EFL preview: Lampard and Rooney headline Boxing Day bonanza
With all due respect to the other teams in the division, there were a few games that jumped off the page in the second tier, affecting both ends table.
walsall be opposed to doncaster rangers The team is on an 11-game unbeaten run in the league, with four wins, and will need some stopping against a third-placed side who are top of the table.
Nathan Lowe’s 10 league goals have attracted many envious glances at the on-loan Stoke City striker, something that worries Walsall fans.
Given his parent club’s form, it wouldn’t be surprising if Lowe was recalled in January and involved in a Championship relegation battle.
Doncaster made a record-breaking run into the play-offs last season but were exhausted in the play-offs.
They’ve struggled recently with just two wins in their past seven games, but they’re expected to improve this year.
It’s not going to be an easy Christmas for those involved Carlisle United and morecambe Two teams at the bottom of the EFL table meet as they desperately avoid slipping into the National League.
Normally you would find a manager trying to downplay the significance of an isolated game, but Carlisle coach Mike Williamson was almost exaggerating.
“I don’t need to quantify this game, it’s huge,” Williamson told BBC Radio Cumbria.
Cumbrians had already endured the pain of relegation from the EFL in 2004, while Morecambe were only entering their 18th season after winning the play-offs in 2007.
It can be hard to find some holiday cheer for the losers of Brenton Park, so it’s best to wish everyone a Merry Christmas now!
You can follow all EFL coverage on Boxing Day on the BBC Sport website and via dedicated Championship, League One and League Two live text services.
