Gail Force: Football League Boxing Day preview

The best action and bets from the latest round of matches, plus our pick from the Football League blogosphere

Key matches

? The Boxing Day fixtures mark the halfway point in this 2011-12 Championship campaign, and the game of the day sees two north-east rivals come together with their promotion credentials on the line. Fourth-placed Hull cross the North York Moors for a date with the team one spot above them, Middlesbrough, as the pair attempt to maintain their pursuit of Southampton and West Ham. Boro, who may again start Nigerian striker Bart Ogbeche in place of the injury doubt Marvin Emnes, have taken nine points from nine, while the Tigers, under the helm of caretaker manager Nick Barmby, are 12 points better off than they were four games ago. "Usually, the norm is if a manager gets a couple of results then he is appointed immediately," said the director of football operations Adam Pearson. "But Nick said right from the very start when he took the job on a temporary basis that he wanted to do it his way." Robert Koren is just one of the players flourishing under Barmby ? the Slovenian scoring in each of the club's last three wins ? and is again likely to figure prominently at the Riverside.

? When teams as high as 10th in League One start firing their managers, it is inevitable that the pressure will intensify on bosses at the foot of the division. Rochdale, currently sat in the final relegation spot, parted ways with Steve Eyre earlier this week and now rock-bottom Chesterfield (just three wins in 21) have had to hand their own manager a vote of confidence. "John Sheridan doesn't suddenly become a bad manager," read a club statement, while the former Hartlepool and Sheffield Wednesday boss Chris Turner has this week arrived as new chief executive in response to the owner Dave Allen seeking more "footballing expertise" in the boardroom. But the table doesn't lie, nor does Allen's failure to provide an adequate replacement for last season's top scorer Craig Davies, whose title-winning goals of 2010-11 can now be found at Barnsley. Next up is an intimidating trip to Huddersfield, who can call on the striker Alan Lee again after a ban, while Anthony Kay is expected to deputise for the defender Peter Clarke, himself suspended.

? Hereford may have more pressing matters of their annual League Two relegation fight to worry about, but Boxing Day visitors Port Vale are in arguably a far deeper hole: widespread fan unrest with the board, a failed takeover, and the chairman and chief executive voting themselves on to the club's board. On the field, however, seven points from nine have lifted Vale within three points of a play-off spot, prompting their manager Micky Adams to say: "One win, two wins, gets you right back into the frame of things and you can lift the doom and gloom at the football club." The Bulls sit precariously in 21st, have the joint-worst home defence in the division and must do without the defender Michael Townsend after his sending-off in last week's draw at Plymouth.

Players to watch

? Crawley's: Top of League Two after a 13-game unbeaten run, but still not getting enough fans through the turnstiles to stave off potential sales. "At the moment we aren't hitting [our targets] so if fans want us to be able to retain our best players then they have to back us now," said the co-owner Susan Carter. "If our revenues don't increase we will take tough decisions."

? Nicky Maynard: Bristol City have finally had to bite the bullet and make the striker available for transfer in January. "You reach a point where you have to protect the club," said chief executive Colin Sexstone of the 25-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season and who was the subject of a failed �6m bid from Leicester in the summer.

Quote of the week

"My agent did have a meeting with the owner and Mr Clegg on Monday where not a hell of a lot was discussed to be perfectly honest" ? Ipswich loanee Keith Andrews reveals talks with Marcus Evans and the chief executive Simon Clegg over making his move from Blackburn permanent have floundered.

Goal of the week

Goals of the week, all four of them, from Huddersfield's Jordan Rhodes in the wild 4-4 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

Best bets

? Rotherham to beat Macclesfield at 7-5: the Millers look to have rediscovered their early-season edge, winning four of five (the other was a loss to Crawley) and having scored more on the road than anyone else in League Two, while the Silkmen are winless in six.

? Leyton Orient to beat MK Dons at 9-4: ignore the 14-point difference in League One and instead check the table for the past 12 games; Orient have collected 23 to the Dons' 21.

We'll monitor the "best bets" progress through the season, with a set stake of �10 per bet. Current profit: �37.30. 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 still in front with Numbers Game.

What you may have missed from the blogosphere

? The Boys From Up the Hill on the bipolar relationship between Oxford United fans and Chris Wilder.

So Chris Wilder has reached the milestone of three years in the job at OUFC, something I doubt many would have predicted three years ago, given that we had endured 10 managerial changes in the preceding decade. One striking aspect of Wilder's reign ? and this has been thrown into sharp relief in recent weeks ? is the extreme extent to which he polarises the opinion of supporters. To a certain extent we would experience this no matter who is in charge (let's not forget the "Pattonistas" and the "anti-Pattos" during Darren Patterson's ill-fated tenure) but Wilder in particular appears to be divisive like no other figure currently at the club.

? Bluebirds Banter on why Cardiff's Craig Conway is in need of a rest

Conway's commitment cannot be questioned, but the things that are expected of him ? taking on the opposition, finding a team-mate with a cross and the like ? just aren't happening at the moment. Unfortunately, out on the pitch, there is no hiding place. He is working hard for the team and his dedication to the cause is second to none, but he is cutting a frustrated figure on the field.

? You can read much more from our Football League blogosphere, which should now have been updated to include more of your recently suggested blogs.