Match Centre: Saturday’s latest football action

Blades versus Leeds is a game at the has implications at both ends of the Championship table, while Hull City look to continue their push for a play-off place at home to high-flying Norwich City.

In League One, Huddersfield Town are out to extend their unbeaten start to the 2011 league campaign when they host Swindon Town, while at Valley Parade, Peter Jackson is trying to press his claims for the Bradford job full-time when they host Northampton.

Rotherham United kick it all off when they visit League Two leaders Chesterfield on Friday night.

All matches 3pm unless stated

Saturday March 19

Championship

Barnsley v Reading

Team news: Jason Shackell is back after recovering from a hamstring injury but Paul McShane and Danny Haynes are major doubts for the visit of the Royals. McShane is struggling with a hamstring strain that he picked up in Sunday’s battling draw at Cardiff City, while Haynes suffered a similar injury. Stephen Foster is out with a hip problem.

Doncaster Rovers v QPR

Team news: John Oster and Steve Brooker returned to training this week but Paul Keegan is out for the season with a knee injury the on-loan midfielder sustained against Leeds. James Chambers is facing surgery after suffering a knee injury.

Hull City v Norwich City

Team news: Vito Mannone remains sidelined so Brad Guzan will continue in goal. Andy Dawson is available despite sustaining a deep cut on his forehead in last weekend’s win at Coventry City, while Jamie Devitt is added to the squad after coming through a full 90 minutes for the reserves in midweek.

Sheffield United v Leeds United

1pm

Team news: SHEFFIELD UNITED made three changes from the team beaten by Watford as Leeds United came to Bramall Lane.

Two were enforced with the red cards handed out to Lee Williamson and Darius Henderson meaning Micky Adams’ hand was forced in bringing Daniel Bogdanovic and Ched Evans in as the Blades managed opted for a three-man attack.

For Leeds, Barry Bannan was brought in for his first start to add some steel to the midfield while top scorer Luciano Becchio returned in place of Billy Paynter.

Championship

Huddersfield Town v Swindon Town

Team news: Antony Kay is again missing with ankle ligament damage, while Lee Peltier completes a four-game ban by sitting out the visit of the Robins. Ian Bennett is also out but Gary Naysmith could return to the starting line-up after coming off the bench in Tuesday’s win over Brentford at Griffin Park.

Southampton v Sheffield Wednesday

5.20pm

Team news: Loanees Rob Jones and Danny Batth both go straight into the squad after joining the Owls as manager Gary Megson looks to improve a defence that has conceded 11 goals in the last four games. Jones moved to Hillsborough from Scunthorpe United, while Batth has joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

League Two

Bradford City v Northampton Town

Team news: Lenny Pidgeley is again rated as a major doubt with the dead leg that kept the goalkeeper out of City’s win at Morecambe. Ankle-injury victim Tommy Doherty, who has not featured since December, and Simon Ramsden (thigh) are still out but could be back in action by the start of next month.

Blue Square Bet Premier

Cambridge United v York City

Follow the action throughout the weekend with our Match Centre service by clicking on the link at the right hand side of the page, and for full reports, analysis and pictures, read Sports Monday inside Monday’s Yorkshire Post.

Chesterfield 5-0 Rotherham

Last night’s game in League Two saw former Sheffield United striker Jack Lester score a hat-trick as leaders Chesterfield hammered Rotherham United in a 5-0 rout at the B2net Stadium.

The result moved Chesterfield 13 points clear at the top, while at the same time putting a serious dent in the Millers’ own automatic promotion hopes as Ronnie Moore’s team now sit four points off third-placed Wycombe having played a game more.

A Dean Holden header put the home side ahead in the 21st minute before Craig Davies doubled the lead 10 minutes later.

Lester grabbed his first of the night in first-half injury time before adding two more in the final 10 minutes.