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Red card! Birmingham down to 10 men
Birmingham City 1-1 Derby County: Already on a yellow card and lucky not to have been sent off earlier in the second half, Christoph Klarer gets a straight red card for a high boot on Eboue Adams out by touchline. We’re in added time at St Andrew’s, both sides are down to 10 men and the scores are level.
Oxford United: Following the dimissal of Gary Rowett three days ago, Oxford United will face Southampton at the Kassam Stadium with Craig Short in interim charge. Rowett and his assistant Mark Sale were relieved of their duties following a disappointing run of results, most recently a 1-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic. Oxford United have won just one of their past 10 games and currently sit 22nd in the Championship.
Birmingham get lucky: Already on a yellow card, Birmingham City captain Christoph Klarer illegally blocks Patrick Agyemang as he attempts to run on to a long ball from deep. Klarer escapes a second yellow and the red that should accompany it but Derby County head coach John Eustace is booked for complaining about what seems a blatant injustice. It’s a baffling decision.
GOAL! Birmingham City 1-1 Derby County (Robinson 64)
Championship: Despite failing to properly get his head to a free-kick aimed towards the far post, Jack Robinson somehow manages to take advantage of some slapstick defending to bundle the ball over the line anyway and equalise for Birmingham City against 10-man Derby County. It’s as scruffy a goal as you’ll ever see but the home fans at St Andrew’s won’t care.
Millwall 0-0 Ipswich Town: It’s half-time at the Den, where the deadlock between Millwall and Ipswich remains resolutely unbroken.
Afcon: In today’s early match, Knowledge Musona scored for Zimbabwe in the sixth minute of time added on at the end of the first half to cancel out Gelson Dala’s opener for Angola. It’s 1-1 in Marrakesh.
Birmingham 0-1 Derby County: The second half is well under way at St Andrew’s, where Birmingham City trail 1-0 and have just had an excellent shout for a penalty inexplicably turned down. With both his arms wrapped around Marvin Ducksch, Derby defender Matt Clarke fell backwards in his own penalty area, clearly dragging the Birmingham striker to ground with him. He gets away with it.
John Robertson dies "peacefully" aged 72
There will have been no shortage of glasses raised in Nottingham, Scotland and beyond yesterday in memory of John Robertson, following news of his death at the age of 72. The winger was a hugely important member of Brian Clough’s great Forest team that rose from the second tier of English football to win multiple major honours, most famously back-to-back European Cups.
Described by Clough as “the Picasso of our game”, Robertson played 28 times for Scotland and scored the winning goal in a Home Championship victory over England at Wembley in May 1981. Sachin Nakrani reports …
Premier League and EFL to hold blackout talks
Guardian exclusive: The Premier League and EFL will hold talks early next year about combining to permit 3pm Saturday kick-offs to be broadcast live each week for the first time. Matt Hughes reports …
Today at the Africa Cup of Nations
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Group B
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Angola 1-0 Zimbabwe (L)
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Egypt v South Africa (3pm GMT)
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Group A
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Zambia v Comoros (5.30pm GMT)
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Morocco v Mali (8pm GMT)
Championship: In today’s early kick-off, Derby County lead Birmingham City courtesy of a Patrick Agemang header in the 27th minute, but are down to 10 men following the dimissal of Joe Ward. The Derby winger picked up a silly yellow card for trying to delay a free-kick and was sent off for his second bookable offence 10 minutes later. His crime? Cynically tripping Jonathan Roberts as he advanced on the visitors’ penalty area. He can have no complaints about either caution.
They’re approaching half-time at St Andrew’s, while it’s scoreless at the Den in today’s slightly later kick-off between Millwall and Ipswich Town after 19 minutes.
Boxing Day Championship fixtures
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Birmingham City 0-1 Derby County (L)
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Millwall 0-0 Ipswich Town (L)
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Coventry City v Swansea City
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Leicester City v Watford
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Middlesbrough v Blackburn
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Norwich City v Charlton Athletic
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Oxford United v Southampton
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Portsmouth v QPR
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Sheffield Wednesday v Hull City
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Stoke City v Preston
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West Brom v Bristol City
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Wrexham v Sheffield United (5.30pm GMT)
Boxing Day clockwatch ...
Good afternoon and season’s greetings to you all. If you’re currently nursing a mild Harvey’s Bristol Cream headache, staring at a mountain of cold meat and unable to get to the TV because nan and the kids are watching Minions: The Rise of Gru, you’ve come to the right place. Obviously, if you’re watching Minions: The Rise of Gru but wish to simultaneously wish keep tabs on all of his afternoon’s football action, then you’ve also come to the right place. Welcome, nan.
Unlike your Christmas turkey, there are slim top flight pickings to be had today; a quirk of the 2025 calendar and broadcasting demands means the Premier League has largely pulled up the drawbridge, leaving us with just a solitary nightcap at Old Trafford later on. But fear not, for the EFL remains the heart and soul of the festive schedule. We have a full slate of 3pm kick-offs, in the Championship, including leaders Coventry City hosting Swansea and a high-stakes clash between Middlesbrough and Blackburn.
Beyond the second tier, we’ll be scanning the EFL for any headline news of note — and for those craving something a bit more exotic than a drizzly afternoon in Gillingham, we’re also keeping tabs on Afcon goings-on in Morocco. Angola and Zimbabwe’s Group B game is already under way, while Egypt and South Africa are due to kick off in Agadir at 3pm (GMT). Settle in, grab a drink and a mince pie, and let’s get to it.
