A bumper Boxing Day schedule of Championship action is headlined by Queens Park Rangers v Swansea City.
League leaders QPR and 4th place Swansea will be looking for a win that helps their promotion fight going into a hectic Christmas period that will see most teams playing four games in only 10 days.
Leeds United have climbed up to second place on the back of a nine game unbeaten run, and will be looking to extend that good form when they travel to face Leicester City. In other action at the top end of the table, 3rd place Cardiff City will play host to 6th place Coventry City.
At the relegation end of the table, Crystal Palace can escape the bottom three with a win over high flying Norwich City. Sheffield United will face Hull City with both teams looking for three points that would help them climb away from the relegation fight.
Middlesbrough’s game with Nottingham Forest, and the bottom of the table clash between Scunthorpe United and Preston North End have been postponed due to freezing weather conditions.
Crystal Palace will be looking to end a three game winless streak and climb out of the relegation zone when they play host to promotion chasing Norwich City. The Canaries currently sit in 5th place and are only two points away from the automatic promotion spots.
Crystal Palace have injury doubts regarding Pablo Counago and Alex Marrow, the pair will receive late fitness tests before kickoff.
Suspended defender Leon Barnett will be missing for Norwich, while Russell Martin and Wes Hoolahan are both questionable.
The Canaries’ 11 goal top scorer Grant Holt will relish the prospect of going up against the leagues leakiest defense. Palace have conceded 40 goals so far this seasonand will have their hands full with an attacking Norwich team.
League leading Queens Park Rangers will play host to fourth place Swansea City in a key promotion clash at Loftus Road. Surprisingly in a meeting of first against fourth, both teams enter this game in relatively poor form. QPR have suffered back to back defeats, while the Swans have won only one of their last five games.
QPR Manager Neil Warnock could be boosted by the availability of midfielder Alejandro Faurlin, while veteran midfielder Gavin Mahon is available after signing a short term contract this week.
Swansea have no new injuries but Manager Brendan Rodgers told BBC Sport he will be rotating his squad over a hectic Christmas period that sees Swansea play four games in nine days. Darren Pratley, David Cotterill and Stephen Dobbie are all fringe players who will likely feature in those changes.
Due to weather postponements, Portsmouth will be playing their first home game since November 13th when they play host to Millwall on Boxing Day. The two teams are level on points and will be looking for victory to close the six point gap between them and the playoff places.
Carl Dickinson will return for a Pompey team that is looking for their third straight win. Defender Greg Halford is suspended for yellow card accumulation, Joel Ward is the likely replacement.
Millwall will be looking to continue a four game unbeaten streak, but must do so without Captain Paul Robinson who is out with a hamstring injury.
Kevin Lisbie and Liam Trotter could both return from injury to boost the Lions.
Seventh place Reading will be looking to extend a six game unbeaten run when they play host to Bristol City on Boxing Day. Bristol are only five points above the relegation zone, and had a previously good run of form ended when they lost 2-0 at Hull City last time out.
Reading Captain Ivar Ingimarsson is expected to return for the Royals, while Brynjar Gunarsson will be out with a knee injury.
Louis Carey is among a number of players suffering from a virus that has swept the Robins training facility, and Robins Manager Keith Millen will be hoping they recover in time for kickoff. Liam Fontaine and Nicky Maynard are long term absentees for the Robins.
Sheffield United and Hull City will go head to head at Bramall Lane with both clubs hovering just above the relegation zone. The Blades currently sit four points above the bottom three, with Hull only one point better off.
United will be looking to continue an upturn in form, having won three of their last five matches. The Blades have scored the lowest number of goals in the division, and their cause will not be helped here by the fact of striker Richard Cresswell being suspended.
Forward Daniel Bogdanovic will return for United, and Jamie Ward hopes to recover from a virus in time to play.
Hull will be looking to extend a six game winning streak, but must do so without suspended defender Andy Dawson. Richard Garcia and Mark Cullen are fit to return to the squad, and the Tigers could also be boosted by the return of midfielder Jimmy Bullard.
Second place Leeds United will be looking for their fourth straight win as they travel to face Sven Goran Eriksson’s Leicester City. A nine game unbeaten run has seen Leeds climb to with only three points of league leaders Queens Park Rangers. Leicester will be looking to bounce back from last week s3-0 defeat at Ipswich Town.
Leeds could be without central defenders Alex Bruce and Andy O’Brien. The pair will be assessed ahead of kickoff due a thigh and a hamstring injury respectively.
Roman Bednar will return from injury for the Foxes, while Curtis Davies and Miguel Vitor are both questionable and will receive late fitness tests.
Third place Cardiff City will play host to 6th place Coventry City in a promotion battle at Cardiff City Stadium.
After starting the season well, Cardiff have won only one of their last seven games. It has been almost two weeks since their last game, as weather has hit their games since they lost 1-0 at Middlesbrough. Manager Dave Jones will be hoping the enforced break works in favor of the Bluebirds and helps them rediscover their winning touch.
League leading goal scorer Jay Bothroyd will return for the Bluebirds, while defender Chris Roggott will make his long awaited Cardiff debut. Mark Hudson, Jason Koumas and Gabor Gyepes have all been affected by a virus this week and receive late fitness tests.
Coventry had been on a four game unbeaten run before losing 2-1 to Norwich City last time out. Lee Carsley will return from suspension and will look to help the Sky Blues return to that good form. Sammy Clingan and Carl Baker could also return to the Coventry squad, while Aron Gunnarsson will be suspended.
Barnsley and Burnley will meet at Oakwell on Boxing Day, while these two teams are similar in both name and league position, they are in very different form. The two sides are level on points, and will be looking for a win that could close the five point gap between them and the playoff places.
Barnsley are currently riding a five game unbeaten streak, and have not conceded a goal in their last three games. The Tykes will be without Garry O’Connor, the striker’s loan deal has expired, and his permanent move from Birmingham City will not be registered until the transfer window opens in January.
Andy Gray and Matt Hill could both feature for Barnsley after returning from injury.
History does not favor Burnley, who have not won away from home this season and have not won at Oakwell in 79 years. Recent form is not on their side either, as the Clarets have won only two of their last eight games.
Danny Fox is still out for Burnley due to an ankle injury. Chris Eagles and Martin Paterson could both return from injury for Burnley.
Derby County and Doncaster Rovers are level on points and four points outside of the playoff spots. A win for either team at Pride Park could lift them to within touching distance of the top six.
Derby will be looking to end a miserable run of four straight defeats that has seen them slip from 4th to 9th in the table. The Rams must do so without suspended Captain Robbie Savage, while Gareth Roberts and Russell Anderson are out with injury. Dean Leacock is hoping to recover from a groin injury and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Doncaster ended a four game winless run with a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough last time out. They will travel to Derby without James O’Connor, who is suffering from a calf injury. Southampton loanee Joe Mills is hoping to recover from an ankle injury in time to play.
Ipswich Town snapped a six game losing streak with a 3-0 victory over Leicester City last time out. The Tractor Boys will be hoping that signals an upturn in fortunes as they play host to in-form Watford on Boxing Day. The Hornets are riding a four game unbeaten streak, and currently sit four points beneath the playoff places.
Ipswich Town Manager Roy Keane received a double blow ahead of this game, when goalkeeper Brian Murphy and midfielder Shane O’Connor suffered significant injuries. Murphy will be out for three months after breaking his ankle, while a dislocated shoulder will rule out O’Connor until February. Young striker Connor Wickham will likely be on the bench as he continues his return from a hip injury.
Stephen McGinn is out for the Hornets due to a fractured cheekbone. The absence of McGinn led to Watford recalling former Middlesbrough midfielder Josh Walker from his loan spell at Stevenage. Piero Mingoia could return from a thigh injury in time to feature here.
Leeds United have climbed up to second place on the back of a nine game unbeaten run, and will be looking to extend that good form when they travel to face Leicester City. In other action at the top end of the table, 3rd place Cardiff City will play host to 6th place Coventry City.
At the relegation end of the table, Crystal Palace can escape the bottom three with a win over high flying Norwich City. Sheffield United will face Hull City with both teams looking for three points that would help them climb away from the relegation fight.
Middlesbrough’s game with Nottingham Forest, and the bottom of the table clash between Scunthorpe United and Preston North End have been postponed due to freezing weather conditions.
Crystal Palace will be looking to end a three game winless streak and climb out of the relegation zone when they play host to promotion chasing Norwich City. The Canaries currently sit in 5th place and are only two points away from the automatic promotion spots.
Crystal Palace have injury doubts regarding Pablo Counago and Alex Marrow, the pair will receive late fitness tests before kickoff.
Suspended defender Leon Barnett will be missing for Norwich, while Russell Martin and Wes Hoolahan are both questionable.
The Canaries’ 11 goal top scorer Grant Holt will relish the prospect of going up against the leagues leakiest defense. Palace have conceded 40 goals so far this seasonand will have their hands full with an attacking Norwich team.
League leading Queens Park Rangers will play host to fourth place Swansea City in a key promotion clash at Loftus Road. Surprisingly in a meeting of first against fourth, both teams enter this game in relatively poor form. QPR have suffered back to back defeats, while the Swans have won only one of their last five games.
QPR Manager Neil Warnock could be boosted by the availability of midfielder Alejandro Faurlin, while veteran midfielder Gavin Mahon is available after signing a short term contract this week.
Swansea have no new injuries but Manager Brendan Rodgers told BBC Sport he will be rotating his squad over a hectic Christmas period that sees Swansea play four games in nine days. Darren Pratley, David Cotterill and Stephen Dobbie are all fringe players who will likely feature in those changes.
Due to weather postponements, Portsmouth will be playing their first home game since November 13th when they play host to Millwall on Boxing Day. The two teams are level on points and will be looking for victory to close the six point gap between them and the playoff places.
Carl Dickinson will return for a Pompey team that is looking for their third straight win. Defender Greg Halford is suspended for yellow card accumulation, Joel Ward is the likely replacement.
Millwall will be looking to continue a four game unbeaten streak, but must do so without Captain Paul Robinson who is out with a hamstring injury.
Kevin Lisbie and Liam Trotter could both return from injury to boost the Lions.
Seventh place Reading will be looking to extend a six game unbeaten run when they play host to Bristol City on Boxing Day. Bristol are only five points above the relegation zone, and had a previously good run of form ended when they lost 2-0 at Hull City last time out.
Reading Captain Ivar Ingimarsson is expected to return for the Royals, while Brynjar Gunarsson will be out with a knee injury.
Louis Carey is among a number of players suffering from a virus that has swept the Robins training facility, and Robins Manager Keith Millen will be hoping they recover in time for kickoff. Liam Fontaine and Nicky Maynard are long term absentees for the Robins.
Sheffield United and Hull City will go head to head at Bramall Lane with both clubs hovering just above the relegation zone. The Blades currently sit four points above the bottom three, with Hull only one point better off.
United will be looking to continue an upturn in form, having won three of their last five matches. The Blades have scored the lowest number of goals in the division, and their cause will not be helped here by the fact of striker Richard Cresswell being suspended.
Forward Daniel Bogdanovic will return for United, and Jamie Ward hopes to recover from a virus in time to play.
Hull will be looking to extend a six game winning streak, but must do so without suspended defender Andy Dawson. Richard Garcia and Mark Cullen are fit to return to the squad, and the Tigers could also be boosted by the return of midfielder Jimmy Bullard.
Second place Leeds United will be looking for their fourth straight win as they travel to face Sven Goran Eriksson’s Leicester City. A nine game unbeaten run has seen Leeds climb to with only three points of league leaders Queens Park Rangers. Leicester will be looking to bounce back from last week s3-0 defeat at Ipswich Town.
Leeds could be without central defenders Alex Bruce and Andy O’Brien. The pair will be assessed ahead of kickoff due a thigh and a hamstring injury respectively.
Roman Bednar will return from injury for the Foxes, while Curtis Davies and Miguel Vitor are both questionable and will receive late fitness tests.
Third place Cardiff City will play host to 6th place Coventry City in a promotion battle at Cardiff City Stadium.
After starting the season well, Cardiff have won only one of their last seven games. It has been almost two weeks since their last game, as weather has hit their games since they lost 1-0 at Middlesbrough. Manager Dave Jones will be hoping the enforced break works in favor of the Bluebirds and helps them rediscover their winning touch.
League leading goal scorer Jay Bothroyd will return for the Bluebirds, while defender Chris Roggott will make his long awaited Cardiff debut. Mark Hudson, Jason Koumas and Gabor Gyepes have all been affected by a virus this week and receive late fitness tests.
Coventry had been on a four game unbeaten run before losing 2-1 to Norwich City last time out. Lee Carsley will return from suspension and will look to help the Sky Blues return to that good form. Sammy Clingan and Carl Baker could also return to the Coventry squad, while Aron Gunnarsson will be suspended.
Barnsley and Burnley will meet at Oakwell on Boxing Day, while these two teams are similar in both name and league position, they are in very different form. The two sides are level on points, and will be looking for a win that could close the five point gap between them and the playoff places.
Barnsley are currently riding a five game unbeaten streak, and have not conceded a goal in their last three games. The Tykes will be without Garry O’Connor, the striker’s loan deal has expired, and his permanent move from Birmingham City will not be registered until the transfer window opens in January.
Andy Gray and Matt Hill could both feature for Barnsley after returning from injury.
History does not favor Burnley, who have not won away from home this season and have not won at Oakwell in 79 years. Recent form is not on their side either, as the Clarets have won only two of their last eight games.
Danny Fox is still out for Burnley due to an ankle injury. Chris Eagles and Martin Paterson could both return from injury for Burnley.
Derby County and Doncaster Rovers are level on points and four points outside of the playoff spots. A win for either team at Pride Park could lift them to within touching distance of the top six.
Derby will be looking to end a miserable run of four straight defeats that has seen them slip from 4th to 9th in the table. The Rams must do so without suspended Captain Robbie Savage, while Gareth Roberts and Russell Anderson are out with injury. Dean Leacock is hoping to recover from a groin injury and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Doncaster ended a four game winless run with a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough last time out. They will travel to Derby without James O’Connor, who is suffering from a calf injury. Southampton loanee Joe Mills is hoping to recover from an ankle injury in time to play.
Ipswich Town snapped a six game losing streak with a 3-0 victory over Leicester City last time out. The Tractor Boys will be hoping that signals an upturn in fortunes as they play host to in-form Watford on Boxing Day. The Hornets are riding a four game unbeaten streak, and currently sit four points beneath the playoff places.
Ipswich Town Manager Roy Keane received a double blow ahead of this game, when goalkeeper Brian Murphy and midfielder Shane O’Connor suffered significant injuries. Murphy will be out for three months after breaking his ankle, while a dislocated shoulder will rule out O’Connor until February. Young striker Connor Wickham will likely be on the bench as he continues his return from a hip injury.
Stephen McGinn is out for the Hornets due to a fractured cheekbone. The absence of McGinn led to Watford recalling former Middlesbrough midfielder Josh Walker from his loan spell at Stevenage. Piero Mingoia could return from a thigh injury in time to feature here.
