The best action and bets from the latest round of matches, plus our pick from the Football League blogosphere
Key matches
? Approaching the final third of the season, teams are beginning to break out of the Championship pack: Birmingham's charge continues apace, as does Blackpool's: the Tangerines have lost only one in 10, a run that has propelled Ian Holloway's team to fifth and, should results go their way this weekend, they could move into third, on the brink of the automatic promotion spots. Portsmouth are Saturday's visitors to Bloomfield Road, meaning a reunion with his old club for former Pompey acrobat Lomana LuaLua. "I've got nothing but happy memories of the place. But I'm at Blackpool now, the team is doing really well and all I want is three more points to keep us in the top six," he said after scoring a stunner in the midweek FA Cup win at Sheffield Wednesday. Pompey remain 10 points clear of the drop zone but, with the threat of administration lingering over Fratton Park, Michael Appleton is aware a relegation fight could be around the corner. "[This game] is an opportunity to put all of the worries behind us, show the country that we are united and, whatever happens or whatever gets thrown at us over the next couple of months, show everyone that we are ready for a fight," said the manager, who is set to be without Tal Ben Haim, injured during the midweek loss at Birmingham.
? Another week of snow and freezing temperatures hopefully won't render any preview of League One and Two games as meaningless as last week. Nevertheless, the battle for the second automatic promotion spot in League One behind champions-elect Charlton continues to heat up. Saturday sees Sheffield United hosting Wycombe, Huddersfield at Leyton Orient and second-placed Sheffield Wednesday heading down to Exeter, themselves in the midst of a desperate fight at the wrong end of the table, where only four points separate the bottom seven. The Grecians have gone four games without a goal, lost defender Scott Golbourne to Barnsley and were unable to spend any of the proceeds.
"I know what it's about and what restrictions we work under, so it's not something I'm concerned about," Paul Tisdale said. "It's the nature of being a manager at Exeter that we have to be very financially astute and we don't go over budget. I'm not in a position to do anything at the moment because I've used every penny I can. I can't fashion money from nowhere." Gary Megson's Wednesday come into the game having lost two in 14 league games but he will be without suspended defender R�da Johnson and there's a possible change upfront, after Gary Madine "got the hump because I brought him off" against Yeovil last weekend. "These things don't bother me too much," added Megson.
? Five wins in a row will do great things for you wherever you are in a division. For Torquay, they've put them slap bang in the middle of League Two's automatic promotion race. Lying sixth going into Saturday's crunch game with Shrewsbury at Plainmoor, the Gulls could be without groin injury victim Rene Howe, while on-loan Reading defender Angus MacDonald is in line for a debut. Shrewsbury are waiting on the fitness of midfielder Matt Richards, with boss Graham Turner keen to avenge last season's defeat in the play-offs. "We were upset with the performances we had against Torquay last season in the play-offs," Turner said. "But we've got the players who can get in and affect the game ? we've got to impose ourselves on them, and make it four wins in a row."
Players to watch
The Davis brothers: Joe and Harry could potentially line up against each other for Saturday's local derby between Port Vale and Crewe. "The banter has already started with Joe as he's hoping he'll be on the bench," said Alex defender Harry, whose dad, Steve, also happens to be Crewe's manager. "But Micky Adams tries to leave him out of the preparations in training for these games so he doesn't pass on any team news."
Goal of the week
Fewer to choose after a curtailed set of fixtures, but Jermaine Johnson's howitzer for Sheffield Wednesday against Yeovil wins by a mile.
Quote of the week
"We have been inundated with applications from the cheeky to the outlandish. We've had one from an 11-year-old boy who obviously has high ambitions in the game and we have a PlayStation manager of 2010 who fancies his chances having won a competition. We've also had Sven-Goran Eriksson apply, but he won't be coming" ? Leeds chairman Ken Bates lets the former England manager know where he sits in the pecking order of contenders to take over at Elland Road.
Best bets
? Bristol Rovers to beat Morecambe at 11-8: Mark McGhee has swiftly transformed Rovers' fortunes and the Pirates are now unbeaten in five. Top scorer Matt Harrold is set to return for this weekend's game against a Shrimps side with one win in 11.
? Birmingham to beat Barnsley at 11-8: unbeaten in nine, Blues are the form team in the Championship, and even a heavy schedule ought not to derail them from victory against a Tykes side potentially unsettled by ongoing links for Keith Hill with the Leeds job.
We'll monitor the "best bets" progress through the season, with a set stake of �10 per bet. Current profit: -�4.70. 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. Paul Holden is now in front with Holden's Essex Palace.
What you may have missed from the blogosphere
? Standing on the Glebe previews Peterborough v West Ham
It is a testament to Peterborough United's rise up the leagues that we are playing against West Ham United in a league fixture. The biggest club in the Championship come to town on Saturday and there is already a buzz around London Road. With a sell-out crowd expected Posh will be looking to rekindle their early season form and continue to bring some of the less regular fans wanting to come to Posh's home ground. Unfortunately the football of late hasn't been of a style that would leave anybody wanting more. The attacking play has been virtually nonexistent and the usually quick tempo passing game has looked slow and lethargic. Against the league leaders Peterborough will need to improve if they are to get anything from a game and turn their form around.
? You can read much more from our Football League blogosphere, which should now have been updated to include more of your recently suggested blogs
In the past couple of weeks, there have been murmurs in the British press that 