Promotion and relegation battles in the EFL heated up despite freezing conditions this weekend, with the weather conjuring up a few surprises on the pitch.
After huge wins, Birmingham City went top of League One and Sunderland stayed firmly in the chasing pack for automatic promotion in the Championship.
While Sunday’s action was largely disrupted following postponements, fans got more than their fair share of action from the Saturday fixtures.
Here is Charlie Elliott’s EFL Team of the Week as the cold weather led to ice-cold performances.
Joshua Griffiths (Bristol Rovers)
Young, English goalkeepers seem to have reached another level in the EFL this season.
Matthew Young of Salford City is an honourable mention for this team after helping his side to a sixth clean sheet in a row.
However, the West Brom loanee at Bristol Rovers gets the nod after an impressive clean sheet away at Cambridge United.
The win was huge for the Gas, who move five points ahead of safety now.
They have Joshua Griffiths to thank after some outstanding saves all afternoon against relegation rivals.
Trai Hume (Sunderland)
Sunderland has a breadth of talent at their disposal and right-back Trai Hume may sometimes go under the radar as a result
The Black Cats narrowly edged out Portsmouth to retain a healthy position as challengers in the title race.
Hume was essential in defence, putting up solid numbers both on and off the ball, with the most chances created and the most tackles for either side.
Anthony O’Connor (Harrogate Town)
Harrogate Town put an end to their poor run of form and put a bit of a gap between them and the relegation zone in League Two after a 2-0 win away at Barrow.
Anthony O’Connor has been a consistently solid defender throughout Town’s bad spell, with the Irishman being helped by his teammates this time round.
Jack Muldoon will be thanking Anthony for his intelligence, after a smart hooked ball by the defender to the back post put it on a plate for Muldoon, who bundled it in.
Overall, it was a proper defensive masterclass, alongside a bit of attacking quality.
Macaulay Gillisphey (Charlton Athletic)
After a bore draw between Charlton Athletic and Reading at The Valley, it only seemed right that a defender should be credited.
Macaulay Gillisphey was the best at the back and won the most duels on the pitch, as well as being part of a defensive unit that kept the playoff-pushing side quiet.
It may not have been a game for the history books, but the Addicks’ centre back deserves credit regardless.
Ethan Laird (Birmingham City)
He may have been playing in a right-back position that has already been taken on this team, but Ethan Laird’s performance for Birmingham City meant that he couldn’t miss out.
The former Manchester United man got two assists in the Blues’ 3-0 win away at Wigan Athletic, which cemented their status as League One leaders.
Both provided Alfie May with easy finishes, one of which came from a fizzing cross of his which was rebounded to May (they all count) and the other was a square ball to give his striker an open net.
Attack-wise, Laird is the best in his position in the league and could easily be playing at a higher level, as he always provides flair and quality down either side.
Shaun Whalley (Accrington Stanley)
Away to Colchester United on a cold Saturday, playing Liverpool the week after in the FA Cup, it was all set up for a poor Accrington Stanley performance.
But boyhood Liverpool fan and Scouser Shaun Whalley was not fazed in the slightest, as he bagged himself a brace in a comfortable 2-0 win which took Stanley further away from relegation to the National League.
The experienced pro, at the ripe old age of 37, won and scored a penalty to take the lead early on, before finishing the game off in the 59th minute with a half volley rifled centrally into the roof of the net.
Hiram Boateng (Mansfield Town)
Stockport County were the favourites going into a home game against Mansfield Town, but the Stags were good value for the 2-1 win – with Hiram Boateng the star of the show.
Two assists on the board, with his first a nice header to set up Lee Gregory and his second a perfectly timed through ball for Will Evans.
Boateng seems to have hit a bit of form, and should Town have serious ambitions of playoffs, he will be essential in providing a bit of quality in the middle.
Forson Amankwah (Norwich City)
This may be a slightly controversial pick as he only actually played around ten minutes against Coventry City, but the stoppage time double scored by Forson Amankwah makes him the player in this team with by far the least minutes.
Kenny McLean ran the show in midfield and on another day would have been the player to make it into this TOTW, but goals win games, and Forson won it for Norwich City.
Amankwah both equalised and won it right at the death, with neither finish coming easily and some real precision was shown.
A lovely curler from 25 yards out into the top corner was his first, with his second a composed side-footed goal that travelled through a sea of bodies and evaded the keeper via a big deflection.
Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United)
Everyone should know by now that Gustavo Hamer is too good for the Championship.
Week in, week out he glides around the pitch and terrorises defenses for Sheffield United.
A composed finish into the far corner and a chance created that deserved an assist were enough for the Dutchman, who had to come off after around 60 minutes with an injury.
Blades fans will be hoping it isn’t serious and a big stint out for Gus may see their promotion hopes falter with the quality of the teams around them.
Omar Bogle (Crewe Alexandra)
Crewe Alexandra’s bravery to allow their game against Bromley to go ahead on Sunday was repaid with a 4-1 win against the in-form Londoners.
It was the only game of the day that was played following snowy conditions, with three games being called off in League Two.
Omar Bogle was the coldest man on the pitch, with a brace of proper strikers finishes in the space of four minutes putting Alex two ahead after only half an hour gone.
His holdup play and movement were too much against opponents who have become known for outsmarting and outmuscling attacking threats in the past, making Omar’s exploits even more impressive.
David McGoldrick (Notts County)
Seasoned veteran David McGoldrick helped Notts County see off lowly Swindon Town 2-0 at Meadow Lane with two goals.
It could have easily been a hat trick for Didz, who also hit the bar with a header.
His first was a looped header over Daniel Barden but it is worth a watch after a bizarre clearance attempt from Ryan Delaney.
Any suggestions of a Robins comeback were swiftly silenced when he slotted past Barden across the goal.
Nowadays he is more of a playmaker for the Magpies, but clearly still has the goalscoring touch that he has shown in the Premier League before.
