Bristol City's 3-0 win over Portsmouth secured back-to-back league victories for the Robins for the first time this season

EFL Team of the Week: Bristol City duo give Robins comfortable win in festive period

Sunday is the new Saturday in the EFL, with the hectic festive schedule bringing much-needed excitement to a day normally reserved for long walks or sitting on the sofa.

Some teams showed they had not let Christmas dinner find its way into the training ground canteen, while others looked as if they were still full of the turkey they had consumed. 

Stranger results than usual appeared as a result, with plenty of action and talking points across all three leagues. 

Here is Charlie Elliott’s Team of the Week for the forgotten weekend between Christmas and New Year. (Formation: 3-5-2) 

Viktor Johansson (Stoke City) 

Stoke City’s first game following the departure of former manager Narcis Pelach ended with the Potters getting a late 1-0 win over high-flying Sunderland. 

Swedish goalkeeper Viktor Johansson was crucial in keeping the visitors from the north east out and made seven saves in a fine shot-stopping display. 

Some first-half acrobatics to keep long shots from flying into the top corner in the first half as well as a few low saves from close range were the pick of the bunch for the former and man. 

Former club legend Ryan Shawcross took charge as interim boss for Stoke and will be thankful for his keeper helping him to a CV-boosting first win in his second stint at the helm. 

Cameron McJannett (Grimsby Town) 

went level with and the automatic places in with a thumping 3-0 victory at home to the Valiants. 

Central defender Cameron McJannett was outstanding throughout, scoring one and being a defensive rock for the Mariners. 

He absolutely could not miss his goal, which came right on the goal line, but it showed a poacher’s instinct that a striker would have been proud of. 

At the back he formed a formidable partnership with Harvey Rodgers, limiting their opposition to only a few openings and being generally solid. 

Anthony O’Connor (Harrogate Town) 

Irishman Anthony O’Connor has come into his own since joining Harrogate Town last year from Morecambe and despite his side’s recent struggles, he has showcased why he would be a decent defender for any League Two side.

In the Sulphurites’ 1-1 draw away to he was simply brilliant and did a job at the back against a decent attack. 

It wasn’t the prettiest performance, but he managed to kick and head the ball away, which at this level is a valuable asset. 

Taylor Allen (Walsall) 

Walsall remain dominant at the top of League Two and extend their lead at the top to 12 points. 

Taylor Allen has been instrumental in their success with both his defensive and attacking output as a wide centre-back in a three. 

His attacking threat is what gets him into this team, getting two assists in the Saddlers’ 2-0 late win against County. 

The involvements bring his tally of goals and assists to nine this campaign already, which is incredible for a supposedly defensive player. 

Josh Martin (Notts County) 

With the late arrival to Meadow Lane having spent some of the summer on trial at Serie A side Como, it should come as no surprise that his quality is far superior to others in League Two. 

Josh Martin has struggled to reach his true potential, with a consistent run of games so far being hard to come by.

A 5-3 win away at Cheltenham Town alongside his first goal and assist for his new club will do his confidence a world of good. 

Sometimes it is less about how it goes in and more about the fact it did, and his first two goal contributions for the Magpies were both pretty scrappy.

It could provide a springboard for Josh to truly show what he is about after a forgettable start to life in Nottingham.

Jay Matete (Bolton Wanderers) 

It hasn’t been plain sailing for recently, but on-loan Sunderland midfielder Jay Matete has been one of the standouts for Ian Evatt’s side, who are still close to the playoffs. 

Matete netted twice in their 3-0 win at home to Lincoln City, which not only meant that his side leapfrogged the Imps but also means that they are within three points of the top six. 

On the ball and off it, Jay was unbelievable and absolutely ran the show – he was just everywhere. 

His first went in via a fortunate deflection but his second was a lovely finish in the box when he arrowed the ball into the bottom corner. 

Jason Knight (Bristol City) 

Jason Knight is usually known more for his attacking prowess from midfield, with a handful of assists already this season.  

In Bristol City’s 3-0 win against Portsmouth, he showed a different and more defensive side to his game that contributed to their win as much as the goals his teammates scored. 

An immense six tackles and 14 duels won overall meant that Pompey got nowhere near posing a threat. 

The former Derby man continues to be one of the league’s best and will hope his club form rubs off internationally in 2025 for Ireland. 

Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) 

Anis Mehmeti is another Bristol City player in scintillating form and may have Robins fans worried about a January move up to the Premier League on the horizon. 

His two goals may not have been from trademark finessed shots from the left-hand side, but both were expert displays of the art of goalscoring. 

A neat finish when in-on-goal with the keeper as well as the tidiest, most nonchalant volley brought his goal tally to eight in the league so far this season. 

It wasn’t the most involved he has ever been, but being able to score with only a few touches shows the true mark of someone’s quality. 

Corey O’Keefe (Barnsley) 

There aren’t many better in League One at creating chances from wing-back than Corey O’Keefe. 

Another assist for the Irishman was the least he deserved in a 3-1 win away at Peterborough United. 

He got it courtesy of a well worked corner routine that saw him put the ball on a plate for Davis Keillor-Dunn to finish with ease. 

Three chances created as well as the most dribbles for either side in the match sum up a good shift down the right. 

Emil Riis Jakobsen (Preston North End) 

Proper number nine work from Emil Riis Jakobsen opened and closed the scoring in North End’s 3-1 win at home to Sheffield Wednesday. 

It was not the prettiest of braces and some may even call his goals scrappy, but the important thing is that the Danish striker was in the right place at the right time and made no mistake when called upon. 

His tally for the season is now seven goals and with his lack of involvement in general play having been an issue this year, goals are his most important asset. 

Miles Leaburn (Charlton Athletic) 

Wanderers lost their 19-match unbeaten run in League One, as well as their spot in the automatic promotion places with a 2-1 loss at The Valley to Charlton. 

Son of Addicks legend Carl Leaburn, Miles is continuing the family tradition of goals, goals and more goals. 

In the space of six minutes, he scored twice.

One with a lovely, flicked header and the other coming from a cheeky chip over Wanderers goalkeeper Franco Ravizzoli from outside the box. 

A playoff push is now on the cards for Charlton, helped by Leaburn seeming to have caught a bit of form recently. 

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