The best matches and bets from the latest round of matches, plus our pick from the Football League blogosphere
Key matches
? Depressed about the Football League clubs hammering another stake into the heart of English football? You should be. Best try and focus on the here and now, with the latest round of fixtures, the pick of which arguably comes on Monday night when Brighton host West Ham. Before then, though, the Hammers could have surrendered the second automatic promotion spot to a host of teams, among them Crystal Palace, who are enjoying their best start to a season in six years. Manager Dougie Freedman is benefiting from some talented youngsters at Selhurst Park, chief among them Wilfried Zaha, while Wales Under-21 midfielder Jon Williams is another to keep on your radar. On Saturday, Palace visit Ipswich - fifth v sixth - who, like Saturday's opposition, have won three of their last four, though their 1-0 midweek win over Portsmouth wasn't the most impressive. Even Paul Jewell admitted "it wasn't the greatest performance by any stretch of the imagination". Expect an improvement and a better game at Portman Road.
? Peterborough matches = goals. Their 46 League One matches produced 181 last season (3.93 per game) and they're at it again. No team in the Championship can match them this year either, with 43 in 12 (3.58) and for them to lie seventh in the division is a remarkable achievement for Darren Ferguson and his squad. Leeds United are the midday visitors to London Road on Saturday and they aren't averse to a few goals here or there either (37 in 12). It should be a must-watch.
? Steve Evans has been at it again. "We might be a big game for Wimbledon, but it's not that in reverse," he declared ahead of Crawley's trip to Kingsmeadow. "A big game for us is Shrewsbury, Plymouth Argyle or Bradford [two of the bottom three]. Wimbledon celebrated when they beat us last year as if they'd won the championship." A score is clearly still to be settled, even if the Carling Cup first-round tie went Crawley's way back in July, but the leaders have earned the right to be bullish atop League Two. The Dons have impressed in the division this season too, lying sixth despite a surprising setback at home to Crewe last week and, as Evans suggests, are clearly looking forward to the game. "We owe [Crawley] one as they beat us in the Carling Cup," said winger Christian Jolley. "Morecambe turned them over recently and now this is our turn." Game on.
Quote of the week
"If we lose our youth players for nominal fees how are we going to survive? I don't think it is fair" - MK Dons boss Karl Robinson speaks sense in the wake of the EPPP proposal being green-lit.
Goal of the week
Chris Whelpdale (1m 50sec) for Gillingham at Torquay. It's brilliant and just edges Plymouth's Conor Hourihane (30sec).
Pointless information of the week
Birmingham City lie 16th in the Championship and could go into Sunday's game at Bristol City as low as 18th. Yet win their four games in hand and they could also be top, top-team-meltdown-permitting.
Best bets
? +4.5 goals in Peterborough v Leeds at 16-5. Worth a small punt.
? Notts County to beat Brentford at 6-5. Six wins in eight have propelled the Magpies to fourth in League One and now manager Martin Allen gets to take on his former employers at Meadow Lane. After a strong start, the Bees are losing a bit of their buzz, with just one win in six, and even if John Ashdown has jinxed them, odds-against is value.
We'll monitor the "best bets" progress through the season, with a set stake of �10 per bet. Current profit: �6.30. 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 in front with Numbers Game.
What you may have missed from the blogosphere
? The Exiled Robin on Bristol City's new manager, Derek McInnes:
The reaction since 5pm tonight has been remarkable. Widespread delight and excitement has greeted the appointment, with everyone suddenly aware what he has achieved at perennial yo-yo club St Johnstone and hopeful that similar success might follow at Ashton Gate.
? The Two Unfortunates on how Paul Dickov is creating Oldham in his own image:
It can be very difficult to excite Oldham Athletic fans and they have good cause to treat every new appointment with caution. The Latics last tasted promotion way back in 1991-92, and have been in League One since 1996/97. Fifteen years is a long time to be static in the same division and various owners have overseen the running of Boundary Park in the depressing knowledge that fans are leaving the ground for the final time, leaving attendances below four thousand. The club needs a promotion.
? You can read much more from our Football League blogosphere, which should now have been updated to include more of your recently suggested blogs.
? This column will be having a week off next week.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2011/oct/21/football-league-weekender-blog
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