Can Frank Lampard maintain Coventry City’s incredible start, who will edge ahead in the play-off race – and the managers in need of some festive cheer: The Championship’s big talking points ahead of Boxing Day
The most anticipated time of the Championship season is here as teams embark on a hectic run of four games in just nine days from Boxing Day.
The second tier is shaping up to be an all-time classic in 2025-26, and the festive period will have a big impact on the promotion and relegation battle as teams scrap for points.
So, in light of the blockbuster run of action, Daily Mail Sport has picked out some key things to look out for.
Can Lampard keep it up?
The story of the season has been Frank Lampard’s Coventry City and how he has turned the Sky Blues into runaway leaders after last season’s play-off heartbreak.
Coventry, who sit 11 points clear of third place Ipswich and have lost just twice, are the division’s top scorers – with four players having scored seven or more goals – while they have also kept the joint-most clean sheets with eight.
They entertain Swansea City today, before facing games against Ipswich, Charlton and Birmingham over a period that could define their season.
Frank Lampard is doing an incredible job with Coventry City, who are top of the Championship
Lampard is under no illusions the task is nowhere near complete though.
‘You can’t relax,’ he told Daily Mail Sport in an exclusive interview ahead of Coventry’s draw at Southampton last week. ‘There’s 12 points and more just to get to early January so we have to stay on ourselves.
‘We can’t be off it in this period and we need to keep everybody fit, fresh and motivated. If we do that, and come through this period of games in a similar position, I’ll be very happy.’
The 47-year-old has done an incredible job at the CBS Arena, transforming the Sky Blues with 30 wins in 51 Championship games since his appointment in November 2024.
If his side can maintain their form over the next few weeks, Coventry may have one foot back in the Premier League for the first time since 2001.
Who will edge ahead in play-off battle?
The Championship has always been hugely competitive and tight, but even by its own standards this season has taken that reputation to a new level, with six points separating Ipswich in third and Leicester in 13th.
Even 18th place Sheffield United, who travel to Wrexham today nearly three years after their epic FA Cup encounter, are only a good run away from the play-off spots.
There are several other exciting match-ups on Boxing Day, including Millwall (6th) vs Ipswich (3rd) and Stoke City (8th) vs Preston (5th) – and with so many games in quick succession, successive victories could see teams parachute up the table in one of the most open promotion battles in years.
The division is likely to split over the coming weeks too, so the time is now to stand up and shred the inconsistency that has plagued many sides.
West Brom’s Ryan Mason needs some positive results after a mixed first half of the season
Which managers need some festive cheer?
It feels like a pivotal time for Ryan Mason at West Brom and Leicester City’s Marti Cifuentes, with both individuals struggling to connect with fans and live up to expectations.
Mason, in his first job, is hampered by the Baggies’ financial limitations and a weaker squad than in previous years, but Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Hull was their eighth successive away loss, and his side have failed to win back-to-back games since the second week of the campaign.
Supporters are beginning to lose patience, and with West Brom already seven points off the top six, Mason must pick up consistent results to avoid becoming the seventh Championship manager to be sacked in 2025-26 after Oxford dismissed Gary Rowett on Tuesday, although the former Tottenham midfielder did receive the backing of Albion’s sporting director Andrew Nestor earlier this week.
A home game against ninth place Bristol City will be a tough challenge but also a perfect opportunity for his side to demonstrate their credentials.
The situation is similar in the East Midlands, where Cifuentes’ position has come under scrutiny again after a 4-1 defeat by his former club QPR.
That halted a three-match unbeaten run, and although uncertainty remains over the outcome of their charges for alleged PSR breaches for 2023-24, the Foxes have underperformed.
Should they fail to go up this season, the club’s financial situation may worsen, yet positive results in home clashes against Watford and Derby over the next few days could lighten the mood around a team that remains four points off the top six.
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho could also do with a win against QPR.
