December: a month that will bring festivities, goodwill, gifts, too much food, too much drink and, best of all, too much football.
The month before Christmas is always frenetic, always dramatic, and often leaves more than one manager hoping not to find the tangerine at the bottom of their stocking wrapped in their P45.
Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday set the tone for this month’s Championship last Sunday as Barry Bannon’s leader’s goal helped the Owls to a sensational late victory.
This week’s December matches in League 1 and 2 were generally entertaining, producing 72 goals.
Now we’re going back.
The race to finish first and not last at Christmas is on.
We start with a bang on Friday evening, as Burnley attempt to overtake Sheffield United, who finish on Sunday, at the top of the Championship.
It’s a classic case of an immovable object meeting an irresistible force as the Clarets’ concrete defense braces itself for the wrecking ball of Middlesbrough’s outspoken attack.
Scott Parker’s dynamic men have won 10 and lost two of their 18 games and have won four on the rotation without conceding.
Boro couldn’t stop scoring for most of November, with 18 goals in three games, and their tally of 32 is second only to Norwich.
Boss Michael Carrick says it it feels like he’s already on a treadmill with Leeds United to follow Burnley.
Unlike the gym sweat tester, Carrick hopes Boro’s efforts can actually move them forward.
Will Leeds make the most of an early departure?
Saturday’s championship will begin at lunchtime with three starts at 12:30 GMT.
By then, Leeds will know whether a victory over Derby will take them into the lead.
After three straight wins and nine goals scored, at Blackburn, Daniel Farke’s side hit the buffers, and Farke hit the roof amid cries of fair play, before threatening to spark a wider debate about the nobility of the English game.
On that subject, Derby fans might want to go easy on all the Leeds players after the pelters they gave to Barry Bannon. were gloriously stroked in the face at 35 yards last week.
Sunderland can also put pressure on the automatic promotion places if they manage to knock out Stoke City, who continue to stabilize under new head coach Narcis Pelach.
While there is no shame in losing to Sheffield United, the Black Cats know their previous run of five straight draws needs to be supplemented by a few wins if their challenge is to move up a gear.
In the other early start, Wednesday face Preston who are looking to take care of business and the 35-year-old left foot of Bannon.
A win would be number three for the Owls, and they have to fancy their chances with North End’s last win on October 19.
Can Edwards save an “unsaved” position?
Remember I mentioned goodwill?
Well, as always, more than one manager hopes that their president’s good friend has a little more mileage in her.
That said, Wayne Rooney and Rob Edwards may be concerned that if the writing is not on the wall, the undercoat will be applied.
According to former Reading, Watford and Crystal Palace winger Jobi McAnuff, Edwards’ situation at Luton is “unrecordable”.
Thought to move straight back up the division after their courageous failure to stay in the Premier League last season, many assumed it would be back, no descent to League One.
But after their 10th defeat of the season at Norwich, the Hatters are only three points above the relegation zone.
The noises coming from Kenilworth Road are not positive either, with Edwards taking the gamble of publicly blame your players for the result. It never ends well. Ask Troy Deeney.
McAnuff believes no one appreciates that and says the club is “running out of time” to make a decision on Edwards.
The home defeat to Swansea could well see them decide.
Rooney’s situation, at first glance, seems a little less precarious.
Despite enduring the “hardest” week of his coaching career after seeing his Plymouth side score 10 goals in two games, the former England captain has received support from the club.
History says that’s not often the most reassuring thing, but director of football Neil Dewsnip is adamant it is. fully behind their “motivated” head coach to “turn around”.
This ship has the most watertight hull, breached 38 times – the most in the championship.
Rooney knows the holes must be filled at home to Oxford United – otherwise the Pilgrims could slip into the bottom three.
It will depend on whether Hull City can find that ‘interim manager bounce’ (IMB) following the sacking of Tim Walter.
The German was sacked just before the defeat to Middlesborough – their fifth defeat in a row – a result given the unusual context of striker Mason Burstow’s honesty about his deteriorating relationship with his ex-boss.
Burstow, who scored his first goal against Boro, said things with Walter were so bad he felt “give up”.
Perhaps Hull’s new broom – whether pushed by interim boss Andy Dawson or Walter’s likely permanent replacement, Ruben Selles – will do the trick against in-form Blackburn.
Millwall to pay tribute to legendary boss Docherty
It will be an emotional afternoon at the New Den as Millwall entertain Frank Lampard City of Coventry, three days later the death of their legendary manager John Docherty.
The Scot is the only manager in the history of the Lions to have propelled the club into the elite of English football, which dates back to 1988.
As for the Sky Blues, Lampard’s experience at West Ham and Chelsea will ensure a first win as boss at Millwall would be particularly welcome, but ending the Lions’ nine-game unbeaten run could take time.
Portsmouth And Queens Park Rangers the search for a fresher air of security continues against City of Bristol And Norwich, respectively.
Bottom club Pompey have games in hand as they attempt to preserve an encouraging two-game unbeaten run that has earned them four points.
While Hoops boss Marti Cifuentes hopes a first home win of the campaign can tame the “brutal” nature of the Championshipas he said, after a decent run of five points out of nine.
On Sunday, Sheffield United they might not be at the top when they launch into the top six West Bromwich Albion.
The Blades were the first opponents Carlos Corberan faced as Baggies boss in October 2022. They lost 2-0 at The Hawthorns that day.
With their last 10 games featuring more ‘D’s than the match of the day theme (nine), it’s likely Albion will have to do their best to deny the Blades a seventh win from eight.
Shoemakers and Brewers continue ‘acting manager bounce’
League 1 leaders Wycombe Their impressive 11-match winning run may be coming to an end, but this week’s lively draw at Exeter took their unbeaten run to 15 games.
Boss Matt Bloomfield is the perfect example of managers who have their feet on the ground, saying their record so far is “irrelevant” and ensuring his team don’t dare boast about what she accomplished, which, Bloomfield is quick to point out, before being in good shape While reading’s visit, it’s nothing.
With Wrexham I’m still breathing down the Chairboys’ necks and dangerous looking Birmingham refusing to leave, Wycombe will be aware of Bloomfield’s feelings.
Three points is all that separates the three, with all three having a chance to take the lead.
At the other end, Northampton, like Hull, will be hoping for a dose of IMB after Thursday’s surprise resignation of manager Jon Brady.
Surprising, especially as it came 48 hours after the 49-year-old spoke of his “pride” in what he had achieved in three and a half years at the club.
Their 200th match ended in defeat at Stevenage – the Cobblers’ third in six games without a win – leaving them in the bottom four.
Interim boss Ian Sampson is tasked with bouncing the ball. Peterborough arrives at Sixfields on Monday.
By then, under pressure, Garry Monk will want his Cambridge side to support his promise that there will be a “huge response” in a vital match against the bottom club Town of Shrewsbury.
Burton-AlbionSo far the season has been a bit complicated.
The managerless Brewers were embarrassed by non-league Tamworth in the FA Cup but, to their credit, responded with an impressive victory at Peterborough which at least took them off the foot of the table.
They will be hoping Tom Hounsell can create a sustained ‘IMB’ as he continues his temporary tenure at home to Wrexham, although the club’s Scandinavian owners suggested this this week. he could get the job permanently.
The first two meet in Ligue 2
There is no doubt about the League Two match of the weekend as the top two meet at Vale Park.
Port-Valéwho has been leading the way since October, grabbed a precious point at Cheltenham to stay ahead of Walsall.
The Saddlers, unbeaten on the road since September, travel to Burslem knowing a draw would be enough to take them into the lead.
Keeping a close eye on this result will be Doncaster.
Fresh from avoiding an FA Cup clash against non-league Kettering, they comfortably beat Fleetwood, with 38-year-old Billy Sharp still living up to his name with his third goal in two games.
Victory over Cheltenham, coupled with a draw between Vale and Walsall, will allow them to take a share of the lead.
Scott Lindsay’s MK Dons aim for their seventh consecutive league victory as they take on Wheelbarrow with the chance to place in the top three.
Crew can go 10 games without defeat – and potentially third – if they can come away with something Bradford.
At the other end, Ian Holloway goes in search of his first league win as his struggling Swindon side host Fleetwood against a backdrop of calls the club owner to sell.
Morecambe, who hosts Grimsby, are currently in the last safe place and hope to retain the Robins and 23rd place Carlislewho are at Newport, where they are.
The BBC Sport website will broadcast live text coverage of this weekend’s EFL action from Friday evening as Burnley host Middlesbrough in the Championship.