Summary

  • Middlesbrough win 2-1 at Charlton to cut Coventry's lead at top of Championship to five points

  • Daniel Jebbison equalises for 10-man Preston to earn draw with Sky Blues

  • Southampton hold on to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-2, having led 3-0 at half-time

  • Swansea beat Portsmouth; QPR defeat Birmingham in dramatic finale

  • Three other games end level

  1. Listen livepublished at 19:41 GMT 9 December 2025

    You can follow coverage of your club on BBC local radio, although unfortunately because of rights agreements we are unable to stream commentaries of EFL matches online.

    However, we will bring you selected analysis from commentators and pundits as part of our live text coverage and you can listen to post-match reaction on BBC Sounds.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:40 GMT 9 December 2025

    You can have your say on Tuesday's Championship action using the box titled "Send us your views" on this page.

    Sign in to leave your comment and we will use a selection of submissions in our live text coverage.

  3. Team newspublished at 19:38 GMT 9 December 2025

    Watford v Sheff Wed (19:45 GMT)

    Watford team

    One change for Watford tonight as Kevin Keben drops out, with Max Alleyne taking his place.

    Nathaniel Chalobah returns to the Sheffield Wednesday squad this evening, having fought injuries this season.

    Dominic Iorfa and Max Lowe return to the XI, while Sean Fusire and Liam Palmer drop to the bench.

    Sheffield Wednesday team
  4. Swansea make one change, Pompey go with same XIpublished at 19:36 GMT 9 December 2025

    Swansea v Portsmouth (19:45 GMT)

    Portsmouth are unchanged from their abandoned game at Charlton, while the Swans make one adjustment from their win over Oxford on Saturday.

    Swansea City team line-up
    Portsmouth team line-up graphic
  5. Baggies make four changes at Saintspublished at 19:34 GMT 9 December 2025

    Southampton v West Bromwich Albion (19:45 GMT)

    Southampton FC team line-up

    Southampton make one change as Jack Stephens is replaced by Joshua Quarshie, while Ryan Mason's Baggies make four changes after their loss to QPR at the weekend.

    West Bromwich Albion team line-up
  6. Blades affected by illness in camppublished at 19:32 GMT 9 December 2025

    Sheffield United v Norwich (19:45 GMT)

    Sheff Utd team

    Sheffield United have been dealt a huge blow. There is an illness in their camp and boss Chris Wilder has been forced into making eight changes from the side that beat Stoke 4-0 on Saturday.

    Only goalkeeper Michael Cooper and defenders Femi Seriki and Japhet Tanganga keep their places in what is still a strong-looking starting XI for the Blades.

    Norwich boss Philippe Clement makes three alterations from the side that lost at Watford on Saturday.

    Harry Darling, Amankwah Forson and Emiliano Marcondes come out and in come Jakov Medic, Jovon Makama and Jacob Wright.

    Norwich team
  7. Team newspublished at 19:30 GMT 9 December 2025

    Preston v Coventry (19:45 GMT)

    Preston team v Coventry

    Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom makes four changes for the visit of Championship leaders Coventry City.

    Pol Valentin, Stefan Thordarson, Alfie Devine and Michael Smith drop out as Odel Offiah, Jordan Thompson, Harrison Armstrong and Daniel Jebbison come in to the XI.

    Meanwhile, three changes for Coventry as Luke Woolfenden, Haji Wright and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto start. Ephron Mason-Clark and Ellis Simms drops to the bench and Milan van Ewijk misses out.

    Coventry team v Preston
  8. Three changes for Charlton; one for Boropublished at 19:28 GMT 9 December 2025

    Charlton v Middlesbrough (19:45 GMT)

    Charlton team

    Charlton boss Nathan Jones makes three alterations from the side that started Saturday's abandoned game against Portsmouth.

    Harvey Knibbs, Luke Berry and Miles Leaburn are in for Onel Hernandez, Karoy Anderson and Isaac Olaofe.

    As for Boro, Kim Hellberg makes one change from his starting XI that beat Hull 4-1 on Friday.

    David Strelec, who scored in that match, is not in the squad and he is replaced by Delano Burgzorg, while Luke Ayling and Alan Browne return to the bench following injuries.

    Middlesbrough team
  9. Team newspublished at 19:26 GMT 9 December 2025

    Blackburn v Oxford (19:45 GMT)

    Blackburn Rovers team v Oxford United

    One change for Blackburn Rovers as Sidnei Tavares comes in for the injured Adam Forshaw.

    Oxford United boss Gary Rowett won't be on the touchline. He's forced to watch from the stands having been shown a third yellow card of the season when they faced Swansea on Saturday.

    Oxford United team v Blackburn Rovers
  10. Swans host Pompey in basement battlepublished at 19:24 GMT 9 December 2025

    Swansea v Portsmouth (19:45 GMT)

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales at the Swansea.com Stadium

    Swansea are by no means clear of relegation danger - but there's a good deal more positivity around these parts after Saturday's much-needed win over fellow strugglers Oxford.

    That 2-0 victory was the first under new head coach Vitor Matos and ended a run of five straight defeats for the Swans, who climbed up to 20th in the Championship.

    Tonight, they host another team near them in the battle to avoid the drop.

    Pompey, three points and two places below Swansea in the table, have lost three of their past four games.

    Early days yet in the season but this already has the feel of a significant game.

  11. Wednesday's unenviable run at Vicarage Roadpublished at 19:22 GMT 9 December 2025

    Watford v Sheff Wed (19:45 GMT)

    Watford, 13th in the table, take on bottom club Sheffield Wednesday.

    The Owls will be hoping tonight's game actually finishes, after Saturday's match at Blackburn was abandoned because of heavy rain and a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park.

    Wednesday have won just once in their past 12 away league meetings with Watford, with their most recent win on their travels coming in December 2013. Can they break that 12-year run tonight?

    The Hornets, meanwhile, are unbeaten in nine league games against Sheffield Wednesday.

  12. Travel-sick Blues head to the capitalpublished at 19:20 GMT 9 December 2025

    QPR v Birmingham (20:00 GMT)

    Demarai GrayImage source, Shutterstock

    Birmingham City head to the capital to face QPR this evening off the back of their sixth away Championship defeat of the season at Southampton on Saturday.

    Blues have, so far, been unable to replicate their excellent home form on the road and start tonight level on points with their opponents, who saw off West Bromwich Albion 3-1 at Loftus Road at the weekend.

    Winger Demarai Gray has proved what an excellent player he can be at this level of late, scoring in four of Birmingham's past six matches.

    QPR boast a good recent record in this fixture, losing just two of their past 11 home games against Birmingham, while Blues have lost in just one of their past 20 midweek league outings.

    Will either side claim all three points and climb into the play-off places by 22:00 GMT tonight?

  13. Strugglers Swansea and Pompey face offpublished at 19:18 GMT 9 December 2025

    Swansea v Portsmouth (19:45 GMT)

    Swansea city players celebrate after scoring a goal against Oxford UnitedImage source, Getty Images

    Swansea begin tonight's game just three points clear of opponents Portsmouth, who are third from bottom of the Championship, and will hope to build on their win over Oxford on Saturday.

    The Swans have lost seven of their past 10 midweek Championship matches, including four of their five at home during that run.

    John Mousinho's Pompey have a game in hand on the teams around them in the drop zone after Saturday's trip to Charlton was abandoned after 12 minutes. A Charlton supporter was taken ill early in the match and later passed away.

    Portsmouth winger Josh Murphy both scored and assisted a goal in both of their Championship meetings with Swansea last season.

  14. Red-hot Saints host Baggiespublished at 19:17 GMT 9 December 2025

    Southampton v West Bromwich Albion (19:45 GMT)

    Finn Azaz celebrates after scoring for SouthamptonImage source, Getty Images

    Tonda Eckert's in-form Southampton host West Bromwich Albion in the first meeting between the teams since a play-off semi-final second leg in 2024, when the Saints won 3-1 before going on to beat Leeds at Wembley to secure promotion.

    The home side will be hoping for a repeat of that result and go into the game in good form, winning five of their past six league matches under new boss Eckert.

    The Baggies are 16th and have lost each of their past six away matches in the Championship, most recently taking points on the road at Norwich on 1 October.

    Albion have won just two of their past 25 away league games against Southampton, with both victories coming while the two clubs were both in the Premier League.

  15. New Blade Bamford aiming to continue good formpublished at 19:15 GMT 9 December 2025

    Sheffield United v Norwich (19:45 GMT)

    Patrick Bamford celebrates a goalImage source, PA Media

    Resurgent Sheffield United's run of four wins in a row has lifted the Blades from second bottom in the Championship table to 18th.

    Talking of second bottom, that takes us to Norwich City, who lost a topsy-turvy match on Saturday at Watford and will be hoping to end a winless run from their past eight midweek Championship fixtures.

    Philippe Clement's men had chances to win at Vicarage Road but a third defeat in five has left them five points adrift of the safety line.

    The Canaries will know all about recent Blades signing Patrick Bamford, who scored his second goal for the club in Saturday's win against Stoke.

    Bamford has netted three goals in five home league appearances against Norwich during his career (once for Middlesbrough, twice for Leeds).

  16. Coventry hope superior midweek record holds truepublished at 19:13 GMT 9 December 2025

    Preston v Coventry (19:45 GMT)

    Frank LampardImage source, PA Media

    Coventry are top of the Championship and make the trip to Deepdale to face a Preston side who are knocking on the door of second position.

    The Sky Blues were defeated by Ipswich last time out, yet they still have a comfortable seven-point gap to Middlesbrough in second.

    Coventry have fortune on their side with regards to their midweek record.

    Preston have won just once in their past nine midweek Championship games.

    As for Frank Lampard's side? They have won all four of their outings in midweek in the league this term.

  17. Tributes at The Valleypublished at 19:11 GMT 9 December 2025

    Charlton v Middlesbrough (19:45 GMT)

    Floral tributes outside The ValleyImage source, Shutterstock

    There will be a minute's applause before kick-off at The Valley this evening in memory of Charlton supporter Norman "Headphones" Barker, who died on Saturday aged 68 after being taken ill in the first half of Charlton's home match against Portsmouth - which was later abandoned.

    Fans have been leaving tributes at the stadium, behind the Covered End, where Mr Barker owned a season ticket.

    Mr Barker is also listed as number 12 in the squad list on the back of tonight's match programme.

    Match programme with tribute to Norman BarkerImage source, Shutterstock

    On what will be an emotional night for Charlton, the Addicks are hoping to end a run of four consecutive league defeats, while second-placed Middlesbrough have gained back-to-back wins under new boss Kim Hellberg.

    The visitors have, however, won just one of their past eight away league games against newly promoted teams - beating Oxford United 6-2 in November 2024.

  18. Ismael would 'sacrifice' signings for new pitchpublished at 19:08 GMT 9 December 2025

    Blackburn v Oxford (19:45 GMT)

    A referee bounces a ball on a wet pitch at Ewood ParkImage source, Shutterstock

    In the midst of Storm Bram, Blackburn have confirmed their fixture with Oxford will go ahead as planned.

    Saturday's game against Sheffield Wednesday came a cropper because of heavy rainfall - this coming after September's match against Ipswich was brought to an early end for the same reason.

    On both of those occasions, Blackburn were 1-0 up, too.

    In a pre-match interview with BBC Radio Lancashire before tonight's game, Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael said he is willing to make sacrifices to his transfer budget if it means the club will reallocate those resources towards improving the Ewood Park pitch.

    "If I can influence something, if we need to save money in the transfer market to add money to get a new pitch, I will be the first person to [do] it because I want to see fans coming into the stadium to make sure they can see the game," he said.

    "If I have to make that sacrifice for the better of the club, I will do it."

    In a statement, external posted on the club website about three hours before tonight's game, Blackburn said they had "worked closely with the EFL, have again sought external specialist advice and are exploring all available options to minimise the risk of any further fixture disruption".

  19. The Championship tablepublished at 19:06 GMT 9 December 2025

    Coventry were beaten by Ipswich on Saturday but, despite that blip, they still have a seven-point cushion over second-placed Middlesbrough going into the midweek round of Championship fixtures.

    Here's how the table looks...

    Championship table
  20. Tuesday's Championship fixturespublished at 19:02 GMT 9 December 2025

    Kick-off at 19:45 GMT unless stated

    • Blackburn v Oxford
    • Charlton v Middlesbrough
    • Preston v Coventry
    • QPR v Birmingham (20:00 GMT)
    • Sheffield United v Norwich
    • Southampton v West Bromwich Albion
    • Swansea v Portsmouth
    • Watford v Sheffield Wednesday