Callum Lang's four goals against Coventry City took his Championship goal tally to nine for the season so far

EFL Team of the Week: Four-star Callum Lang helps lift Portsmouth out of the relegation zone 

EFL defences were gifting goals in the last weekend of footballing action before Christmas as Callum Lang scored four goals in Portsmouth’s 4-1 victory over Coventry City.

There was an obscene amount of goals scored and plenty of shocking results, some with a surprising winner and others with interesting scorelines. 

Here is Charlie Elliott’s EFL Team of the Week for the festive fixtures.

James Beadle (Sheffield Wednesday) 

Despite having 10-men on the pitch for much of the game, got a 2-0 win at home to Stoke City. 

Crucial in this surprisingly positive result was young goalkeeper James Beadle, on loan from and Hove Albion. 

Beadle saved a point-blank header at 1-0 up but went one better at 2-0, when he saved a Tom Cannon penalty low to his left.  

With ten minutes to go, a goal could easily have swung the momentum in Stoke’s favour and they may have pushed on to get an equaliser, but Beadle’s stop made sure it wasn’t put to chance and the points stayed at Hillsborough. 

Jayden Bogle (Leeds United) 

goes into Christmas second in the Championship thanks to a 4-0 win at home to

Right-back Jayden Bogle did not only defend opposing winger Owen Dale expertly, causing the latter to be subbed after only 60 minutes, but he got on the scoresheet himself. 

Bogle slotted into the corner with the composure of a striker to put 2-0 up at the time and effectively sealed the win. 

Lloyd Jones (Charlton Athletic) 

Charlton Athletic won comfortably away at Northampton Town and in another week could have had four or five players in this team. 

Unfortunately, there was so much attacking talent on show across the EFL that there is only the sole Addicks player in this squad. 

Lloyd Jones was outstanding at centre back and was an absolute rock, with 15 clearances in total. 

Nothing got past him, which formed a strong base for the attackers to work their magic, which they did in abundance. 

Thomas Holmes (Luton Town) 

Luton Town left it late at home to Derby County, scoring a double at the death to get a 2-1 home win over the Rams. 

Thomas Holmes was the one who started it all, scoring the equaliser. 

His goal came courtesy of his backside deflecting a powerful Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu volley, but they all count. 

Defensively he was solid and Derby were unable to have much of an impact for most of the game. 

Idris Odutayo (Bromley) 

Bromley coasted to a 2-0 away win at Morecambe, much to the delight of the 93 travelling Ravens fans. 

Idris Odutayo was the difference at left wing-back, showing both quality on the ball and defensive solidity that resigned their hosts to another game without a shot on target. 

Three chances created and three tackles summed up a good day at the office for the youngster, formerly of ‘s academy. 

Bryn Morris (Newport County) 

With a 6-3 win at home to MK and two hat tricks, Newport County fans will be stepping into Christmas with a spring in their step. 

Midfielder Bryn Morris was one of those players who netted three (the other will be mentioned later). 

The pick of the bunch was his first, an absolute screamer on his left foot that flew into the far corner off the crossbar. 

A rebounded finish and a composed penalty rounded off the perfect performance for the former England youth international. 

Jamie Donley (Leyton Orient) 

Leyton Orient got themselves an early present, with Barnsley not turning up and gifting them a 4-0 win at Oakwell. 

On-loan Spurs midfielder Jamie Donley showed why he is so highly thought of at the O’s, getting two assists and a goal in the rout. 

All the involvements had a level of fortune attached, a free header at the back post from a corner to score followed by a corner that wasn’t claimed by the keeper and a defensive mix-up to get his assists.

Donley won’t care though, and deserves all the praise he will be getting as the past few weeks have been very positive for the youngster. 

Manor Solomon (Leeds United) 

Two assists and a goal for the on-loan Israeli winger from Spurs, Manor Solomon showed his class and quality in Leeds’ comprehensive win over Oxford. 

It was only two years ago that he played in the Premier League and three since he was in the UEFA Champions League for Shakhtar Donetsk, Solomon is too good for this league. 

He played two lovely through-balls to put it on a plate for Dan James and Brenden Aaronson, with a composed near-post finish to top it off. 

He also created four chances and completed four dribbles – impeccable. 

Callum Lang (Portsmouth) 

Four goals – Callum Lang was unstoppable in Portsmouth’s 4-1 win against Coventry City. 

It isn’t entirely clear what the goalkeeper was doing for two of them, with the ball going under his hands and an odd punch out to give Lang a sitter for his fourth. 

Not to take away from the Pompey fan favourite though, because a powerful volley while being pulled down and a glancing header showed the grit and determination that he is normally known for. 

While the workrate has always been there, occasionally end product lacks with Lang, if he can combine the two then he will be an absolute monster, which we may have just seen a glimpse of. 

Bobby Kamwa (Newport County) 

The other Newport player who scored three was winger Bobby Kamwa. 

It was a perfect left-winger’s hat-trick, with three composed finishes off his right foot sending Newport to an emphatic win against

Kamwa had only scored once this season before Saturday, but with evident quality in him, this performance could set him onto a strong second half of the season for Nelson Jardim’s side. 

Alassana Jatta (Notts County) 

Gambian striker Alassana Jatta was met with a sense of intrigue when he moved to from Danish outfit Viborg in January, but anyone who doubted him will surely have changed their tune now. 

He is simply a proper number nine. 

Two composed finishes in the box and an inventive flicked header to assist David McGoldrick gave the Magpies a 3-0 win at home to City. 

It put an end to a recent poor run of form and sees Stuart Maynard’s team narrowly in the playoffs over Christmas.

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