With 20 Championship places between leaders QPR and struggling Crystal Palace, it is no surprise preparations for their Boxing Day fixtures are somewhat different.
Laid back Rangers boss Neil Warnock said: "I've trusted my players the last few years on Christmas Day to do their own thing. Some will have to spend an hour, two hours travelling in and back for half an hour of training and I'm not a big believer in that. I think they would be better off with their feet up."
Compare that attitude with Palace boss George Burley's view before their home clash with Norwich. He said: "We're going to be in on Christmas Day, getting things planned. Our Christmas is going to be a busy one."
Let's hope both approaches deliver three points.
Malky flattered by Toon link
Watford were a bit too keen to dismiss the story linking manager Malky Mackay with the No2 job at Newcastle.
Just because chief executive Julian Winter has said they have had no contact from Newcastle doesn't mean they won't in the future.
And Mackay is playing a canny game. He said: "It is flattering to be thought of as someone Alan Pardew would want to come in and be his assistant manager but at the moment all my focus is on what is happening here right now.
"It is flattering to be thought of as someone who could shape a Premier League side — but right now I have a job here to do."
Part of that job is to take his squad to struggling Ipswich on Boxing Day where a bad home defeat would surely signal the end of manager Roy Keane's reign at Portman Road.
Lions in fight for Morison
Leeds and Norwich are the latest clubs to be linked with January moves for Millwall striker Steve Morison.
However, the Lions are only prepared to consider offers from the Premier League, meaning both clubs are set to be disappointed.
Millwall, who travel to Portsmouth on Boxing Day, have also had to fend off interest in giant central defender Danny Shittu from Championship promotion favourites Cardiff.
