The English Football League Championship has recently crossed the midway point for all 24 clubs in the division and two American goalkeepers are playing their part strongly in the constant shuffling for promotion places.

Ethan Horvath and Zack Steffen helped their respective loan clubs to important victories on Thursday as Luton Town and Middlesbrough continued their surges up the league table. Horvath made two saves in Luton Town’s 3-0 road win over QPR while Steffen registered four saves as Middlesbrough defeated Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Ewood Park.

Both teams moved into the top seven of the league standings, with Middlesbrough sitting in front of Luton Town on goal difference alone.

Horvath has continued to keep hold of the No. 1 job with Luton Town since arriving on loan from Nottingham Forest this summer. The 27-year-old has totaled nine clean sheets and conceded only 23 goals in 23 starts for the Hatters this season.

Despite manager Nathan Jones leaving the club for Southampton, Horvath has remained key since Rob Edwards’ arrival.

Steffen’s latest victory on Thursday moved his current record to 6-1-1 in his last eight starts for Middlesbrough, continuing an impressive run of form for the club. The 27-year-old has conceded just one goal of fewer in six of his last seven starts, helping Michael Carrick’s squad defeat Blackburn, Luton Town, and Norwich City in three of their last five matches.

The race for the top two automatic promotion places are currently occupied by Burnley and Sheffield United, with 11 points separating them from third place Blackburn. Only nine points separates Blackburn from 17th place Stoke City, which should cause for even more shuffling as the new year approaches.

Luton Town visits Huddersfield on New Years Day while Middlesbrough visits Birmingham City on Jan. 2. Both Horvath and Steffen will be hoping to continue leading their clubs up the table with a full second-half schedule on the horizon.