Around One – Not a bad day in the end

Danny Spiller - his goal was not enough to prevent West Ham from beating Gillingham

Derby boss George Burley remains confident despite them dropping back into the bottom three. "We could have folded at 2-0 but we didn't," he said. "We have to look to win all our games and hopefully we will have the will to scrap.''

Gillingham were also beaten West Ham but for a long time it looked as though they would get a draw after Danny Spiller equalised an early Bobby Zamora goal. Matthew Etherington scored the winner but Andy Hessenthaler was pleased with the way his side applied themselves even in defeat.

"For our work rate we could have got something," said Hessenthaler. "With four out of our next five games at home our season rests on those next few matches.

"It's all about character from here. We've worked hard to get into Division One and we've got to make sure we stay here."

Forest were also winners courtesy of the rare site of two Marlon King goals. That was enough to see off Crewe who have now well and truly been dragged into the relegation battle although at this stage it is unlikely that they would fill the third bottom spot.

It is surely now just one place available after our win at the stadium with the long name. BRBC are now nine points adrift and look out of it courtesy of the Ian Moore winner, the only goal many Burnley fans saw.

Franchise scored a goal at Milton Keynes, their first since they lost to Rotherham 2-1 on the first Saturday in December. They still lost though, 2-1 to Ipswich and it means that they are hanging on by a thread and just four more points dropped will ensure their slide down English football continues. Good riddance.

Paul Ifill - his late goal stopped Walsall collecting all three points

The worst result of the lot was Rotherham’s 1-0 win against the Weary Whinger’s Preston. It makes you wonder whether he is doing it in spite having lost at home to Walsall the previous week.

Martin Butler scored the only goal of the game that ensured the local radio phone in was another ‘Brown must go’ session. They are a slow lot these Preston fans, we’ve been telling them that for two years.

Up at the top there seems less and less chance of anyone stopping Norwich and West Brom winning automatic promotion to the Premiership with both winning at home again.

Mathias Svensson scored for Norwich in their 1-0 win over Stoke and it should have been two but Darren Huckerby missed from the penalty spot.

It took West Brom some time to break down Palace but when they did they hit them with two goals in the last ten minutes.

Sunderland with their games in hand look the only side now capable of catching them but you certainly wouldn’t risk betting on it happening. If they win their game in hand they would still be five points behind.

Sheffield United did their chances no favours with a 2-1 defeat at Cardiff and this after leading 1-0 in the weekend’s televised match and in the remaining fixture Coventry failed to score four goals at home again. They were beaten 2-1 by Reading.

This week is a quiet week with no midweek games at all and just ten league fixtures at weekend with both Millwall and Sunderland otherwise engaged at Old Trafford. All fixtures kick off at 3:00 p.m. unless otherwise shown.

Burnley v Norwich City
Crewe Alexandra v Rotherham United
Derby County v Walsall
Gillingham v Cardiff City
Preston North End v Bradford City
Reading v West Ham United (12:30 p.m.)
Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest
Stoke City v Coventry City
Wigan Athletic v Franchise

Ipswich Town v West Bromwich Albion (4:00 p.m.)