{"id":211964,"date":"2025-12-26T14:28:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T14:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/211964\/"},"modified":"2025-12-26T14:28:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T14:28:11","slug":"birmingham-v-derby-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/211964\/","title":{"rendered":"Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live | Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p>Show key events only<\/p>\n<p>Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Oxford United: Following the dimissal of Gary Rowett three days ago, Oxford United will face Southampton at the Kassam Stadium with Craig Short in interim charge. Rowett and his assistant Mark Sale were relieved of their duties following a disappointing run of results, most recently a 1-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic. Oxford United have won just one of their past 10 games and currently sit 22nd in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/championship\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2025\/dec\/26\/coventry-v-swansea-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-694e999e8f089326d9f0d8af#block-694e999e8f089326d9f0d8af\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Birmingham get lucky: Already on a yellow card, Birmingham City captain Christoph Klarer illegally blocks Patrick Agyemang as he attempts to run on to a long ball from deep. Klarer escapes a second yellow and the red that should accompany it but Derby County head coach John Eustace is booked for complaining about what seems a blatant injustice. It\u2019s a baffling decision.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2025\/dec\/26\/coventry-v-swansea-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-694e96f28f08892a3e2af0a3#block-694e96f28f08892a3e2af0a3\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>GOAL! Birmingham City 1-1 Derby County (Robinson 64)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Championship: Despite failing to properly get his head to a free-kick aimed towards the far post, Jack Robinson somehow manages to take advantage of some slapstick defending to bundle the ball over the line anyway and equalise for Birmingham City against 10-man Derby County. It\u2019s as scruffy a goal as you\u2019ll ever see but the home fans at St Andrew\u2019s won\u2019t care.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2025\/dec\/26\/coventry-v-swansea-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-694e942a8f08892a3e2af096#block-694e942a8f08892a3e2af096\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a009.06 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Millwall 0-0 Ipswich Town: It\u2019s half-time at the Den, where the deadlock between Millwall and Ipswich remains resolutely unbroken.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2025\/dec\/26\/coventry-v-swansea-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-694e93e78f089326d9f0d88e#block-694e93e78f089326d9f0d88e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Afcon: In today\u2019s early match, Knowledge Musona scored for Zimbabwe in the sixth minute of time added on at the end of the first half to cancel out Gelson Dala\u2019s opener for Angola. It\u2019s 1-1 in Marrakesh.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2025\/dec\/26\/coventry-v-swansea-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-694e92b38f0883df52b58c89#block-694e92b38f0883df52b58c89\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Birmingham 0-1 Derby County: The second half is well under way at St Andrew\u2019s, where Birmingham City trail 1-0 and have just had an excellent shout for a penalty inexplicably turned down. With both his arms wrapped around Marvin Ducksch, Derby defender Matt Clarke fell backwards in his own penalty area, clearly dragging the Birmingham striker to ground with him. He gets away with it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2025\/dec\/26\/coventry-v-swansea-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-694e917e8f089326d9f0d87f#block-694e917e8f089326d9f0d87f\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a008.50 EST<\/p>\n<p>John Robertson dies &#8220;peacefully&#8221; aged 72<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">There will have been no shortage of glasses raised in Nottingham, Scotland and beyond yesterday in memory of John Robertson, following news of his death at the age of 72. The winger was a hugely important member of Brian Clough\u2019s great Forest team that rose from the second tier of English football to win multiple major honours, most famously back-to-back European Cups.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Described by Clough as \u201cthe Picasso of our game\u201d, Robertson played 28 times for Scotland and scored the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-527GcmB_6A\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">winning goal in a Home Championship victory over England<\/a> at Wembley in May 1981. Sachin Nakrani reports \u2026<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2025\/dec\/26\/coventry-v-swansea-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-694e62f28f0883df52b58b4a#block-694e62f28f0883df52b58b4a\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Premier League and EFL to hold blackout talks<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Guardian exclusive: The Premier League and EFL will hold talks early next year about combining to permit 3pm Saturday kick-offs to be broadcast live each week for the first time. Matt Hughes reports \u2026<\/p>\n<p>The UK is the last country in Europe to apply the so-called 3pm Saturday blackout, and with the Premier League and EFL eager to sell all their games to domestic broadcasters in the next rights cycle they want an early agreement before the next tender. Photograph: NurPhoto\/Getty Images<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2025\/dec\/26\/coventry-v-swansea-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-694e651d8f089326d9f0d72e#block-694e651d8f089326d9f0d72e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Today at the Africa Cup of NationsGelson Dala salutes the fans after giving Angola a 1-0 lead over Zimbabwe at Marrakesh Stadium. Photograph: Khaled Desouki\/AFP\/Getty Images<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2025\/dec\/26\/coventry-v-swansea-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-694e68818f08892a3e2aef5b#block-694e68818f08892a3e2aef5b\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Championship: In today\u2019s early kick-off, Derby County lead Birmingham City courtesy of a Patrick Agemang header in the 27th minute, but are down to 10 men following the dimissal of Joe Ward. The Derby winger picked up a silly yellow card for trying to delay a free-kick and was sent off for his second bookable offence 10 minutes later. His crime? Cynically tripping Jonathan Roberts as he advanced on the visitors\u2019 penalty area. He can have no complaints about either caution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">They\u2019re approaching half-time at St Andrew\u2019s, while it\u2019s scoreless at the Den in today\u2019s slightly later kick-off between Millwall and Ipswich Town after 19 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Derby County\u2019s Joe Ward (centre) ponders his life choices after being shown a red card by referee Ben Toner for two bookable offences. Photograph: David Davies\/PA<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2025\/dec\/26\/coventry-v-swansea-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-694e895c8f089326d9f0d82d#block-694e895c8f089326d9f0d82d\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Boxing Day Championship fixtures<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Birmingham City 0-1 Derby County (L)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Millwall 0-0 Ipswich Town (L)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Coventry City v Swansea City<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Leicester City v Watford<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Middlesbrough v Blackburn<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Norwich City v Charlton Athletic<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Oxford United v Southampton<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Portsmouth v QPR<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Sheffield Wednesday v Hull City<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Stoke City v Preston<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">West Brom v Bristol City<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Wrexham v Sheffield United (5.30pm GMT)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/championship\/table\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">View the Championship table<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Millwall fans make their way to Den for this afternoon\u2019s match between their side and Ipswich Town.  Photograph: Adam Davy\/PA<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2025\/dec\/26\/coventry-v-swansea-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-694e67678f08892a3e2aef4c#block-694e67678f08892a3e2aef4c\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a008.22 EST<\/p>\n<p>Boxing Day clockwatch &#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Good afternoon and season\u2019s greetings to you all. If you\u2019re currently nursing a mild Harvey\u2019s Bristol Cream headache, staring at a mountain of cold meat and unable to get to the TV because nan and the kids are watching Minions: The Rise of Gru, you\u2019ve come to the right place. Obviously, if you\u2019re watching Minions: The Rise of Gru but wish to simultaneously wish keep tabs on all of his afternoon\u2019s football action, then you\u2019ve also come to the right place. Welcome, nan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Unlike your Christmas turkey, there are slim top flight pickings to be had today; a quirk of the 2025 calendar and broadcasting demands means the Premier League has largely pulled up the drawbridge, leaving us with just a solitary nightcap at Old Trafford later on. But fear not, for the EFL remains the heart and soul of the festive schedule. We have a full slate of 3pm kick-offs, in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/championship\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Championship<\/a>, including leaders Coventry City hosting Swansea and a high-stakes clash between Middlesbrough and Blackburn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Beyond the second tier, we\u2019ll be scanning the EFL for any headline news of note \u2014 and for those craving something a bit more exotic than a drizzly afternoon in Gillingham, we\u2019re also keeping tabs on Afcon goings-on in Morocco. Angola and Zimbabwe\u2019s Group B game is already under way, while Egypt and South Africa are due to kick off in Agadir at 3pm (GMT). Settle in, grab a drink and a mince pie, and let\u2019s get to it.<\/p>\n<p>This Birmingham City fan dressed for the occasion ahead of his team\u2019s match against Derby County at St Andrew\u2019s.  Photograph: Cameron Smith\/Getty Images<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Birmingham v Derby, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 \u2013 football live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2025\/dec\/26\/coventry-v-swansea-egypt-v-south-africa-and-more-efl-afcon-2025-football-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69441d8f8f0894f17bf816b7#block-69441d8f8f0894f17bf816b7\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a008.35 EST<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Oxford United: Following the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":211965,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[61,60,112],"class_list":["post-211964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=211964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211964\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/211965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=211964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=211964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=211964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}