Image source, Shutterstock

Nice day to be at the top of the table, eh?

With another full round of games to come on 29 December (that's Monday, for those who have lost track) It's looking very, very likely Cardiff will be our League One leaders come New Year's Day but will Walsall hold onto the top spot in League Two?

We return on Monday for the final fixtures of 2025 where the Saddlers will try to beat Oldham Athletic to ensure a second successive year entering 1 January as the league leaders... will 2026 be kinder to the Saddlers than 2025 was?

Cardiff host a tough customer in a team that were in first position themselves not all that long ago in Stevenage, but Lincoln welcome Barnsley and Bradford will look to close the gap as they host bottom side Port Vale.

Thanks for your company on Boxing Day afternoon. See you in three days as we say farewell to the year with yet more drama in the EFL!

• Leaders Walsall beat Crewe 1-0 thanks to Jamille Matt's goal to extend lead at the top.
• Bromley are second after coming from 2-0 down to beat 10-man Bristol Rovers 3-2 in an entertaining game at the Memorial Stadium.
• MK Dons get 1-0 win over Swindon and Salford join the pack after winning against second-bottom Harrogate by the same score.
• Notts County lose ground after suffering a 2-0 defeat at Chesterfield.
• Gillingham hold Cambridge 1-1 as Neil Harris returns to Priestfield.
• Colchester draw 1-1 at Crawley.
• Josh Woods' late winner for Accrington sees off Barrow 2-1.
• Cheltenham get a big 3-1 win over Steve Cotterill's former club Shrewsbury.
• Tranmere pick up 1-0 win over Fleetwood thanks to Charlie Whitaker's goal at Prenton Park.
• Grimsby v Oldham and rock-bottom Newport v Barnet both ended goalless.

• Alex Robertson's goal earns Cardiff a 1-0 win over lowly Exeter to stay top
• An injury-time penalty from Rob Street snatches the points for Lincoln who win 2-1 at Stockport to stay three points back
• Joe Wright's late goal gets Bradford a 2-1 win over nine-man Wigan to stay third
• Josh Sheehan's injury-time penalty meant Bolton picked up the three points to go fourth after struggling Rotherham thought they got the point with their own late on through Sam Nombe
• Huddersfield put five past bottom club Port Vale while Luton put four past Wycombe.
• Reading beat 10-man Plymouth 4-1 at Home Park while Burton hammer Northampton 5-1 at the Pirelli Stadium.
• Peterborough get an injury-time winner to beat Leyton Orient 1-0.
• Mansfield come from a goal down to win 3-2 at Barnsley and exit drop-zone
• Blackpool also above the dotted line after beating Doncaster 1-0.
• AFC Wimbledon v Stevenage was the only goalless game.

Image source, BBC/Getty Images

While we wait to bring you the Boxing Day headlines, there's time to test your knowledge of 2025...

Give our EFL quiz of the year a go and see if you know your stuff when it comes to the English Football League.

Let us know how you get on...

Image source, Opta/Shuterstock

A late added-time penalty converted by Lincoln at Stockport keeps them within three points of league leaders Cardiff City and dents the Hatters own promotion push.

But with the goal difference staying at seven, it looks like the Bluebirds have sealed their place until 2026 with a 1-0 win over Exeter.

That victory for the leaders sees the Grecians back in the bottom four, joined by Rotherham United, who looked to have snatched a point at Bolton only for the Trotters to grab a last-gasp winner.

Wins for Blackpool over Doncaster and Mansfield Town's dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to win at Barnsley see them rise to safety, for now.

Wigan drop closer to trouble after losing 2-1 with nine men at Bradford while Plymouth went down 4-1 at home to Reading and Northampton are too close for comfort after a 5-1 mauling at Burton.

Image source, Shutterstock.

What a day at the top of the fourth tier.

Walsall edged past Crewe while this morning's closest challengers Swindon went down at MK Dons, who are up to fourth.

Bromley came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at 10-man Bristol Rovers, who remain in trouble, while Notts County went down 2-0 at Chesterfield to lose ground.

Salford joined the pack with a 1-0 win over Harrogate who fall further behind Crawley who picked up a point against Colchester.

Lincoln grab an added time penalty to ensure they stay within three points of league leaders Cardiff City.

Stockport had equalised with a penalty of their own earlier in the second-half... well, sort of.

Ollie Norwood saw his strike from the spot stopped by Imps keeper George Wickens but Jayden Fevrier poached the rebound to net the equaliser.

It seemed like they'd be sharing the points but Jack Hunt tripped up Imps goal scorer Reeco Hackett to concede the penalty and Rob Street, who'd been close with a header late in the match, did not miss his chance to score the winner.

Big stuff from Lincoln. How far can they rise?

A quite incredible game comes to an end!

Goals from Jack Sparkes and Fabrizio Cavegn put the Gas in control at the break but the hosts were reduced to 10 when Shaq Forde was shown a second yellow card.

Nicke Kabamba halved the deficit before Ben Thompson scored twice off the bench to snatch all three points in added time and complete a phenomenal comeback for Bromley.

Meanwhile, Bristol Rovers' run without a league win stretches to 11 matches.

Walsall stay top of League Two thanks to Jamille Matt's winner in first-half stoppage time.

Far from glamourous from the Saddlers, but three Boxing Day points in the bag nonetheless.

Tom Bloxham's first-half strike hands Doncaster a fourth successive league loss but it's a fourth win in five games for the hosts.

It means Blackpool are out of the bottom four after soaking up some late pressure from their visitors.

Can they continue their ascent and keep clear of the relegation line?

One goal from Alex Robertson gifts Cardiff a place at the top of the table at the end of the year as they beat a stubborn Exeter.

Robertson hadn't scored since 1 January but after the visitors appeals for an offside call never arrived, he drove forward and comfortably found the net with a solid strike.

Barring an almighty goal difference swing in the final game of the year it means that the Bluebirds will go into New Year's Day at the apex thanks to a man who made an impression on it less than 12 months ago.

Swindon lose ground at the top of League Two as MK Dons pick up a an impressive win at Stadium MK.

Aaron Nemane's first-half stunner was the difference, with Aaron Collins also hitting the woodwork for the hosts.

DRAMA!

Reeco Hackett is down in the box after a foul from Jack Hunt and the referee points to the spot.

Can Lincoln win this?

What a turnaround at Oakwell! Mansfield were two goals down but Aaron Lewis has put the Stags 3-2 in front against Barnsley.

Burton's Tyrese Shade has his second of the afternoon and makes it 5-1 against Northampton.

Wigan are down to nine-men at Bradford as Matt Smith is shown a straight red for bad tackle. But it's proved to be costly as Joe Wright has just put the Bantams in front late on.

A last minute Sam Nombe penalty means Rotherham equalised at Bolton to make it 1-1 only for Josh Sheehan to pop up with his second in added time to restore the Trotters' lead.

And an injury-time goal for Peterborough thanks to Declan Frith has broken the deadlock against Leyton Orient.

Five minutes have been added to the clock.

Seems like Cardiff are in control but it's not over until it's over.

A healthy dose of seven added minutes in this.

Can Doncaster find that goal they so desperately need?

Six minutes added on for the 10 men of Bristol Rovers to hang on.

Are Swindon Town going to make a late charge to turn this round and keep pace with Walsall at the top of League Two?

At the moment, it doesn't look like it.

It's the Dons who are still having the better chances, with substitute Rushian Hepburn-Murphy twice coming close for the hosts, who are edging towards a big three points.