NEW ERA

Alan Irvine takes charge of Sheffield Wednesday for the first time on Saturday and faces a tricky Yorkshire derby, as they head to Barnsley.

Irvine took charge at Hillsborough last week and with the Owls sitting second bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship he is under no illusion of how big the task ahead is:

"While the league table shows us that there is a lot of hard work in front of us between now and the end of the current season, it's a challenge I'm relishing and I believe the squad here at Hillsborough is more than capable of pulling away from the current situation at the bottom of the Championship.

"Sheffield Wednesday has made excellent progress off the pitch in the past 12 months and it is now my job to make sure that progress is mirrored on the pitch."

The Tykes currently sit 11 points clear of Saturday's opponents and just seven off the Play-Off places and boss Mark Robins is looking forward to his first derby encounter.

Speaking to www.barnsleyfc.co.uk he said: "It will be a real blood and thunder game and it is my first derby encounter with Sheffield Wednesday. It is one we are looking forward to and we have to make sure that we go out there and replicate our supporters' desire to win this fixture. I am sure the atmosphere in Oakwell will be electric.

"A local derby is always slightly different to every other game because there are bragging rights at stake for our supporters. They will have to go to work with Sheffield Wednesday fans and will want the bragging rights on Monday morning."

Darren Ferguson also takes charge of his first game at a new club, after he replaced Irvine at Preston North End.

The Lilywhites travel to Ashton Gate to take on Bristol City, a ground which has not proved to be a happy hunting ground, with them having won there just once in 83 years.

North End have slipped to 17th in the table, with just one win in their last 10 league matches but Ferguson has high hopes for the rest of the season:

"I have got a three-and-a-half year contract and the aim has to be to get into the Premier League. Burnley have got in it and they are only up the road, as are Blackburn and Bolton, so that is our aim. We still have a chance this season and we will wait and see and I am looking forward to working with the players.

"I think the club is capable of making that next step. It is where I want to work, and we have a good chance. All the stuff in the background and the structure is there, we have a sound squad, we need that little bit of luck and there are probably 15 teams who can get in the Play-Offs and if we can get a couple of results and get some momentum then it could be us."

Bristol City will themselves think they can be one of those 15 teams who can still make the Play-Offs with just five points separating them and sixth placed Swansea City and Gary Johnson knows the next few weeks will be vital as he told Bristol City player: "You know all teams will be up for it with a new manager.

"Often they get a free one for their first game and get a win - we've got to buck that trend. All the problems that some players may have had with a previous manager have gone and they will have a new lease of life.

"But we're still in a good position and if we can win our fair share of home games that we have got coming up then we can get ourselves back challenging.

"We've got lots of games coming up in quick succession and it's a vital time for us. It has the ability to shape our season."

OLD FRIENDS

Ian Holloway welcomes his former club Queens Park Rangers to Bloomfield Road this weekend as Blackpool look to continue their good form.

Holloway spent five years in charge at Loftus Road from 2001 to 2006 but the club has had eight permanent managers since then! He's now doing an excellent job at Blackpool and they currently sit just one place and two points off the top six, with a game in hand, and he's looking forward to the clash:

"I can't wait to take on my old team", he said.

"A lot of history there for me, five years as a player in the top flight - five years as a manager, relegated, promoted and good luck to them but not on Saturday."

QPR started the season well, with just one defeat in their first nine league games. Three consecutive wins in October took them into the Play-Off places but Jim Magilton's departure in December came as a shock. He was replaced by the experienced Paul Hart but things haven't quite gone to plan.

The former Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest boss saw his side pick up just one win from five games before he also left the club on Friday, leaving Mick Harford in charge for the weekend.

ON THE BOX

Newcastle United host third placed West Bromwich Albion, on Monday night, with the two sides eyeing an instant return to the Premier League.

Newcastle's last league action came on December 28th, when they were held to a goalless draw at home to Derby County but they still lead the Championship by five points, with a game in hand.

West Brom will be looking for an improvement after they were beaten 3-1 at home to Nottingham Forest on Friday, which saw Billy Davies' side leapfrog them in the table.

The two sides last met on the opening day of the season back in August when Damien Duff's second half strike cancelled out Shelton Martis' opener to give the Magpies a share of the points.

The Baggies' last league win at St James Park came back in 1977, when they recorded a 3-0 victory, but they have secured wins there since in both the League and FA Cup, the last occasion being the League Cup Third Round in December 2003. Lee Hughes settled the match in injury time after the tie ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

For the full list of televised games please click here

Click here for all the weekend's action