December is here, with Thursday night's match between Queens Park Rangers and Wolverhampton Wanderers kicking off a bumper month of football.
The Loftus Road clash, which finished 2-1 to the visitors, is one of three live Sky Sports games on Matchday 19 in the Sky Bet Championship, with the second coming 24 hours later when table-topping Newcastle visit Nottingham Forest.The other sides in the top three also face away trips. On Saturday, Brighton travel to Neil Warnock's Cardiff, while Reading will step out at Craven Cottage against Fulham.
Rock-bottom Rotherham - managerless once again after Kenny Jackett's shock resignation - begin the month with a trip to Burton, who have only found the net once in their last four outings.
The TV trilogy is completed on Saturday evening when Leeds host Aston Villa. Garry Monk's men have won four of their last five league games, while the Villans are still unbeaten since Steve Bruce's arrival.
Sky Bet Championship Matchday 19 fixtures (3pm kick-off unless stated)
Thursday 1st December 2016
Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (7:45pm - Live on Sky Sports)
Friday 2nd December 2016
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United (7:45pm - Live on Sky Sports)
Saturday 3rd December 2016
Birmingham City v Barnsley
Blackburn Rovers v Huddersfield Town
Bristol City v Ipswich Town
Burton Albion v Rotherham United
Cardiff City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Fulham v Reading
Leeds United v Aston Villa (5:30pm - Live on Sky Sports)
Norwich City v Brentford
Sheffield Wednesday v Preston North End
Wigan Athletic v Derby County
Referees: Click here to see the match offcials on duty
Five facts
1. The last City Ground meeting between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle produced a seven-goal thriller in an EFL Cup Round three meeting in 2011. Tied at 2-2 after 90 minutes, an enthralling extra-time period was settled by a last-gasp winner for the Toon.
2. Brighton and Cardiff have met once before on 3rd December. That was in 1983 at the Seagulls' old Goldstone Ground home, when the hosts ran out 3-1 winners.
3. Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End face off for the 95th time in the EFL, 124 years after their first encounter. The two sides are currently tied on 37 victories each with 20 draws.
4. The last time Leeds United and Aston Villa met at Elland Road was on Boxing Day in 2003, when the game finished goalless. Villa won the return fixture in February by two goals to nil.
5. Warren Joyce picked up his maiden win as Wigan manager last Monday night – another versus Derby would make it the first time the Latics have picked up successive victories this season.
From the dugout
Social media
Unfortunate result after performing really well against a top side. We must now regroup & quickly turn our focus to Saturday's game. #MOTpic.twitter.com/C47yYs2lVl
— Garry Monk (@GarryMonk) November 29, 2016
Congrats @RyanShotton88! 💪 #BCFChttps://t.co/7WrRgewwJF
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) November 28, 2016
.@Forestieri45 is your https://t.co/Ofdb166N9k November Player of the Month! ➡️ https://t.co/BE0S6wiGZT#swfcpic.twitter.com/iRIxtysZ39
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) November 30, 2016
FLASHBACK: The Reds face @BCFC on Saturday at St Andrews. We love a trip to the second city.... #COYRpic.twitter.com/YIV5QS0yDU
— Barnsley FC (@bfc_official) November 30, 2016
The moment Alan Hutton realises @22Gards has brought in a birthday cake to Bodymoor Heath for him! 😉😜🎂 #AVFCpic.twitter.com/mQyWRI1wnN
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) November 30, 2016
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