EFL Round-Up: The Biggest Clashes That Sparked a new Year

EFL Round-Up: The Biggest Clashes That Sparked a new Year

The first day of 2026 saw football take place across the country in all three divisions of the EFL, with goals scored all around the grounds in the Championship, League One and League Two as teams looked to start the new year on positive terms.

Here is our round-up of the best EFL clashes of New Year’s Day

Championship:

Bristol City 5-0 Portsmouth

John Mousinho’s Portsmouth have struggled for form this campaign in their second season since returning to England’s second tier following promotion from League One in 2023.

However, did secure a dramatic victory in their previous encounter with a 98th minute winner from Yang Min-hyeok vs Charlton at Fratton Park which stretched their unbeaten run to four matches.

Carnage. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/OiRT3dbAKJ

— Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) December 30, 2025

Despite that, they were brought straight back down to earth as they made the trip to Ashton Gate to face Bristol City, as the Robins thrashed Pompey by five goals to nil.

The departure of Liam Manning has not derailed Bristol City like some may have thought, as Austrian coach Gerhard Struber has the Robins very much in the fight for a playoff spot at the halfway stage,. And his side wasted little time in gaining an advantage over Portsmouth, opening the scoring in the 12th minute through Adam Randell.

An absolute worldie from Adam Randell! 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/X99LmLceF3

— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) January 1, 2026

City’s strong start to the game would grow not long after, as the lead was soon doubled by Anis Mehmeti who scored his 8th goal of the season in what has been an impressive season so far for the midfielder, who also has six assists to his name.

Fellow attacking midfielder Scott Twine would add a third, before substitute Sinclair Armstrong came off the bench to score a brace, with the last coming in the 93rd minute to really rub salt in Pompey wounds.

The result has Struber’s side just one point off the playoff places, whilst Portsmouth are the same gap away from the bottom three.

QPR 1-2 Norwich City

Phillippe Clement’s Norwich City revival continued at Loftus Road to earn a crucial victory over Queens Park Rangers.

YEELLLOOOWWWWWSS 👊 pic.twitter.com/dLdlLSdBAR

— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) January 1, 2026

21-Year-Old Jovon Makama struck in the 96th minute for his ninth of an impressive breakthrough campaign, which followed an opening goal a minute after the interval restart by striker Josh Sargent.

Norwich had started the 2025/26 Championship season in dismal form under former Bristol City boss Liam Manning, leading to the appointment of ex-Rangers boss Clement.

Makama again, olé olé 🥰 pic.twitter.com/vBst5hqfZz

— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) January 1, 2026

And after a 4-1 loss to Birmingham City in his first match in late November, the Belgian has the Canaries on track for safety. With just two losses since and big wins over Southampton, Charlton and now QPR for the second time after a 3-1 success at Carrow Road on 29th November.

The home side meanwhile despite the defeat still are comfortable in mid-table, however QPR supporters will perhaps be hoping for a bit more consistency in their results, with three wins, three losses and a draw making up their last seven.

The opportunity for QPR to bounce back is strong as they face bottom club Sheffield Wednesday at Loftus Road on Sunday 4th January, whilst Norwich look to escape the relegation zone for the first time this season when they take on struggling Stoke City.

EFL League One

Port Vale 5-1 Blackpool

Port Vale’s first match since the dismissal of Darren Moore saw a resounding result for the side from Stoke-On-Trent, as a stunning second half saw five goals scored without reply vs 10-player Blackpool.

FULL TIME

THREE MASSIVE POINTS. GET INNNNN!!#PVFCLive | 5-1 pic.twitter.com/HWmcS0St8J

— Port Vale Football Club (@OfficialPVFC) January 1, 2026

Vale sacked Moore after just three wins in 22 games had them bottom of the league and falling away from the rest of the division with three losses in a row.

And initially things looked to be going the same way under caretaker boss Jamie Smith, as Blackpool took the lead mid-way through the first half with a strike from Tom Bloxham.

However, defender James Husband saw a straight red card go his way a minute into first half stoppage time to present Vale with an opportunity to take an advantage in the game.

And take advantage is exactly what they did, as two quick-fire goals early in the second half in the 54th and 58th minutes saw the game turn on its head and see Vale in the lead.

The home side however were far from done at simply 2-1 and added a crucial third goal through Jaheim Headley to all but secure the victory. Before Devante Cole and Ronan Curtis added two more late on to blow the Tangerines away and earn Vale just their fourth victory of the campaign, and their first in the league since late September.

🗣️ Hear from Jamie Smith following this afternoon's 5-1 win against Blackpool#PVFC | #PVFC150 pic.twitter.com/TiPvH0pHKm

— Port Vale Football Club (@OfficialPVFC) January 1, 2026

Vale had scored just 13 goals all season before the game and will be hoping that the result and how it came about will be enough to put a positive run of results together as they look to escape the bottom place.

Blackpool meanwhile will want to bounce back quickly to avoid being brought into the relegation fight, with the Seasiders just two points off the drop zone.

EFL League Two

Bromley 2-1 Newport County

Bromley’s fairytale season so far continued on New Year’s Day as they defeated Newport County 2-1 at home, making it their sixth EFL League Two victory in a row.

Happy New Year 🫶 pic.twitter.com/e0WcVqv1Im

— Bromley FC (@bromleyfc) January 1, 2026

Promoted to the Football League for the first time in their history in 2023 after winning the National League playoffs, Bromley survived comfortably in 11th in their first season in League Two.

However, no one would have predicted them to be where they are now, with 48 points from 24 games Bromley’s victory over Newport has them two points clear at the top from second place Swindon Town.

Opponents Newport find themselves in a very different world, with the Welsh side winning just four of their first 24 matches after defeat at Bromley and have just one win in the last five. With their stay in the Football League at danger of coming to an end.

Hear from Woody after our sixth league win in a row 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/WqoQv5zXbz

— Bromley FC (@bromleyfc) January 1, 2026

It took 48 minutes for the league leaders to find the breakthrough, and it eventually game through an own-goal by Courtney Baker-Richardson three minutes into first half stoppage time.

The second goal was added on the 74th minute by Nicke Kabamba for Bromley on the 74th minute to all but secure the win, however a strike from Nathan Opoku three minutes from ninety caused some nervousness.

Bromley however held on for the three points to keep the train going at the top of the table.