A cheeky chip attempt from Ilias Chair, nearly had Gavin Bazunu seated from a long way out.

Remember these two sides are in some form.

QPR have won three of their last eight matches. Southampton are on the best unbeaten run in the league, spanning 14 games of which they have won nine. Southampton have won four out of their last five visits to Loftus Road.

In-form Sheffield Wednesday striker Bailey Cadamarteri sees a shot blocked as the home side push for an opener.

The Owls will be spending Christmas in the relegation zone regardless of results today but they're in great nick just now.

If you like your EFL football with more of a League One and Two flavour then we've got you covered over here.

Bolton are already THREE goals to the good at home to Leyton Orient as they look to get their Championship promotion push back on track.

As Brent just mentioned Birmingham are indeed forced into an early change in the aftermath of that collision.

Lee Buchanan is taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Manny Longelo.

Image source, Rex Features

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport at Home Park

Long stoppage here already at Home Park.

Blues' Jay Stansfield and Lee Buchanan went up together for a high ball and clashed in the air, Buchanan has needed a lot of treatment.

He is conscious but is going to be taken off on a stretcher as a precaution.

It's going to add at least seven or eight minutes to this first half.

There's an extended break in play at Home Park after a collision between two Birmingham players.

Jay Stansfield and Lee Buchanan collide and Buchanan is still down. His afternoon might be over already.

Heck of a task for Rotherham today at the league leaders.

The division's bottom side have not won away in the whole of 2023.

If they fail to pull off a shock win today then they will become the first team in the top four tiers to go a full calendar year without a success on the road since QPR in 2012.

Great early chance for Isaiah Jones as he is slipped through by Morgan Rogers.

Alex Palmer, making Albion appearance number 50 today, saves with his legs.

So then, we've seen Leeds give their fans plenty of Christmas cheer thanks to their demolition of Ipswich in the early kick off.

What would be the best present your club could give you this Christmas?

Let us know using #bbcefl on social media.

Right then, let's get going.

We are getting under way across the Championship.

Andrew Sixsmith
Final Score at the Stadium of Light

A sea of red and white expected at Sunderland today - apt, given the time of year - for Michael Beale’s first game in charge.

But Black Cat supporters doubt he’s the ‘real Beale’ describing his appointment as ‘underwhelming’ Beale’s picked 18-year old Jobe Bellingham in the starting lineup today, who’ll be watched by brother Jude - on his Christmas holidays from Real Madrid!

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport at Home Park

Image source, BBC Sport

The start of an interregnum period at Plymouth begins with the visit of Birmingham City this afternoon.

Home fans are already in good voice as they hope to inspire their side to a win in a week which has seen them lose much-loved manager Steven Schumacher to Stoke City.

Director of football Neil Dewsnip will have Wayne Rooney - a player he coached as a youngster at Everton - across him in the dugout.

And while there might be little pressure on Dewsnip, it's starting to grow on Rooney after two wins in the last 11 games.

Image source, Rex Features

Newly-appointed Sunderland head coach Michael Beale will take charge of his first match this afternoon. The former Queens Park Rangers and Rangers gaffer inherits a side just one place below the play-offs, but can he win over the fans who are still disgruntled over Tony Mowbray's sacking?

The Black Cats will be looking to record their third straight home win following recent victories over West Brom and Leeds - a feat they last achieved over 18 months ago.

The only defeat in the last seven matches for Coventry was their last fixture at Ipswich. Mark Robins’ side have collected 27 points from 22 games and currently sit 15th as club record signing Haji Wright and fellow forward Matt Godden lead Cov's goalscoring charts with six each so far.

Sunderland have lost just two out of 21 of the home meetings between these two sides in all competitions.

Image source, Rex Features

Steven Schumacher arrives at struggling Stoke City with the Potters without a win in eight Championshop games.

The 39-year-old joined from Plymouth Argyle this week having spent two years with the Pilgrims and leading them to the League One title last season.

His first duty in charge of his new side is today's game against fellow strugglers Millwall, themselves in the mire towards the bottom of the table.

The Lions have lost their past three away league games but they have good fortune against Stoke, with today's hosts winning in just one of their past 10 league meetings.

Image source, Getty Images

It looked like Danny Rohl was on a hiding to nothing when the rookie boss took over at Sheffield Wednesday in October.

They'd made the worst start to a league season in their history under Xisco Munoz and their chances of staying in the second tier were already looking slim.

The German has completely revitalised the whole club though and they're now not only no longer bottom but could climb to within three points off escaping the relegation zone with a win today.

Visitors Cardiff are going in the other direction just now, the Welsh side have won just two of their past eight.

Image source, Getty Images

QPR have won three of their past five league matches and drew another in that spell too.

Southampton are on the best unbeaten run in the league, spanning 14 games of which they have won nine. Southampton have won four out of their past five visits to Loftus Road.

Less than two months into his QPR boss tenure, Martí Cifuentes stated in his pre-match press conference on Friday: "We have been focused on approaching games fearlessly. That type of mindset is really important to me."

So although the Saints are favourites it will be interesting to see how they cope with the resurgent R's who will be 'fearless' in their own intimidating fortress, where they are unbeaten in four.

Image source, Rex Features

Back in early November when his Norwich side fell to a 3-1 home defeat by Blackburn it seemed very unlikely that David Wagner would still be in charge of the Canaries come this meeting with his former side Huddersfield.

This is the time of year for miracles though and four wins and two draws from their past seven have lifted Norwich back into play-off contention and quietened some of the noise around Wagner's future.

The German enjoyed a brilliant spell with Town between 2015 and 2019 and led them to the Premier League for the first time in 2017.

That all feels like a long time ago now though and the West Yorkshire side arrive in Norfolk fearing a Christmas in the relegation zone.

Image source, Rex Features

A meeting between two teams level on points and both in need of a win to lift themselves further away from the drop zone.

Managerless Plymouth start life without former boss Steven Schumacher with the visit of Wayne Rooney's Birmingham City.

The Pilgrims are unlikely to recruit a replacement for Schumacher until January according to director of football Neil Dewsnip, who is taking control of first team affairs alongside first-team coach Kevin Nancekivell.

Birmingham, who have won just twice in their past 11 games, travel to Home Park having beaten Cardiff in their most recent away game - yet they haven't won on their travels in successive games since September 2022.

Marc Webber
Final Score at Carrow Road

Image source, Marc Webber

Will the ghost of Christmas Past come to haunt Huddersfield as manager Darren Moore looks for his third win since taking charge late September?

Former Terrier David Wagner has done enough lately to keep the wolves from his door.

With only one defeat in seven after a string of losses, the Norwich boss is getting the results, even if the performances haven’t been dazzling.