The Sports Buff ⚽️ ⚾️ 🏈

It was double fixture week for the second tier of English Football as Christmas is closing in, and so is the halfway point of the season.

The first piece of action kicked off on Tuesday Night, one of the eight games featured Preston North End’s challenge against Coventry City at Deepdale Stadium.

Paul Heckingbottom’s 10 men managed to salvage a point with a 1-1 draw as Liam Lindsay was sent off late in the first half.

Swansea City earned back-to-back wins thanks to Joe Cullen scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 home win over Portsmouth.

Ciaron Brown’s first half strike was cancelled out by a penalty from Todd Cantwell as Blackburn Rovers drew 1-1 with Oxford United.

Southampton held on to a crucial lead to beat West Brom 3-2 at St Mary’s Stadium as Adam Armstrong scored an important brace in the first 45.

Middlesbrough continued their rich run of form with a 2-1 away victory to a downfallen Charlton Athletic.

Sheffield United shared a point with Norwich City in a 1-1 draw as El Hadji Djibril Soumare’s own goal cost The Blades a possible triumph.

Vivaldo Semedo’s 98th minute equaliser rescued a point for Watford against bottom of the league Sheffield Wednesday with the match finishing 1-1.

Patrick Roberts though he had rescued a point for Birmingham City in the 94th minute at Loftus Road, but three minutes later, Kieran Morgan won it for Queens Park Rangers to earn a 2-1 victory.

On Wednesday Night, After Jaden Philogene’s 2nd minute strike, Ipswich Town held on to their one goal lead and claimed three huge points against play-off contenders Stoke City.

It was all own-goal scorers at Pride Park as Matthew Clarke struck the wrong net for Derby County, only for Jake Cooper to disappoint Millwall by conceding a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Bristol City came from behind to finish on level terms with Leicester City, drawing 2-2 in what was a game of two halves.

Hull City bouncd back to defeat Wrexham 2-0 at the MKM Stadium with a returning Oli McBurnie adding to the scoresheet.

On Friday Night, West Brom returned to winning ways as they defeated Sheffield United 2-0 at The Hawthorns.

Into the weekend, Jovo Makama’s brace gave Norwich City their fourth victory in the Championship, conquering Southampton 2-1.

Preston North End held on to a vital lead to defeat Oxford United 2-1 as the Lilywhites now sit third in the table.

Ben Pearson ended his six-year goal drought, helping Stoke City break their three-game losing streak with a 2-1 win against Swansea City.

Oliver Rathbone was the hero for Wrexham as he scored a 92nd minute equaliser to draw 2-2 with Watford.

The league leaders Coventry City returned to the win column after Ephron Mason-Clark’s strike was enough for The Sky Blues to beat Bristol City 1-0.

Tyreece Campbell’s leveller was enough for Charlton Athletic to hold on and secure a point in a 1-1 draw away at Birmingham City.

Callum Lang and Ibane Bowat completed the turn-around to give Portsmouth a 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers and jump out of the relegation zone.

Kyle Joseph’s brace was vital for Hull City’s victory over Millwall at The Den as The Tigers edged into the play-offs by one point.

Middlesbrough stand just five points away from the top of the league after a comfortable 3-1 home win over QPR.

Leicester City made it three games unbeaten after defeating Ipswich Town 3-1 which included a 60-yard screamer from Abdul Fatawu in the first half.

Finally, on Monday Night, Derby County kept themselves in play-off contention after a 3-0 away win to bottom of the league Sheffield Wednesday which included a brace from Patrick Agyemang.