Summary

  • League One leaders Portsmouth drew with lowly Fleetwood, while second-placed Peterborough beat Shrewsbury

  • Wrexham beat Newport 2-0 in one of Saturday's six League Two matches

  • Dean Lewington of MK Dons equalled record for most appearances made for a single EFL club

  • League Two's bottom club Sutton, who sacked manager Matt Gray on Tuesday, lost at home to Mansfield

  1. Postpublished at 16:06 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Portsmouth 1-0 Fleetwood

    As things stand, Portsmouth are heading for a half century of points and a nine-point lead at Christmas.

    They'll want a second goal in this one to make sure of all three points, though.

  2. SECOND HALFpublished at 16:03 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    #bbcefl

    Phil Parkinson stands on the touchlineImage source, PA Media

    Who is going to claim the bragging rights in the Welsh derby between Wrexham and Newport?

    All to play for in that one and in most of the 16 League One and Two games as the second halves are set to begin.

  3. League Two half-time headlinespublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    #bbcefl

    • Wrexham and Newport are goalless at the interval in the Welsh derby at Stok Racecourse - it's the only League Two game without a goal so far today.
    • MK Dons lead 1-0 at Morecambe, on the day visiting defender Dean Lewington equals the record for the most appearances made for a single EFL club.
    • Managerless bottom club Sutton are 1-0 behind at home to Mansfield.
    • Harrogate and Swindon also lead 1-0 in their respective matches, while Walsall equalised just before half-time at Accrington with a Freddie Draper penalty.
  4. League One half-time headlinespublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    #bbcefl

    • Bolton stunned Leyton Orient with three goals in the opening 10 minutes and Ian Evatt's men are well on course to end their two-game losing streak.
    • Colby Bishop's stoppage-time penalty has given leaders Portsmouth the advantage against Fleetwood.
    • High-flying Peterborough and Oxford are both being held goalless at the break by Shrewsbury and Northampton respectively.
    • Lloyd Jones has given Charlton the lead at home to Burton, while Bristol Rovers fell behind at Blackpool before John Marquis levelled soon after for the Gas.
    • Barnsley also went behind before grabbing an equaliser through John McAtee at home to Stevenage.
    • Femi Azeez's excellent strike sees Reading lead Wigan.
    • Liam Sercombe's goal has put Cheltenham's noses in front at Carlisle.
    • Wycombe could go a 10th league game without a win unless they can break the deadlock against Port Vale in the second half.
  5. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Barnsley 1-1 Stevenage

    John McAtee has cancelled out Luther Wildin's early goal for Stevenage.

    This match could go either way in the second half.

  6. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Reading 1-0 Wigan

    A half largely devoid of real quality exploded into life with Femi Azeez's sizzling effort on 34 minutes.

    His superb hit from 20 yards seared past Sam Tickle, who could've done with the arms of his famous Mister Men namesake, into the net.

    Charlie Wyke, starting today after his goal from the bench last week, has had Wigan's best moments but the Latics have struggled to pose much of a threat.

    Reading halfway to a real morale-booster.

  7. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Wrexham 0-0 Newport

    Wrexham and Newport players challenge for the ballImage source, PA Media

    It's sometimes the way - you get all the hype of an hotly-anticipated local (ish) derby but the game doesn't quite match up to it all.

    So far that's the tale of the tape at Wrexham, where the blustery conditions haven't made it easy for either side.

    Wrexham keeper Arthur Okonkwo has made some smart stops to deny Will Evans and Seb Palmer-Houlden.

    Waiting for this one to really spark though.

  8. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Sutton 0-1 Mansfield

    The Stags are good value for their lead in that first 45 minutes.

    Stephen Quinn's header from an acute angle from Callum Johnson's deep cross is enough to give them the advantage at the break.

    The half ended in a bit of a flurry with both sides hitting the woodwork.

    First Mansfield top scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn curled a delicious 25-yarder onto the face of the bar before Sutton's best chance fell to Harry Smith whose header was feathered on to the bar by Christy Pym.

  9. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Portsmouth 1-0 Fleetwood

    It took a while but Colby Bishop's injury-time penalty has the League One leaders in front.

    It will surely change the complexion of Lee Johnson's Fleetwood team-talk.

  10. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Carlisle 0-1 Cheltenham

    That Liam Sercombe goal has the bottom side ahead at the break.

    The Robins have that priceless cushion to hang on to in the next 45 minutes. Much work to do for Carlisle.

  11. goal

    GOAL: Portsmouth 1-0 Fleetwoodpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Colby Bishop (45+3 mins)

    Colby Bishop scores for PortsmouthImage source, Rex Features

    Pompey's top scorer makes no mistake!

    Colby Bishop with goal number 12 of the season and the League One leaders are in front.

  12. PENALTYpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Portsmouth 0-0 Fleetwood

    No surprise to hear that Abu Kamara is involved again.

    He drives into the box and his shot hits Brendan Wiredu and it is adjudged to be handball.

  13. Postpublished at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Portsmouth 0-0 Fleetwood

    Niall McCaughan
    BBC Final Score at Fratton Park

    Pompey have had the better of it here at Fratton Park but patience feels the key for the League One leaders against Fleetwood.

    Abu Kamara just hit the post with a curling effort and that injected a few extra decibels in to this Portsmouth crowd.

    Fleetwood are operating on the counter but finding little joy so far. It feels a matter of when not if for Pompey, especially with how dangerous they are from set-pieces.

  14. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Portsmouth 0-0 Fleetwood

    The closest Portsmouth have come to a goal and it is Abu Kamara again.

    He curls a shot past goalkeeper Jay Lynch, but his effort comes back off the woodwork.

  15. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Sutton 0-1 Mansfield

    Mansfield turned up the heat on the bottom club and only the frame of the goal has stopped Sutton from falling further behind.

    Top scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn denied a 13th of the season after his superb effort from 25 yards hits the bar.

  16. Postpublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Carlisle 0-1 Cheltenham

    It is just two points from six games before today for Carlisle and they are struggling to get a foothold in this match.

    They need reinforcements in January and have a bit of money to spend, but manager Paul Simpson will want more in the second half.

  17. Postpublished at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Portsmouth 0-0 Fleetwood

    Portsmouth players disappointedImage source, Rex Features

    It's got the feel of a top versus bottom meeting in most leagues these days with the top side having much more of the ball.

    But no efforts on target for Portsmouth as Fleetwood set their stall out to frustrate them.

  18. GREAT SAVE!published at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Barnsley 1-1 Stevenage

    It is almost two in a couple of minutes for John McAtee and Barnsley, but this time Taye Ashby-Hammond makes a big save in a one-on-one with the forward.

  19. goal

    GOAL - Reading 1-0 Wiganpublished at 15:36 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    Femi Azeez (34 mins)

    The Royals take the lead with an absolute ripper!

    Femi Azeez still has a bit to do when he gets the ball from Lewis Wing 20 yards out but produces a strike as pure as a Christmas-card snowdrift.

    It flies past Sam Tickle.

    Sweet. As.

    Femi Azeez celebratesImage source, Rex Features
  20. goal

    GOAL: Barnsley 1-1 Stevenagepublished at 15:36 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2023

    John McAtee (32 mins)

    Barnsley don't usually draw a blank. And they haven't done here!

    A bit of brilliance from John McAtee brings them level as he spots Stevenage goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond off his line and finds the vacant net from Callum Styles' long ball forward.