The Championship kicked off 2025 with a bang thanks to a full fixture list from England's second tier, and it was full of the usual drama up and down the league.
Blackburn's late point at Elland Road means the promotion race gets tighter, while Plymouth started life without Wayne Rooney with a point at home to Bristol City.
Here are the division's winners and losers from the New Year's Day action.
Winners
Sunderland
The Black Cats had suffered from a small dose of inconstancy leading up to the Christmas break but pulled off a massive win in the promotion picture. Their 2-1 win over fellow contenders Sheffield United at the Stadium of Light means the North-East club are now just two points of the automatic places after Leeds and Burnley also dropped points.
Michael Carrick
Sunderland wasn't the only side in the North-East celebrating after Middlesborough's late, late show against Hull City. The tea-time kick-off seemed to be ambling to a goalless draw in injury time until Alex Gilbert slotted home a 93rd-minute winner to give the visitors all three points. The goal signalled jubilation on the Middlesborough bench, with Carrick jumping around in celebration with his backroom staff.
Josh Windass
There is nothing like beginning the new year by netting a goal that will be played over and over again throughout the season and beyond. The Sheffield Wednesday forward channelled the likes of Xabi Alonso and David Beckham by scoring from his own half in the Owls 4-2 win over Derby County. You can stop the count on this year's Goal of the Season right now.
Portsmouth
There hasn't been too much to smile about for Pompey fans since their return to the Championship, but they showed that there's some mighty fight left in them with a thumping win on New Year's Day. John Mousinho's men thrashed Swansea 4-0 at Fratton Park to make it the perfect start to 2025. Now, they must build on the result to steer themselves away from the relegation battle at the bottom.
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Losers
Millwall
Alex Neil got off to the worst possible start as Millwall boss as the Lions' former boss returned to haunt them. Gary Rowett has given Oxford United a real boost since taking over in December, and this was his third win on the bounce as he inflicted defeat on his former employers. Neil had only been in the post a matter of days, so although it's a bitter pill to swallow, better says should follow in South-East London.
Rob Edwards
The Hatters' Premier League hangover doesn't seem to want to go away and pressure is starting to mount on Rob Edwards. They suffered another home defeat on New Year's Eve - this time to Norwich City - meaning it's just one win in the last five and they sit just three points off the table's bottom three.
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