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The final night of EFL action in 2025 did not disappoint... we got the New Year fireworks 50 hours early.

Cardiff go into 2026 top of the pile in League One after coming from behind to beat Stevenage late-on, while in League Two Bromley go into the new year top of the pile - the highest place they have ever been in the football pyramid since their inception in 1892.

Harrogate are in the unwanted position of being bottom of the EFL at the turn of the year, while Bristol Rovers' annus horribilis is mercifully over, they are a point off the bottom after suffering a 30th defeat of 2025 tonight - the most of any club in the top four tiers this year.

Thank you for your company, not just tonight, but all year round. We love bringing you the drama of the world's craziest football league.

We'll be back on Thursday, 1 January (three days away, right?) for another full-programme and in the hope that 2026 will be even more dramatic than this year was.

Goodnight, and Happy New Year to you and yours from us all.

Image source, Opta/Shutterstock

Bromley take full advantage of Walsall's slip up to move top of the table heading into the new year.

The Saddlers drop to third with Swindon now ahead of them after their win at Cheltenham.

Cambridge United quietly move up to eighth after winning at Chesterfield and they join that group of tightly packed sides, with seven points separating eight teams.

At the bottom, Newport are off the foot of the table after just their fourth win of the season, leapfrogging Harrogate.

Barrow pull further clear of the bottom two after an impressive 3-1 success at Tranmere, despite going down to ten men.

• Michael Cheek's first EFL hat-trick gives Bromley a 3-1 win at Crawley to send them top of League Two.
• Walsall slip to a 2-1 defeat at home to Oldham as Kian Harratt scores a 96th-minute winner.
• Swindon move above Walsall into second after second-half goals from Joel McGregor and Filozofe Mabete give them a 2-0 win at Cheltenham.
• Callum Paterson's second-half equaliser earns Milton Keynes a 1-1 draw at home to Notts County.
• Newport County are off the bottom of the table as Courtney Baker-Richardson and Sammy Baybrooke score in a 2-0 victory at home to Crewe.
• Harrogate are now bottom after going down 1-0 and to 10-men at Accrington, Shaun Whalley with the only goal.
• Bristol Rovers go nine games without a win and third-from-bottom after going down 2-0 at home to Barnet as Adam Senior and Ryan Glover strike
• Shrewsbury move two points above the drop-zone after Justin Amaluzor's late winner for Grimsby in a 1-0 win

Image source, Opta/Shutterstock

The top three, Cardiff, Lincoln and Bradford all won, in various levels of comfort, to go into the New Year separated by just four points.

Stockport saw off Doncaster and Huddersfield beat Northampton to return to the top five, with Bolton and Stevenage losing ground and free-scoring Luton on the edge of the play-off race.

At the other end, Port Vale look increasingly doomed, while Doncaster and Rotherham's alarming slides continue, with Blackpool now up to 13th after pumping the Millers 4-0.

Exeter's win at Wimbledon lifts them out of the drop zone at the expense of Devon rivals Plymouth, who slip below the dotted line on goal difference despite snatching a point against Wycombe.

Jayden Wareham's first-half goal is enough to earn Exeter all three points at Wimbledon, while Tom Bloxham added a late fourth to put the icing on the cake for Blackpool against Rotherham.

Third-place Bradford have edged out bottom club Port Vale thanks to Jenson Metcalfe's magnificent strike, and Stockport are up to fourth after a hard-fought 4-2 win over Doncaster.

Wigan beat Burton 2-0, Huddersfield got the better of Northampton by the same scoreline, while Luton closed in on the play-off spots with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Leyton Orient.

Peterborough drew 1-1 with Reading as Gustav Lindgren cancelled out Daniel Kyerewaa's opener.

Ryan Dickson
Former Plymouth and Southampton defender on BBC Radio Devon

It was a positive finish to the game for Plymouth.

Argyle in the second half were knocking on the door and it took the 94th minute to get the equaliser and the point.

It wasn't the prettiest of games or a game of any quality whatsoever, but you have to find a way to score and they did that tonight.

Michael Hortin
BBC Radio Lincolnshire commentator

What a goal it was from Adam Reach to get Lincoln that two goal lead.

And that is maximum points for Lincoln across the festive period - you can't ask for better than that.

Try as they might, Plymouth just could not find a way back into it... until the fifth minute of added time.

Dan Casey's early header from Jack Grimmer's fine cross looked like it would be the difference.

Bali Mumba came close with a brilliant dipping strike from 30 yards which clipped Will Norris' crossbar, with the keeper also producing a series of important saves to keep his sheet clean until Bim Pepple's last-gasp header snatched a point the hosts deserved to avoid a second defeat in three days at Home Park and perhaps ease some pressure on Tom Cleverley.

Points shared at Stadium MK.

Tom Iorpenda put Notts in front just before the break.

But Callum Patterson's second-half goal earns Milton Keynes a point.

No third consecutive victory for Paul Warne's side.

Notts now winless in three.

The Bluebirds have come from behind to win again, and go into 2026 three points clear at the top of League One.

Boro made them work hard for it, hitting the bar early on through Harvey White and then after defending resolutely, taking the lead through Phoenix Patterson's sublime strike just before the hour.

However, Callum Robinson lashed home seven minutes later and Yousef Salech completed the turnaround with an instinctive finish from Chris Willock's cross eight minutes from time.

Seven straight home wins for City - the last time they did that they were promoted.

Nobody would bet against that happening again in a few months' time.

Omari Kellyman jinks forward and wins a free-kick which Alex Robertson crashes into the Stevenage wall.

The Bluebirds are doing a good job of seeing out these 10 added minutes... so far.

Image source, Getty Images

A frustrating night for Bolton, who are beaten at home by Mansfield and drop to sixth in League One.

Rhys Oates scored the only goal of the game at the end of the first half and the visitors defended superbly to hold on for all three points.

Back-to-back wins for Nigel Clough's side, who are up to 11th.

The Imps have made it clear they are legitimate title contenders this season.

Tom Hamer's early header and Adam Reach's Yeboahesque volley in the closing stages have secured a fifth win in six games and kept them within three points of the summit of League One.

What a year 2025 has been for Michael Skubala's men.

For Barnsley there is work to do to resurrect their play-off push after a fourth defeat in five games.

Omari Kellyman has returned to the game in a fresh, numberless shirt, and has gone close to a third with a 25-yard effort which flies past Filip Marschall's post.

Seven minutes added on at Stadium MK.

More than enough time for a winner...

Michael Hortin
BBC Radio Lincolnshire commentator

It has been a tough ask of Lincoln away at Stockport and a tough ask again against Barnsley.

They are just three minutes away and Barnsley are offering very little now.

We're going into TEN added minutes at the end of this one after a lengthy stoppage for treatment on a facial injury for Omari Kellyman, the Cardiff sub.

Carl Piergianni has seen the ball in the back of the City net since the resumption but the whistle had gone for a handball.