It was another action-packed few days of fixtures throughout the English Football League’s three divisions, as the curtain came down on 2016 with plenty of talking points going into the New Year.

In the Championship, the schedule kicked-off on Thursday, as Jonathan Kodjia’s late penalty rescued a 1-1 draw for upwardly-moving Aston Villa against high-flying Leeds United at Villa Park in front of the Sky cameras, whilst Burton Albion came out victorious at the New York Stadium, defeating Rotherham United 2-1 in South Yorkshire.

On Friday night, Dwight Gayle netted a brace as Newcastle United returned to the summit by beating Nottingham Forest 3-1 at St James’ Park.

Newcastle moved top at the expense of Brighton and Hove Albion, as their home game with Cardiff City at the AMEX Stadium, along with Reading’s contest against Fulham at the Madejski Stadium fell victim to foggy weather.

In League One, Sheffield United head into 2017 at the summit of the third-tier, whilst Bolton Wanderers occupy the second automatic promotion spot after defeating previous league leaders Scunthorpe United.

And in League Two, leaders Plymouth Argyle moved two points clear at the top of the table, whilst in-form Wycombe Wanderers sealed their seventh league win in eight outings to claim sixth spot.

Shoot! takes a look at What’s Hot and What’s Not from the last instalment of EFL action in 2016…

Championship: Hot – Newcastle United

Photo: Paul Roberts / Offside.

It will be a Happy New Year for Newcastle United and their supporters.

They look on course for an immediate return to the Premier League after dispatching Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park on Friday, to leapfrog Brighton and Hove Albion at the summit.

Rafael Benitez’s buoyant Magpies have attained 52 points from 24 games played so far, having adjusted to life back into the second-tier with aplomb following relegation in May.

Shrewd summer recruitment, most notably Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle (Pictured), who both scored the decisive goals to defeat Forest, have proven invaluable to a side who returned to winning ways against the men from the City Ground.

Championship: Not – Rotherham United

Photo: Steve Parkin / Offside.

It may only be the New Year, but Rotherham United are being cut adrift, sitting rock-bottom of the Championship, 11 points from safety.

After being saved from a return to League One by Neil Warnock at the end of last season, this term has gone from bad to worse for the Millers, who had lost two permanent managers before December.

Alan Stubbs, the former Hibernian manager, was tasked with the job at the New York Stadium in the summer, but was sacked in October after a poor start, before his successor, Kenny Jackett, resigned in late November with the Yorkshire club at the foot of England’s second-tier.

Paul Warne is currently in caretaker charge, but could only watch his beleaguered side lose at home to Burton Albion on Friday.

League One: Hot – Sheffield United

Blades boss Chris Wilder – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

Will this finally be the season that expectant Sheffield United supporters see their beloved Blades promoted back to the Championship?

Well, the signs are certainly looking good for a return to the second-tier, a division they have not graced since relegation in May 2011.

Top of the standings following the festive period, heading into 2017 after Kieron Freeman’s last-gasp winner at home to Northampton Town, United have suffered play-off heartbreak in recent years, however under Chris Wilder’s management, they have a new lease of life.

The South Yorkshire club have won four League One games in a row to move above Scunthorpe United and Bolton Wanderers in the race for automatic promotion.

League One: Not – Oldham Athletic

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

At the opposite end of the table, Oldham Athletic are in all sorts of disarray, with the Latics deep in the relegation mire.

Their latest setback was a resilient reverse at play-off hopefuls Fleetwood Town. Only an injury-time own goal from Josh Law denied the Greater Manchester team a share of the spoils.

Stephen Robinson’s Boundary Park side have collected 18 points from 23 matches played, and are four points off safety.

Issues off the pitch have also arose this term, in November, Oldham were placed under a transfer embargo by the EFL, making it an even more sorry state of affairs for the once Premier League outfit.

League Two: Hot – Ollie Watkins and Exeter City

Exeter manager Paul Tisdale.

One of the results of the day in League Two came at Rodney Parade, where Paul Tisdale’s Exeter City hit Newport County for four, with starlet Ollie Watkins netting his first senior hat-trick for the Devon club.

The Grecians reside in 11th position, five points shy of the play-offs in the fourth division, but it was hotshot Watkins that stole the show in South Wales.

The 21-year-old scored in prior to the interval, before adding a second shortly after the break. Watkins completed his hat-trick in stoppage-time at the end of the game.

Exeter are now unbeaten in their last six outings, winning four of those games.

League Two: Not – Newport County

Newport boss Graham Westley – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

By contrast, Graham Westley’s Newport County are in all sorts of bother. The Exiles prop up the entirety of the Football League.

After their latest heavy defeat against Exeter, Newport are five points from safety, having lost seven out of their last eight matches in all competitions.

Newport have claimed only four victories throughout the whole campaign to date, and last won back in mid-November, when they beat Notts County.

County fans will hope that a New Year brings an upturn in fortunes. They visit in-form Wycombe Wanderers on Monday.