EFL Round Up: The Biggest Results From Around The Grounds Today

EFL Round Up: The Biggest Results From Around The Grounds Today

Despite the match-day being ravaged by postponements, the EFL still left us spoilt for choice on big results to discuss, delivering some serious drama across all three divisions.

League Two was hit especially hard by the cold weather, where 10 games were postponed, leaving just the two early kick-offs to be played, but we were still treated to some entertaining action.

Here's a round-up of the most important results from across the Football League in what was a streamlined day of football, and what they mean for their respective league tables.

Championship

Preston win away in big play-off battle

Bristol City 0-2 Preston North End

An early goal from Lewis Dobbin, followed by a 70th minute finish by Alfie Devine, sunk Bristol City as Preston retained a spot in the play-offs, only three points behind Middlesbrough in second.

The gap between the sides heading into the game was only a single point, and the hosts would've been in high confidence following their 5-0 dismantling of Portsmouth on New Years Day.

It was the visitors, though, who prevailed pretty comfortably, keeping the Robins' frontline quiet with some excellent defensive efforts to keep them fighting in the play-offs for another few days.

WHAT AN AWAY DAY THAT IS. 😍#pnefc pic.twitter.com/ctCiFDj6Wf

— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) January 4, 2026

On the wrong side of the scoreline, Bristol City slipped to 10th and have lost their grip on a place in the top six, despite the gap between themselves and Watford in the final play-off position being only two points following the defeat.

Watford and Hull, who occupy sixth and seventh, were due to play each other today, but the game was one of many across the EFL that was postponed. Had either side won, then Preston wouldn't be up in fourth, but they'll keep their place there at least until after the weekend's FA Cup action is completed.

Scoring form returns for Boro as they batter Southampton

Middlesbrough 4-0 Southampton

Boro bounced back from an especially rocky patch of form to earn a very convincing victory against Southampton in what was a fantastic second half performances from Kim Hellberg's side.

Having taken only one point from their previous four, the hosts were at risk of slipping away from the battle for second following Ipswich's impressive run lately, but four goals in 22 minutes in the second half blew away their South coast opposition, who are now on a six game winless streak.

A brace for Morgan Whittaker took his goalscoring tally for the season up to 10 goals in the Championship, as Samuel Silvera and Alan Browne also got themselves on the scoresheet against a lacklustre Southampton side.

Questions are being asked over Gavin Bazunu's performance in goal for the Saints, with the general consensus being that he was especially poor today, not to mention his lack of conviction that allowed Browne to grab his goal for 4-0.

🚨 Goal. Browne with Boro’s fourth. #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/6u072cvPGg

— SaintsExtra (@SaintsExtra) January 4, 2026

League One

Emphatic Lincoln strengthen promotion hopes

Lincoln City 5-2 Peterborough United

Tendayi Darikwa and Reeco Hackett, take a bow. These two put in unbelievable performances on the right flank, with Captain Darikwa scoring twice and bagging one assist, while Hackett also found the net and set up two.

It was Peterborough who took the lead in the 24th minute through Harry Leonard for the striker's eight goal of the League One season, but it ultimately counted for very little when Hackett responded nine minutes later.

Goals just before half time from Freddie Draper and Darikwa put an end to an action-packed first half, with the hosts going into the break 3-1 up.

Kyrell Lisbie halfed the deficit in the 56th minute, putting Luke Williams' side in the mood to go and achieve a comeback in the second half. They clearly got a bit too carried away, though, as Adam Reach found the net immediately after to reinstill a two goal lead for his side.

Darikwa put the game to bed in stoppage time with his second goal to secure a 5-2 win, in a game filled to the brim with goals and action.

⚽️LINCOLN CITY BEAT POSH IN RIDICULOUS GAME⚽️

A seven-goal stunner at Sincil Bank as @LincolnCity_FC beat rivals Peterborough United.

Another statement of intent from the Imps.

📻Live reaction: https://t.co/OHD5PLltjG
📸Graham Burrell pic.twitter.com/0kg7FedrH8

— BBC Sport Lincolnshire (@BBCSportLincs) January 4, 2026

The result has kept Lincoln's unlikely push for promotion well and truly alive, as they stayed second and above Bradford, despite the Bantams picking up a win of their own.

League leaders Cardiff also won, meaning the top three all picked up three points to keep the pecking order the same (for now). Cardiff and Bradford both have a game in hand over Lincoln, so the fight at the top could be a very interesting one over the next few weeks.

Plymouth beat fellow relegation contenders to climb five places

Plymouth Argyle 3-0 Burton Albion

Domination isn't something that Tom Cleverley's side have been on the right side of this season, but they certainly were in their 3-0 win against struggling Burton Albion, inflicting a third defeat in three games upon the visitors.

Argyle had a total of 20 shots, with Lorent Tolaj stepping up as the main threat in the final third, earning a goal and an assist.

Full-back Brendan Galloway opened the scoring in the 21st minute, though the hosts didn't relent and continued piling the pressure on the Albion defence.

They were forced to practice patience, however, as they would wait until the 63rd minute before their second goal, scored by Mathias Ross who had entered the fray just three minutes prior.

Tolaj put the tie beyond reach in the 77th minute with a penalty, his 12th goal of the season in League One.

Well In Lads pic.twitter.com/MIMmRi9wZd

— SRC_ARISE (@markus_web77860) January 4, 2026

The win means Plymouth catapulted up to 16th from 21st, finally leaving the relegation zone after a torrid start to the season, and can now push on into the mid-table pack, where the league is incredibly congested and seperated by just a handful of points.

It's so close, in fact, that a good run of form could see Argyle join the playoff race before long. We probably shouldn't get ahead of ourselves though, as that would be a magnificent turnaround from how they began the campaign.

Burton, unfortunately, dropped into the bottom four as a result of the loss, but are only three points behind Plymouth, so although there is reason for concern at their position right now, the chances are that they'll be able to head back up the table in the next few weeks.

League Two

Will Grigg completes comeback in massive play-off clash

Milton Keynes Dons 2-2 Chesterfield

When a Rushian Hepburn-Murphy beauty emphatically found the net from 25 yards out to give his side a 2-0 lead in the dying embers of the first half, the Dons were expecting to waltz to a huge three points that would see them rise into the automatic promotion spots, as well as bringing them some much needed breathing room from the play-off chasers behind them.

Chesterfield had other ideas.

Veteran Callum Paterson opened the scoring in the 29th minute, before his strike partner doubled the lead for MK Dons heading into half time, but the hosts weren't able to take their momentum into the second half.

Liam Mandeville spearheaded an inspiring fight from the visitors, as Sam Curtis scored a debut goal following his loan from Sheffield United, heading home at the back post following a wonderful delivery from the aforementioned winger.

The remainder of the game was much more open, with both sides pushing to find the crucial next goal, but it looked like it would never come for either side.

That was until the 94th minute, where Will Grigg made it a day for the veterans when Mandeville's cross from a corner flew perfectly to the striker's head, where he flicked it goalward and in off the crossbar.

A 94th minute equaliser and INCREDIBLE celebration from Will Grigg!🔥 @ChesterfieldFC #EFL | #SkyBetLeagueTwo pic.twitter.com/OLueEJBaxk

— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) January 4, 2026

His celebration saw him booked, and his manager Paul Cook was shown a second yellow, meaning he won't be allowed on the sideline for their clash against Colchester.

The points being shared meant MK Dons squandered the chance to apply pressure to Walsall, Swindon and Bromley at the top of the table, instead settling for a place in fifth, where they are only two points behind the automatics, but also only two points ahead of eighth.

Chesterfield, meanwhile, jumped ahead of Notts County into seventh, adopting the final play-off position, but they'll only hold it for now as the plethora of postponements means almost everyone around them now have a game in hand.