Matchday 22 of the EFL Championship delivered drama, controversy and stunning results on Saturday, December 20, 2025, with the race for promotion and survival taking fascinating new twists.
QPR 4-1 Leicester: Cifuentes' Nightmare Return
The headline match of the day lived up to expectations as Queens Park Rangers demolished Leicester City 4-1 at Loftus Road in what became a humiliating return for Marti Cifuentes, who left the R's earlier this year under acrimonious circumstances to take charge of the Foxes.
The first half was a nightmare for the Spanish coach. Koki Saito opened the scoring in just the second minute, bundling home after Burrell's cross deflected off him. Richard Kone (29'), Karamoko Dembele (33') and Amadou Mbengue (45+3') then piled on the misery as QPR led 4-0 at the break.
Leicester showed more fight after the interval but the damage was done. Silko Thomas grabbed his first goal for the club in the 82nd minute, reacting quickest after Bobby De Cordova-Reid's penalty struck the post.
"I'm really angry and disappointed about the first half. We played below our standards and got punished. It's emotionally tough to take."
For QPR, head coach Julien Stephan was thrilled: "It was probably the best first half and best feeling since I started this job. To score four goals like this and create this atmosphere with the fans was outstanding."
Southampton 1-1 Coventry: Lampard's Touchline Bust-Up
League leaders Coventry City preserved their position at the summit despite a challenging afternoon at St Mary's Stadium. The Sky Blues took the lead through Ephron Mason-Clark on 44 minutes but were reduced to ten men when Jay Da Silva was sent off shortly after the restart (47').
Nathan Wood equalised for Southampton in the 56th minute, but the Saints couldn't find a winner despite enjoying 60% possession against their depleted opponents.
The talking point came after the final whistle when Coventry boss Frank Lampard admitted he was "out of order" after sparking a post-match melee with Southampton's staff.
Ipswich 3-1 Sheffield Wednesday: Tractor Boys Climb to Third
Ipswich Town moved up to third place in the Championship table with a 3-1 victory over rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road. Manager Kieran McKenna admitted there was "a lot of tension" in the first-half performance.
Cedric Kipre broke the deadlock with a powerful header from a corner (33'), after Philogene had struck the post with an acrobatic overhead kick. Jaden Philogene then netted his eighth goal of the season (60'), before substitute Jack Clarke wrapped up the points late on (87').
Liam Cooper pulled one back for the Owls (71'), but Sheffield Wednesday remain rooted to the bottom with -9 points, having been docked 18 points this season (12 for entering administration, 6 for failure to meet payment obligations).
In positive news for Wednesday fans, the EFL confirmed no further points deductions will be applied, potentially smoothing the path for a takeover with Mike Ashley reported as the frontrunner.
All Matchday 22 Results
| Match | Score | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|
| Blackburn Rovers - Millwall | 2-0 | - |
| Preston North End - Norwich City | 1-1 | - |
| Southampton - Coventry City | 1-1 | Wood (56') - Mason-Clark (44') |
| Bristol City - Middlesbrough | 2-0 | - |
| Charlton Athletic - Oxford United | 1-0 | - |
| Derby County - Portsmouth | 1-1 | - |
| Hull City - West Bromwich Albion | 1-0 | - |
| Ipswich Town - Sheffield Wednesday | 3-1 | Kipre (33'), Philogene (60'), Clarke (87') - Cooper (71') |
| QPR - Leicester City | 4-1 | Saito (2'), Kone (29'), Dembele (33'), Mbengue (45+3') - Thomas (82') |
| Sheffield United - Birmingham City | 3-0 | - |
| Watford - Stoke City | 1-0 | - |
Key Takeaways
- Coventry City remain top with 48 points despite a hard-fought draw at Southampton
- Middlesbrough (2nd) slip up at Bristol City, allowing Ipswich to close the gap to 5 points
- Ipswich Town (3rd) capitalise on rivals' mistakes to climb onto the podium
- QPR make it four consecutive home wins and stay in the playoff hunt
- Leicester City suffer a heavy defeat, putting Marti Cifuentes under serious pressure
- Sheffield Wednesday appear destined for relegation, sitting 27 points from safety
What's Next: Boxing Day Football
The Championship returns on December 26 with a full Boxing Day programme. Key fixtures include: Coventry vs Swansea, Millwall vs Ipswich, and Leicester vs Watford as the Foxes look to bounce back.
