EFL Championship Boxing Day Review

Boxing Day in England’s second tier was as entertaining as ever, with goals, red cards and surprise results.

Here is a review of some of the gripping fixtures that took place:

Birmingham City 1-1 Derby County

Promotion hopefuls Birmingham dropped more points, this time to Midland rivals Derby County at St. Andrews.

The Blues were in the ascendancy straight from the off, however it was the visitors who struck against the run of play with Patrick Agyemang’s goal.

Joe Ward made Derby’s task of holding onto their lead an uphill battle as he was sent off just as half time approached.

As expected, Birmingham threw the kitchen sink at Derby and found their leveller through Jack Robinson.

Birmingham continued to probe but unsuccessfully until Christoph Klarer saw red late on to even up the numbers. Birmingham now without a win in five.

Coventry 1-0 Swansea

At stages of the season like this, even 1-0 wins when you haven’t been at your best are vitally important for Coventry. The Sky Blues now eight points clear of Middlesbrough and thirteen clear of 3rd-placed Ipswich.

Coventry had the lions share of play and got their reward at a perfect time, just a minute before half-time through Ephron Mason-Clark.

Swansea began to stamp their authority in the second-half without truly testing Carl Rushworth. Disappointment for Vitor Matos and his side but not season-defying losing to what is turning out to be the runaway leaders.

Leicester 1-2 Watford

The pressure on Marti Cifuentes was growing extremely, a thin line that was made even thinner after a home defeat to Watford.

Jordan James struck early for the Foxes and Watford rallied from there, restoring parity just on half-time through Othame Maamma.

Matthew Pollock turned the game on its head, nodding home Watford’s second. The King Power marauding into jeers.

Oxford 2-1 Southampton

Oxford exited the relegation zone, defeating play-off hopefuls Southampton.

After the change of manager and therefore momentum, Oxford put on a show at home and took the lead through Irishmen Tyler Goodrham.

Southampton levelled proceedings through Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Just like their game against Norwich, the Saints failed to hold onto a result against sides near the bottom, and Stanley Mills netted Oxford’s winner as the clock struck ninety.

Wrexham 5-3 Sheffield United

By far the game of the day in the later kick-off, Wrexham and Sheffield United produced an eight-goal thriller in Wales.

Patrick Bamford netted twice – his first a crisp, well-orchestrated volley – and Callum O’Hare claimed one, sandwiching Tyler Bindon’s own-goal as the Blades raced into a 3-1 lead.

A theme of their season has been a good attack but fragility in defence, and this was the case again.

Former Sheffield United man Kieffer Moore grabbed himself a brace, with goals from Ryan Longman and Josh Windass sealing a vital win for Wrexham.