Triple Gameweek 21 saw 99 goals scored across 35 matches on Thursday 26 December, as the show-stopping Gameweek got into action.

Across one week of football, 105 fixtures are taking place between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. We still get to look forward to 70 more matches, all in the space of a week!

Here, are our top lessons we’ve learned from Boxing Day’s action across the three divisions.

LESSON ONE: THE WEATHER AFFECTS THE FOOTY…AGAIN!

Unfortunately for Tranmere Rovers and Accrington Stanley, their festive fun was cut short. Foggy weather covering Merseyside meant that the match, due to kick-off at 15:00, was called off at 14:00. The halfway line was barely visible, as seen in Tranmere’s X post:

Rovers and the Cod Army were both selected by 2.3%, and evidently managers still expect them to return!

Rovers have two ideal fixtures in store. They take on 17th-placed Barrow (H) on December 29 at 15:00, who have lost seven of 11 away matches. They complete their now-Double Gameweek with a trip to Mazuma Mobile Stadium to face 23rd-placed Morecambe, who are yet to win at home this season.

Whereas, Fleetwood now host 20th-placed Harrogate Town (H) who have lost five in a row. They round off their Double Gameweek with a trip to third-placed Doncaster Rovers, who are in a mixed run of form.

LESSON TWO: WREXHAM CAN’T BE STOPPED AT HOME

Wrexham, backed by 3.9%, returned seven points for managers with a 2-1 win over Blackpool at SToK Cae Ras as a club pick. After finding themselves 0-1 down early on, talisman Paul Mullin (F) scored one of the goals of the season. It was only his sixth start in 20 matches, and he bagged eight points for 11% of managers for his efforts. Substitute Steven Fletcher (F) wrote the headlines in Wales, scoring from the penalty spot (+5) to bag seven points for 0.1% of managers. Max Cleworth (D) and Mark Howard (G) both blanked for managers, while Eoghan O’Connell (D) nailed five for his defensive efforts.

It takes the Red Dragons to 10 wins in 12 in front of their home faithful, securing 133 points overall on Fantasy. Up next, Phil Parkinson’s side host 14th-placed Wigan Athletic, who are unbeaten in three. Their Triple Gameweek finishes with a trip to Oakwell Stadium to face seventh-placed Barnsley.

LESSON THREE: BLUES WIN SIX IN A ROW

The club that all eyes were on following their relegation from the Championship, Birmingham City are proving to be a formidable side in League One, finding themselves top of the table with 48 points in 20 matches, leading by one point with two games in hand. On Boxing Day, Blues defeated Burton Albion 2-0 in front of their home faithful, making it eight wins and two draws in 10 matches at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.

League One record signing Jay Stansfield (F) scored from the penalty spot to open the scoring, making it five goals in four games. He now has 12 goals (+60) and two assists (+6) in 15, totalling 101 points. Selected by 25%, Alfie May (F) came off the bench for a one-point cameo – ouch!

Chris Davies’ side take on 15th-placed Blackpool (H), followed by promotion rivals Stockport County (A). The club pick have started with maximum points and managers will be hoping for similar fortunes in the next two.

LESSON THREE: FIVE CLUBS BAG MAX RETURNS AWAY

As noted in our strategies article, one route managers could take was targeting teams with 2/3 fixtures away from home, rather than clubs with 2/3 home fixtures. The upside of 11-point hauls vs nine points could pay dividends in the mini-league standings and overall rankings.

This paid off for five clubs: Burnley defeated Sheffield United 0-2 at Bramall Lane, returning top scores for 3.2% of managers. Equally, Leeds United also defeated Stoke City 0-2 away from home at bet365 Stadium.

In League One, Mansfield Town defeated Peterborough 0-3 in a comfortable victory for 2.3%. Meanwhile, Wycombe Wanderers, backed by 6.8%, defeated Stevenage 0-3.

In League Two, Notts County secured a 0-2 win at MK Dons, scoring five and conceding zero in two matches.

All five sides have one more away fixture alongside a home match, and are staring at 31-point hauls!

LESSON FOUR: WYCOMBE WANDERERS MAKE IT 19 UNBEATEN

As mentioned above, the Chairboys continue to smash League One, securing a 0-3 win at Lamex Stadium against Stevenage. As a club pick, the Buckinghamshire outfit have bagged 149 points – the joint-third highest on Fantasy.

Cameron Humphreys (M) wrote the headlines on Fantasy EFL, securing 13 points for 0.1% of managers. The number 20 bagged two assists (+6), two interceptions (+4) and three key passes (+1). Both Jack Grimmer (D) and Daniel Harvie (D) recorded 11 and 10 points respectively for their defensive efforts. Elsewhere, Richard Kone (F) made it 11 goals in 21 matches, bagging a brace for the visitors, although his penalty effort for his hat-trick was saved (-3), returning only 11 points.

Matt Bloomfield has guided the Chairboys to 19 matches unbeaten, and sit in the automatic promotion spots with 47 points in 21 games. Up next, they take on 11th-placed Charlton Athletic (A) and 12th-placed Exeter City (H).

LESSON FIVE: TWO PLAYERS BAG 20+ POINTS

Although we’ve seen some monumental scores in recent weeks, with multiple players scoring 20+ points, only two did on Boxing Day.

Josh Eccles (M) made a significant impact for Coventry City, contributing a brace (+12) and an assist to their dominant 4-0 win against Plymouth Argyle (H). His all-around performance included one interception (+1), three key passes (+1), and two shots on target (+1). The number 28 has three goals and three assists in 22, banking 105 points. Frank Lampard’s side face Millwall (H) and Cardiff City (A), and Eccles will be hoping for two more enormous scores.

Furthermore, Walsall’s Harry Williams (D) earns his first list appearance this season after a standout performance against Doncaster Rovers. The 22-year-old contributed 16 clearances and scored the second goal (+7) in their 2-0 home victory. Williams has amassed 99 points and is in excellent form, while Walsall leads the league with a nine-point advantage and a 12-match unbeaten streak.

LESSON SIX: CHAMPIONSHIP PROMOTION THRILLER

We had a clash of the titans at the top of the Championship, as Burnley travelled to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United. Scott Parker had the last laugh in Yorkshire, as he guided his side to a 0-2 victory, making it 10 unbeaten, ending the Blades’ nine-game unbeaten run.

Josh Brownhill (M) scored his ninth goal of the season (+6), banking nine points for his contributions. Millwall loanee Zian Flemming (M) scored and provided two interceptions (+4) to return 12 points for 0.3%. Brownhill, club captain, has broken the 150-point mark with 153 total. Bashir Humphreys (D), CJ Egan-Riley (D) and Maxime Esteve (D) all banked double-digits for their efforts.

Three Blades stars who were backed by over 10% of managers, Anel Ahmedhodzic (D), Callum O’Hare (M) and Gustavo Hamer (M), all blanked.

The Clarets will be hoping to continue their impressive form when they face Middlesbrough (A) and Stoke City (H), while the Blades will be looking to bounce back when they face WBA (H) and Sunderland (A).

LESSON SEVEN: MICKEY DEMETRIOU DOESN’T DISAPPOINT!

The hero of Fantasy EFL, and the current highest scorer, Crewe Alexandra’s captain didn’t let his 15.5% faithful down. Despite the Railwaymen losing 2-1 to Cheltenham Town (A), that didn’t stop the number five bagging nine points. He made 19 clearances (+6), three blocks and two tackles, continuing his impressive form. Moreover, the 34-year-old has scored 165 points in 20 appearances, despite only keeping eight clean sheets (+40).

Crewe take on MK Dons (A) and Carlisle United (H), and will be hoping to return to winning ways as they push for promotion.

LESSON EIGHT: FINN AZAZ LIGHTS UP THE RIVERSIDE STADIUM

In just 59 minutes, Middlesbrough’s number 20 was magnificent for the hosts. In one half, he scored a brace (+12), provided an assist (+3) and took two shots on target (+1). He banked 17 points for 12.2%, and still has matches against Burnley (H) and Hull City (A) to come! Following Rav van den Berg’s (D) red card, Azaz came off.

Despite the 3-3 draw, no player has been involved in more Championship goals this season than Azaz: eight goals (+40) and 10 assists (+30).