Football League weekender

Key matches

"It's a fantastic club with a great tradition and loyal supporters." So said Sam Allardyce upon his appointment at West Ham last summer, as well as vowing to "play the West Ham way". Fast forward to the business end of the season and a different tune can be heard from the Hammers boss after being serenaded by fans frustrated at recent results - and performances - singing "We're West Ham United, we play on the floor" during the midweek win at Peterborough. "I'm sick of all that rubbish," fumed Allardyce. "Perhaps their expectations are too much and they're getting a bit carried away, I don't know." But with a squad inherited from the Premier League, plus a host of additions added during the transfer window, perhaps expectations of automatic promotion are fair, especially now the team lie third, six points adrift of leaders Southampton and one behind Saturday's visitors to Upton Park, Reading.

The Royals handed the nine-man Hammers a 3-0 beating in December (a game noticeable also for 'Sockgate' ) which coincided with the start of West Ham's comparative downturn: eight wins in their last 23 Championship games does not smack of a team bound for the top two, while only three teams in the top 15 have won fewer times on home turf, a fact Reading intend to try and exploit this weekend. "If the game progresses and West Ham aren't playing well, the crowd will get on their back because they expect the team to be top of the league," said Royals No2 Nigel Gibbs, while skipper Jobi McAnuff added: "If we start well, maybe get the frustration and nerves going a bit, then hopefully we can use that to our advantage." Abdoulaye Faye is a doubt for West Ham after going off with a head injury at Peterborough, while Reading's Jason Roberts expects to pass a fitness test in time for the trip east.

A slightly less heated atmosphere will be expected at Brunton Park, but that's not to underplay the importance of Huddersfield's visit to Carlisle, who have moved quietly and efficiently into the League One play-off spots. The Cumbrians have lost just three of their last 20 games and are expecting their biggest gate of the season on Saturday: 8,000 or more in what could be a preview of a play-off math-up. "It will be like a cup final," said boss Greg Abbott. "Huddersfield are coming up absolutely desperate for points and we have our own desperation for points. We probably don't have the same pressure they do – they have to go up because of the financial situation they have put themselves in – but we have our own ambition and dream." Under new boss Simon Grayson, the Terriers are unbeaten in eight, capped by last weekend's defeat of Charlton, but they still sit five points out of an automatic promotion place ahead of a key run of four games in 10 days. "At this stage of the season you're not doing too much training anyway - you're keeping the players ticking over," said Grayson, who has no new injury worries. "The games are coming thick and fast, so we're preparing properly. We're going down to Leyton Orient on Monday, staying over and coming back on Wednesday; we'll then prepare properly for the Sheffield Wednesday game before flying down to Bournemouth on the Sunday."

League Two's stand-out fixtures are both on Friday night, starting at Roots Hall, where Southend host Cheltenham, but we're going to focus on the game at Underhill, where Barnet bid to pull clear of trouble at the wrong end of the table against surging Torquay, who could move within a point of leaders Swindon with victory. Admittedly, the Gulls will have played three more games, but their form has to be respected: just three defeats in 18, including the recent setback against the league leaders, while a win in north London would equal the club record for away wins in a season (11). Nevertheless, boss Martin Ling, who has a fully-fit squad to choose from at Barnet, has readjusted his points target for promotion. "Looking at it now, 82 points might not be enough," he said. "I've looked at the run-ins for Swindon, Crawley, Shrewsbury and us, and none are playing each other. Most have got what you would deem on a piece of paper as a nice run-in and I would say ours is probably the hardest. We may need 84 points, which would be four wins out of the seven games." The Bees, meanwhile, lie three points clear of the drop zone, but starting with Torquay, face the top three plus seventh-placed Cheltenham in their next four matches. On-loan defender Paul Downing misses out, but centre-back Darren Dennehy returns to the Barnet squad.

Quote of the week

"This is as low as I've felt in my whole career. It gives me a lot of problems, to put it mildly. We know what Crawley Town are all about and what they bring in terms of their intimidating type of play, and you've got to make sure you don't get involved in it because that's what they want. They provoked it, and now both clubs will pay a heavy price. You can moan about their antics, but you can only moan after beating them" - Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson rues the post-match dust-up between his team and Crawley Town, a mass brawl that ended with a British record-equalling five players (three from the Bantams) being sent off in the dressing room by referee Ian Williamson. An FA charge has followed for both clubs, while retrospective video punishment could yet increase the tally, although a more pressing concern is the immediate suspensions imposed on assorted players from both teams.

Goal of the week

Lomana LuaLua: another appearance for the Blackpool tumbler, this time in the 3-1 defeat at Reading.

Best bets

Brighton to beat Middlesbrough at 7-5: Boro may only be one place behind Saturday's opponents, but are winless in five and head south to take on a form team with just one defeat in 15 Championship games. Gus Poyet will be without the banned Matt Sparrow, but can call upon Craig Mackail-Smith and Will Buckley again after a recent virus hit his squad. Boro have lost defender Matthew Bates to a cruciate ligament injury; the fith of the unlucky sod's career.

Tranmere to beat Bury at 6-4: under Ronnie Moore, Tranmere's progression has been attention-grabbing: four wins from a six-match unbeaten run to all but end any fear of relegation. Bury are winless in 13 and now sit just three points above the trapdoor.

We'll monitor the "best bets" progress through the season, with a set stake of £10 per bet. Current loss (ahem): -£54.95. Again, there's no tipping contest this season but that doesn't stop you posting your best bet suggestions below the line. And for those who would like to take part, we have set up a private Championship Fantasy League, the pin for which is: 12647. Phil Avery is in front with Numbers Game.

What you may have missed from the blogosphere

The Two Unfortunates on Notts County's unlikely promotion push

A little over four weeks has passed since the Notts County board dismissed Martin Allen from his post after a 3-0 defeat on the road at Hartlepool United. Amid fears of a further slump and potential capitulation towards the relegation zone, fans spoke out even louder than normal as Keith Curle stepped into the managerial hot seat with just sixteen games left of the 2011-2012 campaign - the jury seemingly unanimous in their anger at his predecessor's sacking. Yet now, with just seven games left in the fixtures booklet, Notts followers are comfortable with their very much changed outlook on both Curle and the possible fortunes of their club heading into April.

Seat Pitch on 10 of the best Nottingham Forest book ():

It's hard to talk about Nottingham Forest without talking about Brian Clough, no more so when it comes to books. Inevitably, Clough dominates the past four decades of the club so, with a heavy slant towards 'the greatest manager who ever lived', Seat Pitch brings you another 10 of the best….