Summary

  • 24 League One & Two matches on Boxing Day

  • L1 leaders Cardiff win 1-0 v Exeter, closest challengers Lincoln win 2-1 at Stockport

  • Bradford beat nine-man Wigan, Bolton pip Rotherham; Huddersfield 5-0 Port Vale

  • Mansfield come from 2-0 down to beat Barnsley 3-2, Luton 4-0 Wycombe

  • Burton 5-1 Northampton, 10-man Plymouth 1-4 Reading, Blackpool 1-0 Doncaster, Peterborough 1-0 Orient

  • Blackpool and Mansfield out of drop-zone, Rotherham and Exeter drop in

  • Walsall lead the way in L2 as Swindon and Notts County slip up

  • Walsall 1-0 Crewe, MK Dons 1-0 Swindon; 10-man Bristol Rovers 2-3 Bromley, Chesterfield 2-0 Notts County

  • Gillingham 1-1 Cambridge, Salford 1-0 Harrogate, Tranmere 1-0 Fleetwood

  • Cheltenham 3-1 Shrewsbury, Crawley 1-1 Colchester, Accrington 2-1 Barrow

  • Harrogate stay second-bottom ahead of Newport

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  1. Postpublished at 15:23 GMT 26 December 2025

    Cardiff 0-0 Exeter

    Isaak Davies finds himself on a really tight angle but he unleashes with good pace.

    His trajectory is on point but it doesn't catch out Exeter stopper Joe Whitworth, whose having a livelier start to this match than his counterpart on the other end of the pitch.

  2. League One latestpublished at 15:21 GMT 26 December 2025

    #bbcefl

    Plymouth are down to 10-men after just 12 minutes. Joe Ralls given his marching orders after a foul in the area and the resulting penalty from Lewis Wing has Reading 1-0 up. Wing soon doubled Reading's lead and Kamari Doyle has just made it 3-0 for the Royals. A nightmare start for Plymouth. Three goals after 20 minutes at Home Park.

    Barnsley are flying early on against Mansfield as Davis Keillor-Dunn has put the Tykes 2-0 ahead at Oakwell.

    And it could be a long day for bottom-of-the-table Port Vale as Ryan Ledson doubles Huddersfield's lead to make it 2-0 to the Terriers.

  3. goal

    GOAL: Blackpool 1-0 Doncasterpublished at 15:18 GMT 26 December 2025

    Tom Bloxham (17 mins)

    The substitute strikes!

    Olly Casey sends a ball up past Danny Imray for the right-back to run onto and place right into the middle of the box for Tom Bloxham.

    The striker sends it home to give the Tangerines an early lead and deliver more misery to the away stands.

  4. Postpublished at 15:17 GMT 26 December 2025

    Cardiff 0-0 Exeter

    Ryan Wintle came close for Cardiff on the back of a Bluebirds corner, only prevented by the gloves of Grecians keeper Joe Whitworth, but now it's Exeter's turn to deliver their first attempt of the game.

    It's messy, with the league leaders taking a while to clear but eventually they do.

    So far, the hosts have looked to dominate. These are the opportunities Exeter will be hoping to take.

  5. goal

    GOAL: MK Dons 1-0 Swindonpublished at 15:17 GMT 26 December 2025

    Aaron Nemane (17 min)

    What a strike!

    I said this was a game between two of the best sides and this is certainly one of the best goals you'll see today.

    Aaron Nemone picks the ball up in the left channel and side-steps one challenge before ghosting past another.

    The Swindon defenders back off, he's a long way out but he's got one thing on his mind and unleashes a wicked dipping and swerving effort, and it flies right into the bottom left corner - leaving Robins keeper Connor Ripley with no chance.

    Great hit.

  6. CLOSE!published at 15:16 GMT 26 December 2025

    Walsall 0-0 Crewe

    So nearly an opening goal for the visitors.

    Tommi O'Reilly manages to twist and turn his way past Vincent Harper before putting the ball in to pick out Calum Agius, who heads goalwards.

    But Aden Flint gets back to clear it off the line and keep it goalless.

  7. Postpublished at 15:13 GMT 26 December 2025

    Walsall 0-0 Crewe

    First chance for the League Two leaders as Brandon Comley takes a speculative strike from distance.

    But it isn't the Christmas cracker he's hoping for as Crewe keeper Sam Waller makes the save.

    A big day at the top for the Saddlers, with Swindon level on points and behind them only on goal difference.

  8. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 15:11 GMT 26 December 2025

    Blackpool 0-0 Doncaster

    Blackpool cannot catch a break on the injury front.

    Now it's Dale Taylor, who only made his return two games ago from injury, who needs to head for an early exit.

    Tom Bloxham replaces him.

  9. League One latestpublished at 15:10 GMT 26 December 2025

    #bbcefl

    Gideon Kodua scores for LutonImage source, Shutterstock

    A flurry of early goals to bring you in League One...

    Reyes Cleary has put Barnsley in front after two minutes against Mansfield.

    Burton lead Northampton after three minutes thanks to Jake Beesley's penalty.

    Leo Castledine, on loan from Chelsea, has put Huddersfield in front against Port Vale after five minutes on the clock. Six in seven now for the striker.

    And Luton lead Wycombe. Gideon Kodua with the goal after seven minutes at Kenilworth Road (pictured).

  10. Postpublished at 15:10 GMT 26 December 2025

    MK Dons 0-0 Swindon

    A decent start at Stadium MK between two of League Two's strongest sides.

    First, Swindon captain Will Wright draws a good stop out of Craig MacGillivray from a free-kick before some pinball at the other end - with Will Collar and Alex Gilbey both going for goal but unable to find a way through.

  11. Postpublished at 15:08 GMT 26 December 2025

    Stockport 0-0 Lincoln

    Lincoln work themselves into a good position as the ball gets threaded through to Reeco Hackett in the box but the winger isn't able to set up the shot.

    Stockport had been looking to get on the front foot but it seems to be Lincoln who are grabbing the momentum in these early stages.

  12. Postpublished at 15:06 GMT 26 December 2025

    Bristol Rovers 0-0 Bromley

    An early chance for the hosts as Fabrizio Cavegn pounces on a big defensive mistake from the Ravens but puts his effort wide when through one-on-one with Grant Smith.

    Almost a late Christmas gift for the Gas, but it ends up as a massive let-off for Bromley.

  13. Postpublished at 15:04 GMT 26 December 2025

    Blackpool 0-0 Doncaster

    There's no Hayden Coulson for Blackpool this afternoon.

    The defender was forced into an early exit last time out against Wigan Athletic and it's not been good news.

    His hamstring issue will see him out for a number of weeks to deliver yet another injury blow for the Tangerines.

  14. Postpublished at 15:02 GMT 26 December 2025

    Cardiff 0-0 Exeter

    We mentioned earlier that sickness has been moving through the Cardiff camp.

    One of those was captain Calum Chambers but he's feeling much better, making the starting line-up after staying on the bench against Lincoln on the weekend.

    Joel Bagan has also recovered to make the XI, while Will Fish is well enough to make the bench.

  15. KICK-OFFpublished at 15:00 GMT 26 December 2025

    #bbcefl

    Away we go for our Boxing Day bonanza...

    24 storylines waiting to be written, issues to resolve and the top and bottom of League One and Two.

    Strap in...

  16. Teams are out...published at 14:58 GMT 26 December 2025

    #bbcefl

    528 players, 24 referees and hundreds of thousands of expectant fans are in position.

    Time to grab some cheese and crackers and pour yourself a slug of something strong... you might need it with 24 games coming your way in just a couple of minutes time...

  17. Contrasting Boxing Day records at Cardiffpublished at 14:56 GMT 26 December 2025

    Cardiff v Exeter (15:00 GMT)

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

    Historical stats about how teams fare on certain days are usually pointless, aren’t they? Well, I’m going to share a couple with you anyway because one of them is vaguely noteworthy.

    Cardiff have won just two of their past 24 games played on Boxing Day, failing to win any of their past 11. That’s a run stretching back to 2000.

    Both wins during that time have come at home, though, beating Coventry City 2-0 in 2010 and Crystal Palace 2-1 in 2012.

    Today they host Exeter, who are unbeaten in their past seven Boxing Day fixtures.

  18. Elsewhere in League Onepublished at 14:54 GMT 26 December 2025

    #bbcefl

    Bradford boss Graham AlexanderImage source, Shutterstock

    Let's take a look at what else is going on today in League One on this fine Boxing Day afternoon...

    Promotion-seeking Bradford, whose three-game winning streak came to an end at Leyton Orient last time out, will be aiming to get back on track when they welcome Wigan to a sold-out Valley Parade.

    Third in the table Stevenage make the trip to AFC Wimbledon with Boro looking to regain some form having picked up just one win in their past four league games. The Dons on the other hand have not won in their past seven.

    Bolton welcome Rotherham to the Toughsheet Community Stadium. The Trotters, who sit in the final play-off position, suffered their first defeat in eight league games when they lost 2-1 at Wycombe last Saturday so will be looking to keep amongst the hopefuls.

    Huddersfield sit three points adrift of those play-off places and welcome bottom club Port Vale, who have no wins in their past 10 league games.

    Eighth-placed Luton welcome ninth-placed Wycombe with just a point separating the two sides. Today will be the third time they come face to face on Boxing Day in the EFL. The Hatters have failed to win either match between the pair played in 2014 (1-1) and 2015 (0-2). Jack Wilshere's side's form going into today's clash is not great either having no wins in the past four league outings.

    Strugglers Mansfield have lost five of of their past six in the league with their last win coming against Plymouth on 28 October. Nigel Clough's side, who now sit in the relegation places, travel to Oakwell to face an out of sorts Barnsley side with just one win in their past four games.

  19. Will the Grecians be toasting another big Boxing Day win?published at 14:52 GMT 26 December 2025

    Cardiff v Exeter (15:00 GMT)

    Media caption,

    Exeter City manager previews Cardiff City Boxing Day clash

    Saturday's loss to Lincoln City didn't just bring a five league match winning streak to an end for Cardiff City, it also put the Imps a little too close for comfort at the top of the table.

    Barring a huge swing in goal difference the Bluebirds should survive today at the apex even if they lose, but with another big game to come against Stevenage on Monday, the year end number one spot isn't guaranteed just yet.

    Many will feel they should wrap it up here rather than duke it out in a few days as they host Exeter City, a side with 18 points fewer and above the relegation line on goal difference alone, but it's no simple task.

    Sickness has ravaged the Cardiff squad this week, while Exeter have won two of their past three league games to push themselves out of that bottom four.

    Plus they have a real taste for Boxing Day glory, having not lost any of their past seven games on 26 December (W4 D3)

    "Over the last three years, seven points in Boxing Day games after a Christmas Day off so we are going to stick to the same strategy and hopefully it works again," Exeter boss Gary Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.

    "We will have a drink on Boxing Day hopefully and a celebratory one at that."

  20. Lincoln look to scalp another big contenderpublished at 14:50 GMT 26 December 2025

    Stockport v Lincoln (15:00 GMT)

    A smiling Michael SkubalaImage source, Shutterstock

    The Christmas wrapping paper may have been torn to shreds by now but Lincoln could have another present to look forward to.

    Having beaten League One leaders Cardiff City last time out, the Imps have closed the gap at the top to just three points.

    But with a goal difference of seven separating the two it means not only do they have to hope the Bluebirds suffer a tough end to the year if they hope to go into next year as top dogs, Lincoln also need to bow out of 2025 with a bang - and today's opponents won't make it easy.

    Stockport have had a turbulent string of results of late but have won two of their past three league games (L1) and will want to make up ground on the automatic promotion spots themselves.

    Can Lincoln defeat two top-end contenders in less than a week or would that be a Christmas miracle they are 24 hours late for?