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In-form Preston North End travel down the M6 this afternoon to the Potteries to take on eighth-placed Stoke City.

North End are coming off the back of six unbeaten in the league, cementing their status as one of the surprise packages of the Championship this season.

Their stoppage-time equaliser against Norwich City before Christmas leaves them fifth and the away team is unbeaten in the past 11 league meetings between these two clubs.

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom remains absent from the touchline after being found guilty of misconduct by the FA and comes up against a Stoke manager Mark Robins who is winless in each of his past 13 meetings with the Lilywhites.

It was roughly this time of year last season when Robins replaced Narcis Pelach and the former Coventry boss will be looking to get back to winning ways after four defeats from five which has seen his side drop out of the play-off places.

A win today would, however, see Stoke leapfrog Preston by 5pm today.

All to play for at the bet365 Stadium then.

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You could forgive Leicester City boss Marti Cifuentes for being a concerned man over Christmas.

The Spaniard has had six days to ruminate on his side's disastrous 4-1 loss at former club QPR - with his side four goals down at half-time - as they dropped into the bottom half of the Championship table.

The Foxes have, however, won each of their past four home fixtures against today's opponents Watford, and the Hornets have only picked up one win against Leicester in their previous 14 away meetings.

Watford came from behind to beat Portsmouth on this day last year but haven't achieved back-to-back wins on Boxing Day since a run of six victories between 1988 and 1994.

Leicester, meanwhile, have only won one of their past 11 matches on this day - interestingly against then Premier League champions Manchester City, who went on to retain their crown, in the 2018-19 season.

Will Cifuentes get a late Christmas gift off his players or will he be under more pressure by this evening?

Bradley Allen
Ex-QPR striker on BBC Radio London

I'm really not sure.

I think the assistant on the far side has gambled there, I think Ivanovic ran from slightly deeper trying to support Caleb Taylor as he marauded forward, he nudged it round Walton and put it into the empty net.

Was that offside? I'm really not sure.

It looked as though Camiel Neghli had broken the deadlock for Millwall!

But no... the Lions man takes the ball around Christian Walton and slots into the net, only to be adjudged offside.

Just a couple of minutes before that, Ipswich substitutes Jack Clarke and Chuba Akpom almost combined to open the scoring, with the latter lunging to try to reach a cross but not quite getting there.

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Santa might have failed to bring Portsmouth a consistent goalscorer for Christmas, but you’d think they’ll certainly be shopping around to unearth one in the January sales.

Only troubled Sheffield Wednesday have mustered fewer goals in the Championship than Pompey’s 18, with Adrian Segecic – on four – the sole member of the squad to have scored more than two this season.

With that said, Callum Lang’s recent return to action has been extremely timely – the 27-year-old’s two strikes have come in the past two games against Blackburn and Derby, helping to earn Pompey four points and keep their heads just above water.

“We’ve missed him a lot,” Portsmouth manager John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent. "To come back and score the two goals but also have that level of influence on the game has been really impressive."

No such issues at the moment for visitors QPR, who have found the net 10 times in their past four games – including four during a barnstorming first half last weekend as they hammered Leicester 4-1.

But seventh-placed Rangers have not managed to match their home form on recent travels, going down 3-1 against Norwich and Middlesbrough and it might also be worth pointing out that they lost both of their meetings with Portsmouth last season.

Bradley Allen
Ex-QPR striker on BBC Radio London

I think Alex Neil is looking at further fresh players, one or two being readied.

Their penalty box defending has been largely effective and I think that's something he'll be really proud of with the player availability.

Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM commentator

There are boos, but they're quiet boos around St Andrew's.

It was a bit like the Charlton home game, they probably did enough to win it, but they haven't.

By the way, we haven't had a 0-0 draw at The Den so far this season.

At the moment, it's actually Ipswich who are threatening to continue that record, with substitute Sindre Egeli playing a lovely ball across the six-yard box.

It was crying out for a finish, but nobody stepped up to apply it and we're still seeking that breakthrough...

A bruising Midlands derby eventually ends all-square!

Derby went into half-time a goal up after Patrick Agyemang headed home expertly following a terrific counter-attack.

The Rams were then reduced to 10 men before the break when Joe Ward received two yellow cards, the second of which was for a trip on Patrick Roberts, who was lively for Birmingham throughout.

After the interval, Blues defender Jack Robinson bundled the ball home to level the scores but replays showed he used his arm in the build-up.

The home side were then reduced to 10 men as well in additional time after captain Christoph Klarer was sent off for a dangerously high boot on Ebou Adams on the touchline.

A terrific Boxing Day battle to get us going this afternoon in the Second City.

Following Christoph Klarer's red card, we are into the 10th minute of additional time after the fourth official initially indicated their would be a minimum of five.

Birmingham so close to winning this game in additional time!

Defender Jack Robinson, who has already scored his first for the club today, smacks the crossbar with a header.

Derby keeper Zetterstrom was beaten. His side get away with one.

Jaden Philogene's begun to cause Millwall a few problems, cutting in from the left flank and he finally makes Max Crocombe break sweat with a decent effort that the keeper pushes away at his near post.

Surprisingly, that's Philogene's final contribution to the game as he and Jens Cajuste leave the field, to be replaced by Jack Taylor and Jack Clarke.

Alex Neil finally opts for fresh legs too as he sends on Thierny Ballo and Ryan Leonard. Aidomo Emakhu and Billy Mitchell are the players to make way.

Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM commentator

You could say there's been a bit of a lack of quality about this game today but there certainly hasn't been a lack of incidents.

It's 10 against 10 now and it's ending in a slightly curious way.

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West Brom have lost more often on the road than any other Championship team this season – so they’ll be thankful to the fixtures computer for handing them a Boxing Day assignment in familiar surroundings today.

Albion are unbeaten in their past seven outings at home, but an inability to pick up points away from base meant they limped towards Christmas in 16th place, almost as close to the bottom three as they are to the play-off positions.

Norwegian forward Aune Heggebo’s purple patch in front of goal, having struck seven times in his past eight games, has played a big part in easing some of the pressure on Baggies head coach Ryan Mason.

“Our away form has been terrible recently, but I think the lack of ability to back a result up with another result is what has really cost us so far,” Mason admitted to BBC Radio WM.

“If we want to climb the league and build some momentum, that’s what we have to do - regardless of how you play, you need to find a way to get results.”

Along with playing at home today, the other good news for the Albion faithful is that they face opponents who rarely do well at The Hawthorns – Bristol City have lost on seven of their past eight trips up the M5.

However, the Robins will travel today in buoyant mood after ending their three-match winless run in eye-catching style with a 2-0 victory over promotion-chasing Middlesbrough just before the festive season.

It's 10 against 10 now!

Already on a yellow card, Birmingham defender Christoph Klarer goes flying wildly into a challenge on Ebou Adams on the touchline, with a dangerously high foot and receives his marching orders.

It is not a second yellow but a straight red for Klarer meaning that will likely see him serve a further suspension.

Birmingham's Paik Seung-ho finds space 18 yards out and hits a thunderous effort towards goal but it is well saved by Derby's Jacob Zetterstrom.

We are into five minutes of additional time.

First changes in personnel as Ipswich turn to their substitutes.

Chuba Akpom and Sindre Egeli are the players summoned from the bench to replace Kasey McAteer and Ivan Azon.

Somehow, it's still 0-0 as Aidomo Emakhu slices an opportunity over the bar for the Lions.

Paik Seung-ho hits another left-footed strike but it is again well blocked by Derby's Curtis Nelson.

We are creeping towards injury time now.

Daz Hale
BBC WM

The second half has panned out as we expected it.

It's been all Blues, they got the equaliser but haven't been able to create that big chance, but there's still time for Blues to win it.

I do have admiration for how this Derby team have sweated blood this afternoon.