EFL preview: Plymouth look to kickstart season after Rooney exit
New Year's Eve is a time traditionally held for celebrations, late bedtimes and kisses at midnight but for those within the EFL, it's 1 January that holds all the fireworks.
Leeds United, Birmingham City and Walsall topped off their 2024 as the best of their divisions and will be hoping to make an explosive start to the new year against tough opponents.
But as for the EFL's three bottom sides - Plymouth Argyle, Burton Albion and Morecambe, well... you can take one guess at what their New Year's resolution might be: Escape relegation.
Here's what New Year's Day has in store for the second, third and fourth tiers.
Can Pilgrims return to winning ways after Rooney exit?
Plymouth's 2-0 defeat at Oxford United on Sunday proved to be the final game of the short and disappointing reign of Wayne Rooney, with the former England captain leaving his role on Tuesday.
Bottom of the Championship table with the worst defensive record in the EFL and the joint lowest wins in the league with four, it is not a huge surprise the club have looked to take action now.
Exasperated Pilgrims fans even joined in with the Oxford supporters' taunts, calling for Rooney's departure as they suffered a defeat at the hands of a team enjoying a new manager bounce under Gary Rowett.
The Devon side, who are without a victory since 5 November, welcome Bristol City to Home Park on Wednesday as one of three lunchtime kick-offs in the second tier.
Liam Manning's Robins gave Argyle a 4-0 drubbing in November and, having just beaten second-bottom Portsmouth 3-0 to enter the top 10, they will be looking to take the chance to get closer to the top six with an away win.
Plymouth enter the new year four points from moving out of the relegation zone and another defeat on Wednesday would leave the new man in charge facing an uphill battle to keep them in the league.
The best battle it out
A draw for Sheffield United in their final fixture of 2024 was enough for them to start 2025 in the top two behind Leeds United. Both have testing fixtures to start the new year.
Leeds host fifth-placed Blackburn Rovers and while the visitors ended their year on a lacklustre three-match winless streak, they did manage to take all three points in the reverse fixture in November.
Should the Lancashire side join rivals Burnley in winning at Elland Road this season, Daniel Farke's Whites know they could be overtaken at the top by the Blades following their evening game against Sunderland (20:00 GMT).
The Black Cats are unbeaten at the Stadium of Light this season but only the Clarets can better United's six wins on the road - so it's set up for a late festive cracker.
New year, new boss for Millwall
The changing year will not be the only difference for Millwall.
They will also see newly appointed head coach Alex Neil in the dugout for the first time as they host lowly Oxford United.
The Lions are in mid-table, five points ahead of the visitors, but sometimes it is the teams fighting for their lives in the relegation scrap that cause the biggest headaches.
Neil will want to get off to the best start possible at the beginning of his reign and he's not the only one looking to impress in a new position.
Hull City boss Ruben Selles registered his first away win since taking charge in December with their 1-0 victory over Blackburn and will be hoping to gain three points for the third time as his side welcome Middlesbrough.
On the other hand, new Bristol Rovers head coach Inigo Calderon was introduced to League One with a 3-0 loss at the hands of Stevenage and will be aiming to do better against a Leyton Orient side who have found some excellent form lately.
Can Barry go out with a bang?
Stockport County say goodbye to League One's top scorer Louie Barry on New Year's Day but not before they take on the tough task of hosting leaders Birmingham City.
The 21-year-old has been recalled by parent club Aston Villa after scoring 15 goals in the third tier to be "assessed" by boss Unai Emery.
It will certainly be a big loss for the Hatters but Barry helping them to a win over Villa's bitter rivals would no doubt soften the blow.
Blues have a potent attacking threat of their own in 12-goal Jay Stansfield and given that they have not lost any of their past seven league games, it will be a tough task indeed for County.
But Barry will have every reason to dazzle in his final appearance for Stockport.
Not only as one last hurrah for a club that he's thrived at but also as another opportunity to catch the eye of bigger clubs.
Notts look to take a bite out of Saddlers lead
Walsall's League Two campaign has been nothing short of stellar this season.
Six league wins in a row, 13 unbeaten, and a dozen points clear at the top.
It feels like the West Midlands side would need to take an almighty tumble in order to blow their chance of promotion in the new year.
The table below them is nothing short of extraordinary with just one point separating second-placed AFC Wimbledon and Crewe in eighth.
Third-placed Notts County, who host Walsall on Wednesday, are one of five teams on 37 points.
The Magpies are on a hot streak themselves, winning their past three matches and ending the year with a 5-3 win over Cheltenham.
At the other end, none of the bottom six start 2025 feeling safe.
Tranmere, in 19th and four points clear of the relegation zone, take on bottom club Morecambe, who could climb out of the relegation zone with a win.
Carlisle's huge result against fellow strugglers Accrington on Sunday will give them hope at Crewe, while Stanley face promotion-chasers Grimsby.
Swindon and Harrogate will want to make the most of home advantage in their bid to move clear of trouble as they take on Colchester and Salford respectively.
You can follow all the EFL action live on the BBC Sport website starting with Plymouth Argyle v Bristol City and QPR v Watford on 1 January at 12:30 GMT.
