Ashton Gate, Bristol
Back in the sunny days of pre-season hands up supporters of Bristol City and Middlesbrough who thought Saturday's match at Ashton Gate would have more to do with avoiding relegation than winning promotion.
City started the campaign as many observers' outside bet for promotion. They had the wily and experienced Steve Coppell in charge and had signalled their ambition by pulling off the sensational signing of England goalkeeper David James.
Boro had been rebuilt over the summer by manager Gordon Strachan, his side shaped around players forged in the Old Firm rivalry of Celtic and Rangers. The Scottish Premier League's record goalscorer Kris Boyd had arrived - a transfer to rival James's as the stand-out signing of the summer. As they prepared for their second season in the Championship, Boro were the bookies' favourites to win the division.
Fast forward to Saturday's fixture and survival was the buzzword as the two teams met under the leaden skies at the old but atmospheric Ashton Gate. Boro went into the contest one point above the bottom three, while City were perched in the relatively heady heights of 17th. The visiting team ended the contest 4-0 winners, in the process recording their biggest victory of the season and inflicting on City their heaviest defeat.
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Portman Road, Ipswich
I cannot help wondering whether Ipswich fans were given a glimpse of the future at Portman Road on Wednesday evening or if it was just a brief and fleeting vision of heights that they will not scale again any time soon.
Without question, the Tractor Boys deserved their 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final. The home team played with guts and determination in front of a crowd that responded by backing their team with a passion to match that shown on the field. You could almost sense the self-belief surging through the stands at a stadium sold out for the time in close on a decade.
Tamas Priskin struck the only goal of the tie 12 minutes from the end, prompting wild scenes of joy and jubilation - and ensuring that Ipswich will travel for the return leg at the Emirates with a lead to defend.
Watching from the stands was new Ipswich manager Paul Jewell, who will meet his squad for the first time at training on Thursday morning. Jewell's task is ultimately to bring Premier League football back to Portman Road and ensure that nights like Wednesday are commonplace ,not rare events.
The 46-year-old made a brief foray on to the pitch before the match and was given a generous round of applause from the home fans but it would be understandable if there were reservations about his appointment. The Liverpudian's managerial record is truly black and white. Success or failure. There is no middle ground on his CV.
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I recently posed a question on Twitter to find out who you thought was the young player in the Football League most likely to attract offers from a Premier League club during the January transfer window.
Lots of names featured, with Watford keeper Scott Loach, Coventry stopper Keiren Westwood, Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan and Swindon striker Charlie Austin all mentioned several times.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Southampton's prodigiously talented and very fast winger, also generated several replies. The 17-year-old, a regular for his club this season, is the subject of much speculation, with clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Fulham all linked with the teenager, who has been at Saints since the age of seven.
Former Saints players Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott have already made the move to a top Premier League side but Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has already made it clear that his club do not need to sell Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has apparently told his boss that he has no interest in leaving anyway.
As well as Oxlade-Chamberlain, you have also highlighted Tranmere's talented young forward Dale Jennings.
If Oxlade-Chamberlain has been talked about for some time, then Jennings, who turned 18 four days before Christmas, has come out of relative obscurity this season. He has made only 19 first-team appearances for the League One club after his debut as a substitute against Charlton in September 2010. However, since then his performances have swiftly brought him to the attention of numerous Premier League and Championship sides.
Scouts from Everton, West Brom, Sunderland, Fulham and Watford were all spotted at Tranmere's match against Plymouth on 13 November. What they saw was a serious contender for goal of the season.
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Hello, I'm Paul Fletcher and I mainly write about life in the Football League. I have a great enthusiasm for a whole range of sports and love to spread the word about the great game of rugby league. You can also follow me on 
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