. Championship game of the daypublished at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    Middlesbrough v Derby (15:00 GMT)

    Bobbi Hadgraft
    Squad Goals

    The Riverside is proving a real fortress for Boro at the moment. They’ve won five on the bounce in front of their home crowd. Can they move a step closer to trumping a previous seven-game streak in 2018?

    They’ll have to tackle Wayne Rooney’s Derby County first. The Rams tamed the Tigers in midweek and will look to strengthen their efforts to escape their unhandsome position at the wrong end of the table, blighted by EFL sanctions. A win today could see them climb above struggling Peterborough, with a possible one point between themselves and safety. Derby players’ efforts to salvage the season, despite a 21-point handicap, is awe-inspiring to any fan.

    That’s a task easier said than done. Middlesbrough are experiencing a stunning season, earning a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup alongside sitting just a handful of goals outside the play-offs. It’s that man Chris Wilder who has earned Boro their pass into the exclusive club of promotion hopefuls. They sat 15th prior to a sensational run of form under the ex-Sheffield United gaffer.

    On Wednesday Middlesbrough demonstrated their ability in battle, coming back twice to earn a point against hosts QPR. They’ll be hungry to grab all three today but must summon that fight to counteract Derby’s determination to achieve the impossible.

  4. Off-field developments will 'calm Derby fears'published at 14:42 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    Middlesbrough v Derby (15:00 GMT)

    Ed Dawes
    BBC Radio Derby Sport

    Despite an “accord” being reached between former Rams chairman Mel Morris and Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson, over Boro's compensation claim, the clash at the Riverside Stadium has enormous importance for Derby County.

    They are four points from safety and there is a real belief amongst the fan base that Wayne Rooney can pull off the impossible. Derby have to play several teams around the bottom of the Championship over the next six weeks which could pave the way to survival.

    Ultimately though, the fact that Messrs Morris and Gibson have spoken several times this week to reach an agreement is the most significant part of the story, as it will calm some serious fears in the city of Derby and from supporters up and down the land.

    You get a sense now that there can now be a future for this football club, whatever division they are in. Now it is up to administrators Quantuma to show their hand and push a preferred deal through as fast as possible.

  5. 'Boro don't need any distractions'published at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    Middlesbrough v Derby (15:00 GMT)

    Paul Addison
    BBC Radio Tees

    Boro fansImage source, Getty Images

    It’s fair to say there’ll still be a bit of an edge to the game at the Riverside Stadium, despite the clubs reaching a "resolution" over the compensation claim brought forward by Boro.

    There’s been an awful lot of posts on social media from both sets of fans, which goes back to Boro missing out on a place in the play-offs by just a point to the Rams in 2019.

    Derby were found to have breached financial rules which is where the bad blood stems from.

    Thousands of the home fans had been set to display pictures of chairman Steve Gibson’s head on sticks in a show of support to the club’s owner and as a dig at the former Derby chairman Mel Morris.

    The Boro boss Chris Wilder has repeatedly said in the build-up to the game that he is concentrating solely on the football, which is a very wise course of action.

    They have lost just one in 10 league games and are on the edge of the play-off places.

    Wilder doesn’t need any distractions to get in the way of their excellent form and the brilliant spirit and togetherness in the camp and on Teesside.

  6. What else is on today's menu?published at 14:38 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    Brennan JohnsonImage source, Rex Features

    Forest v Stoke has all the makings of a cracker, with Steve Cooper's side gaining plenty of plaudits and new admirers courtesy of some excellent FA Cup displays.

    Their form has seen them rocket up the league and into the play-off spots, but Stoke have their eyes on promotion too and want a first league double over Forest since the 1954-55 campaign.

    In-form Luton head to Birmingham on a run of five unbeaten, winning their last three, including an FA Cup victory which sets up a fifth round date with Chelsea next month.

    The Blues are not in such sparkling form, they're down in 18th without a win in four, but have lost just two of their last 13 league matches against Luton.

    Cardiff are looking to make it four wins in a row as they travel to Millwall. They have found some form at the right time and now have a 12-point cushion above the danger zone.

    Mid-table Millwall are looking to keep three consecutive home league clean sheets for the first time since April 2018.

    The FA Cup has provided the few bright spots in a season of struggle for Peterborough, who haven't won a league game since 11 December.

    Preston are another side in the pack of teams chasing a play-off spot and Cameron Archer, on loan from Aston Villa, has scored twice in his three away games so far and will be looking to add to his growing reputation.

  7. Reading fans protest before Coventry gamepublished at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    Reading v Coventry (15:00 GMT)

    Reading fans protest ahead of their home match against CoventryImage source, Rex Features

    Seven defeats in a row makes grim reading for a Reading side who are slipping further and further down the Championship table.

    They welcome mid-table Coventry, with fan protests towards the club's owners outside the Select Car Leasing Stadium earlier this afternoon.

    The Royals sit 21st in the league with 22 points, having had six points deducted earlier in the season for breaching EFL profitability and sustainability rules, just two points above the drop zone.

  8. Rock-bottom Barnsley aiming to halt slidepublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    Barnsley v QPR (15:00 GMT)

    Charlie AustinImage source, PA Media

    Bottom of the table Barnsley are aiming to halt a miserable run of six straight Championship defeats when they welcome promotion-chasing QPR to Oakwell.

    The Tykes haven't scored in their last three home games and could face old nemesis Charlie Austin, who has scored eight times in his last nine Championship matches against them and starts on the bench for QPR.

    Rangers are unbeaten in seven league matches and sit fourth in the table, three points off an automatic promotion place. Barnsley are eight points from safety.

    The Hoops have won their last four away league matches, however, Barnsley have won three of the last four games between them at Oakwell.

  9. Can Tigers tame free-scoring Fulham?published at 14:32 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    Hull v Fulham (15:00 GMT)

    Aleksandar MitrovicImage source, Rex Features

    Free-scoring Fulham have been untouchable at times this season and will fancy their chances of more goals and another three points as they head north.

    The Cottagers have scored 77 goals in 29 games this season. That's 30 more than second highest-scorers Bournemouth and 30 is also the number of goals that Championship top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic has netted on his own.

    A change of ownership at the Tigers prompted them into a three-game winning streak in January as they pulled away from danger, but they have lost both of their games in February so far.

    This will be Fulham manager Marco Silva’s first away league match against Hull City since he left the club in the 2016-17 season, with his last game a 7-1 defeat to Spurs - which is the club's heaviest-ever home league defeat.

  10. Cherries getting back on trackpublished at 14:30 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    Blackpool v Bournemouth (15:00 GMT)

    Dominic SolankeImage source, Rex Features

    Scott Parker's Cherries banished the Boreham Wood blues with a victory over Birmingham in midweek, seeing them move back into the automatic promotion places.

    It was the perfect response to their humiliating FA Cup exit at the hands of the non-leaguers last Sunday, and they need to stay on track as we enter a critical phase of the campaign.

    Today they face a Blackpool team with play-off aspirations of their own. The Tangerines may be in 14th but they're only five points outside the top six.

    Bournemouth are unbeaten in four league matches against Blackpool but the hosts have won their last three home league matches, so they will fancy their chances.

  11. Saturday's EFL actionpublished at 14:30 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    Thanks very much Matt, there certainly is plenty to get through so let's take a look at what's coming up, starting with the Championship.

  12. Postpublished at 14:25 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    FT: Huddersfield 0-0 Sheff Utd

    The City GroundImage source, PA Media

    Phew. Breathless that. So much going on.

    And, thankfully the cavalry have arrived too.

    So, welcome to Steve Mather, Chris Peddy and Claire Gould.

    We've got plenty to get through.

  13. FULL-TIMEpublished at 14:21 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2022

    Huddersfield 0-0 Sheff Utd

    Huddersfield v Sheff UtdImage source, Getty Images

    Honours even on a blustery, wet day in West Yorkshire, but both teams will feel they could have had more.

    Huddersfield had a goal disallowed in the first-half, James Linington ruling out Jon Russell's header, and then a penalty claim in the second period when Pipa went down.

    Sheffield United threatened too, particularly in the second period, as Sander Berge and Oli McBurnie had chances bravely denied by Lee Nicholls in the Terriers goal.

  14. Postpublished at 90+3 mins

    Huddersfield 0-0 Sheff Utd

    George Baldock stalks his way down the left for Sheffield United, gets to the box but his clip in is headed away.

    Long throw is hoisted in by Jack Robinson, but headed away by Town.

  15. Postpublished at 90+2 mins

    Huddersfield 0-0 Sheff Utd

    Jon Russell gets his head to a swirling Huddersfield free-kick in the Blades box, but Wes Foderingham skids along the turf near-post to claim it.

    An impressive debut though, for the Terriers man.

  16. YELLOW CARDpublished at 90+1 mins

    Huddersfield 0-0 Sheff Utd

    Crude challenge by John Fleck in midfield, bringing down a runaway Duane Holmes.

    One of those done just to disrupt and annoy. Tactically cynical.

  17. Postpublished at 90 mins

    Huddersfield 0-0 Sheff Utd

    Sheffield United pour forward, Sander Berge swings in a cross but the ball flicks off the heels of John Fleck. You'd have backed him to slap that goalbound.

    Little fine margins stuff has stopped both teams scoring here today.

  18. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 88 mins

    Huddersfield 0-0 Sheff Utd

    Harry Toffolo has come on to steel Huddersfield up against the Blades late on, Danny Ward making way.

  19. Postpublished at 87 mins

    Huddersfield 0-0 Sheff Utd

    Huddersfield have been under the pump but again they romp forward and win a corner, Lewis O'Brien and Danel Sinani combining.

    Wes Foderingham beats away Sorba Thomas' corner with two fists. Had to make that.

  20. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 86 mins

    Huddersfield 0-0 Sheff Utd

    Illiman Ndiaye is on for Sheffield United, with Oli McBurnie off.

    He's earned himself a good Radox bath tonight. Other brands are available.