Stephy Mavididi and Marc Bola featured in a pair of disappointing draws for their Preston North End and Bristol Rovers respectively on Boxing Day.

Mavididi’s side Preston North End, Bola’s Bristol Rovers and Cohen Bramall’s Birmingham were all in action on Tuesday. However, their managers initially named all three on the bench.

Marc Bola was the first to enter the action, as an early substitute against Walsall, after right-back Leadbitter fell injured. Bola helped his loan team to a clean sheet, but Rovers couldn’t get a goal at the other end.

Hopefully, Leadbitter’s injury will mean Bola gets more opportunities in the team. The 20-year-old put a good run together earlier in the season, but he hadn’t played in a league game since mid-October.

Later in the day, Mavididi came on as Preston tried to break down Barnsley. Unfortunately, they could only muster a goalless draw too. The 19-year-old still only has four starts in all competitions this season.

Finally, Cohen Bramall didn’t get on at all against Norwich City. The Canaries beat Birmingham 2-0, leaving the Blues rock bottom of the Championship. At this point, Bramall will just be glad he’s back in the squad regularly, after three months of being frozen out.