Summary

  • Luton into top half with late win over Norwich with 10 men

  • Struggling Cardiff held by below-par QPR

  • Sheff Utd beat Coventry 3-1 to go level on points with Burnley at top of Championship

  • Akpom hits hat-trick as Middlesbrough thrash Wigan

  • Championship's bottom side Huddersfield come from behind to win at Preston

  • Wins for Millwall, Sunderland and West Brom

  • Plymouth win at Cheltenham to stay top of League One

  1. Thanks and goodbyepublished at 21:58 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2022

    #bbcefl

    Luton striker Cauley WoodrowImage source, Rex Features

    That's as far as we go here on this bumper Boxing Day EFL live text.

    We've had a bit of everything across the leagues, all rounded off nicely with Luton claiming a dramatic late win with 10 men against Norwich City.

    Sheffield United claimed a 3-1 win over Coventry City to go level on points with Championship leaders Burnley.

    At the foot of the table, Huddersfield came from behind to win 2-1 at Preston and boost their flagging survival hopes.

    We'll be back with more live text action tomorrow at 17:00 GMT when Reading host Swansea.

    Hope you can join us then and thanks for your company today.

    Cheers!

  2. The story of the day in the Championshippublished at 21:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2022

    Sheffield UnitedImage source, Rex Features
    • Luton claimed all three points in Rob Edwards' first home game in charge with a 2-1 success over Norwich in the final game of the day.
    • Earlier in the day, Sheffield United went level on points with league leaders Burnley thanks to a 3-1 win over Coventry City.
    • Third-placed Blackburn fell to a late 2-1 defeat at Sunderland and fourth-placed Watford were beaten 2-0 at home by Millwall.
    • Upwardly mobile Middlesbrough thumped Wigan 4-1 and West Brom win 2-0 at Bristol City to continue their good form.
    • Bottom side Huddersfield fought back from a goal down to win at Preston and give their survival hopes a much-needed boost.
    • Rotherham and Stoke played out a 2-2 draw and it ended 1-1 between strugglers Hull City and Blackpool.
    • It ended goalless between QPR and struggling Cardiff.
  3. 'Not a nice place to be'published at 21:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2022

    FT: Luton 2-1 Norwich

    Leon Barnett
    Former Luton and Norwich defender on BBC Radio Norfolk

    It's simply not good enough

    Dean Smith wanted an away game, he got an away game and he still can't produce.

    The players will be frustrated not to get anything out of the game, they'd have been delighted with a 1-1.

    It's not a nice place to be at the moment.

  4. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:41 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2022

    Luton 2-1 Norwich

    Luton celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    Ten-man Luton claim a dramatic win in Rob Edwards' first home game in charge.

    The home side took the lead through Allan Campbell's strike before Teemu Pukki levelled.

    Gabriel Osho was sent off for the Hatters and it looked like the Canaries could turn it around but substitute Cauley Woodrow lashed in a fine late winner on his first appearance since 17 September.

    Isaac Hayden had a shot cleared off the line for the away side right at the death but it's now three defeats in four for them and the fans voiced their displeasure with boss Dean Smith once again.

  5. Postpublished at 90+5 mins

    Luton 2-1 Norwich

    The Norwich fans are chanting against boss Dean Smith once more.

    The Canaries are fifth but a defeat tonight will be three in four and they are 12 points off the top two.

  6. Postpublished at 90+3 mins

    Luton 2-1 Norwich

    Max Aarons does well to dig out a cross from the right but Kenny McLean can only tamely direct an awkward header straight at Ethan Horvath in the home goal.

  7. Postpublished at 90 mins

    Luton 2-1 Norwich

    A minimum of six minutes added on.

    Can Norwich hit back again against the 10 men?

  8. Postpublished at 21:35 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2022

    Luton 2-1 Norwich

    Leon Barnett
    Former Luton and Norwich defender on BBC Radio Norfolk

    That's outrageous.

    Cauley Woodrow has been out for so long and is allowed to do that.

    He's rocketed it past Angus Gunn but it shouldn't happen - Norwich have to defend the throw-in better.

  9. goal

    GOAL: Luton 2-1 Norwichpublished at 89 mins

    Cauley Woodrow

    Luton scoreImage source, Rex Features

    Have the 10 men won it?!

    Luton brought Cauley Woodrow on a few moments ago to help bring some more energy to the top end of the pitch... well, he's done a bit more than that!

    The former Barnsley man takes the ball in well on the edge of the area and then hits a rocket into the top corner.

    Could this be the end for Norwich gaffer Dean Smith?

  10. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 85 mins

    Luton 1-1 Norwich

    Luton bring some fresh legs on up front.

    Cauley Woodrow is on and Carlton Morris is off.

  11. Postpublished at 85 mins

    Luton 1-1 Norwich

    Luton are battling away to stay in this.

    They looked like they were well set to take all three points when Allan Campbell gave them the lead but Teemu Pukki's equaliser changed the momentum of this game entirely before Gabriel Osho was sent off a few minutes ago.

    The Hatters would gladly take a point now you'd say, as Onel Hernandez hammers a shot past the post for the away side.

  12. Postpublished at 81 mins

    Luton 1-1 Norwich

    Adam Idah smashes the free-kick past the post as Norwich look to inflict maximum punishment on the home side following that red card for Gabriel Osho.

  13. Postpublished at 21:26 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2022

    Luton 1-1 Norwich

    Leon Barnett
    Former Luton and Norwich defender on BBC Radio Norfolk

    I think Gabriel Osho got caught underneath the ball.

    He's marking Teemu Pukki, who spins in behind - Osho gets himself in a horrible position and has no choice but to grab on to Pukki's shirt.

  14. RED CARD - Gabriel Osho (Luton)published at 80 mins

    Luton 1-1 Norwich

    Gabriel Osho sent offImage source, Rex Features

    Gabriel Osho pulls Teemu Pukki back 20 yards from goal and he is given his marching orders for a second yellow.

    Can the away side capitalise?

  15. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 78 mins

    Luton 1-1 Norwich

    Another Luton sub now.

    Goalscorer Allan Campbell is off and Luke Freeman is on.

    Good showing from the former Motherwell man.

  16. Postpublished at 21:21 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2022

    Luton 1-1 Norwich

    Leon Barnett
    Former Luton and Norwich defender on BBC Radio Norfolk

    Norwich have looked more positive since Luton went ahead.

    It seems to have put a rocket up their backsides.

  17. SUBSTITUTIONSpublished at 75 mins

    Luton 1-1 Norwich

    Norwich go their bench for the second time tonight.

    Isaac Hayden and Onel Hernandez are on for the final 15 minutes.

  18. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Luton 1-1 Norwich

    Two great chances for the home side, two great chances for Tom Lockyer!

    James Bree slings in a brilliant corner that Lockyer conspires to somehow head all the way back to the former Aston Villa man.

    Bree then hangs over another great cross and this time Lockyer heads it in the right direction but over the crossbar.

  19. Postpublished at 71 mins

    Luton 1-1 Norwich

    What have the final 20 minutes of the day got in store for us?

    Can the Canaries find a late winner to take some of the pressure off boss Dean Smith.

  20. goal

    GOAL: Luton 1-1 Norwichpublished at 69 mins

    Teemu Pukki

    Game on!

    Norwich striker Teemu Pukki levels with a rifled shot from 15 yards out.

    Ben Gibson marauds forward out of defence and then slips the ball through to Pukki to do the rest.

    The Finn is aided by a slip from Dan Potts but his finish was as true as they come.