Firstly, I apologise for my long absence from BoroMania.com.

The last time I wrote for this website was in the aftermath of Gareth Southgate's sacking. That was four months ago - plenty of time for Southgate's successor Gordon Strachan to have imprinted his mark upon the Middlesbrough squad.

By Ollie Irish

Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford strikes a classic breakdance pose during his side's League One clash with Colchester United at Elland Road. Leeds won 2-0 Beckford scored both goals to end a run of three games without a victory and rejuvenate their push for automatic promotion.

ewcastle United are on 83 points, a full 13 points ahead of 3rd placed Nottingham Forest, and automatic promotion will soon be a certainty at Newcastle. Chris Hughton - Newcastle promotion so close now but don't tell this man Nottingham Forest have 6 games left so the maximum number of points they can now get is [.

The first of many big games for Newcastle kicks off today, with the very real prospect of promotion making it's first outing of the season. Today's visit to London Road to face struggling side, Peterborough United, could result in guaranteed automatic promotion, should we come away with the three points and Nottingham Forest fail to [.

Mike Grella, Leeds United

Grella came on for the final six minutes but Charlton got a tricky goal late, winning 1-0 against Leeds. Leeds now needs a win next week to clinch automatic promotion.

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A statement on Leeds United's official website confirms that star striker Jermaine Beckford wants away:

"Leeds United can confirm that Jermaine Beckford has handed in a transfer request.

"The transfer request was handed in on December 30.

"By handing in a transfer request it clearly indicates that the player wants to leave Leeds United.

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The opening day of the season must feel like a long time ago now for supporters of Colchester United Football Club. Back in August, they started their League One season in style with a 7-1 win at Carrow Road against a Norwich City team that was playing its first match outside of the top division in almost fifty years.

The Baggies just about deserved to win this gripping top-of-the-table clash, as they repeatedly exposed Newcastle's hitherto solid defence on the counter-attack. The Toon twice came back from being a goal down, with Danny Guthrie's excellent free-kick and then a Peter Lovenkrands header replying to goals by the impressive Jonas Olsson and Roman Bednar; Lovenkrands dedicated the goal to his late father, who died last week.

WBA played extremely well last night at St. James' Park, and that was following their last game, in which they were almost played off the park at home, by the other automatic promotion candidates in the Championship, the surging Nottingham Forest. Chris and Colin - still have a job on their hands Our usually sound defense was [.

West Brom defeated Sheffield United at the Hawthorns to keep up their push for an automatic promotion berth.

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Manchester City and Manchester United may live like kings, dining out on the excess of Premier League football, but this evening our attention turns to two of Manchester's satellite clubs, both of whom may in the past have been considered also-rans of the local scene but both of whom, this season, are having rather good seasons Bury and Rochdale.

Newcastle manager Chris Hughton is refusing to set a points total for this season for Newcastle, but he knows very well the points that have gained automatic promotion over the last several seasons, and Newcastle must be in reach of those. Calderwood and Hughton aware of points totals Newcastle are hoping to get their first away [.

Results went Newcastle's way on Saturday, as for the second time in two games Newcastle gained a full 3 points on one of their automatic promotion challengers. Chris Hughton big win at Watford Chris Hughton was interviewed following the game at Watford that Newcastle won fairly comfortably 2-1, and was asked if he thought Saturday's' result [.

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Even though Jose Mourinho was suspended, he made sure he was still coaching his squad, even if he was in the stands. That photo could also be the start of many sexual innuendo captions, but I'll stick to calcio. Inter missed the opportunity to take advantage of Roma and Milan's stalemate and increase their lead at the top.

And so it begins. In anticipation of what many people percieve as automatic promotion the press have decided to set the wheel of their transfer rumour moving decidedly early this year. Already we are being linked with a few names that apparently we would be chasing should our promotion be ensured. Top of our summer shopping [.

By FRANCO PANIZO

If U.S. national team fans were unconcerned about the firepower that Slovenia and Algeria possess, they likely changed their tunes after the goals scored this weekend.

There was a combined four goals netted and Algerian midfielder Abdelkader Ghezzal accounted for two of them in Siena's shocking comeback draw against Juventus.

What became clear after last night's rather easy 3-0 win over Scunthorpe United was that 5 more wins and Newcastle get automatic promotion. Chris Hughton with Mike Ashley and the players Chris was told that it looked like another 15 points and they would be ahead of Nottingham Forest, even if Forest won all their remaining 9 games, and [.

Newcastle now have 9 games to play in their first Championship season since being relegated, but automatic promotion is still not certain. Chris Hughton needs four home wins out of four for promotion Of the 9 games to go, 5 of them are away from home, and as we witnessed on Saturday, Newcastle are only half [.

With the news this morning there may have been an altercation between Andy Carrol and Steven Taylor on Sunday at the training ground, the Newcastle players will need to show some significant mental strength in the game tonight at Doncaster Rovers. Although the team is excellently positioned for automatic promotion, nothing has been achieved yet, and [.

It looks like Newcastle will just not comment on the Carroll Taylor affair, and today Chris has told the Evening Chronicle that all he's thinking about is winning games. Chris Hughton - being coy but sensible too Newcastle are starting to get close to securing that automatic promotion spot, and a win at home against Nottingham [.

Newcastle United take on Nottingham Forest in a top of the table clash on Monday knowing that 3 points at St James' park would all but secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking and virtually end Forest's interests in an automatic promotion place. Very much the game of the [.

It seems unlikely that any team in Britain has as important a week as Stevenage Borough have this week. Five points clear at the top of the Blue Square Premier, they face second placed Oxford United and third placed Luton Town on Saturday, before finishing off a run of three matches in six days with an away match against Wimbledon.

West Brom had a good 3-0 win at home this afternoon against Leicester City, and are now just single point behind Newcastle on 82 points after they completed 41 games played. Roberto DeMatteo and Chris Hughton - automatic promotion pair? Goals from James Morrison on 38 minutes and a couple from Robert Koran on 45 and 85 minutes [.

It's a big weekend of football across the length and breadth of the country. One of the unique qualities of the English football season is the way in which, over the course of the Easter weekend, we pass seamlessly from the tail end of the mid-season into the final straights. Saturday lunchtime sees Manchester United play Chelsea at Old Trafford in the Premier League's match of the weekend.

Six Scandinavians found their way onto the scoresheet with some crucial goals this weekend, while another saw six goals fly by him in a match he will have nightmares about for years to come.

Nicklas Bendtner stole the show and the headlines as his 94th minute winner against Wolves dragged Arsenal back into the Premier League title race, coinciding with Chelsea beating leaders Manchester United to move top.

Wherever you were tonight, it was a very special occasion if you were a Newcastle United supporter. Even before before our 2-1 victory over Sheff Utd, when Nottingham Forest failed to beat Cardiff City at home, it meant we were guaranteed an automatic promotion place. But when Sheff Utd took the lead through Richard Cresswell [.

By FRANCO PANIZO

West Bromwich Albion got one step closer to assuring automatic promotion back into the Premiership next season with a win against Leicester City this weekend, and the club can partially thank Robert Koren for that.

Koren scored the final two goals in a 3-0 West Brom win that saw the club extend its point lead to 12 over third-place Nottingham Forest (the lead is now 11 after games were played on Monday).

Zak Whitbread and Norwich took another huge stride towards automatic promotion as Jay DeMerit overcame a back injury to play 80 minutes for Watford.

Monday 29 March
19.45 Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest, Championship, Sky Sports 1/HD1
After the distraction of Andy Carroll having an almighty punch-up with team-mate Steven Taylor, Newcastle won't want us or anybody else bringing up the issue as they continue their relentless pursuit of automatic promotion.

Monday 22 March
19.45 Leeds Utd v Millwall, League One, Sky Sports 1/HD1
A fixture to leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth of any fan of football, unless of course you have a misguided nostalgia for "firms" and British Rail football specials. Leeds have a cushion of 12 points in the automatic promotion spots, Millwall's hold on a play-off place is less secure but their form suggests they have what it takes.

(All times UK)
Monday 12 April
19.45 Swindon Town v Exeter City, League One, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Swindon are currently in the box seat to join Norwich for automatic promotion from League 1. Still six games to go though and they're under huge pressure from Millwall and Charlton (but not from Leeds).

By Ollie Irish

Exeter City's Steve Tully and Swindon Town's Scott Cuthbert battle for the ball. A Matt Taylor own goal in the 94th minute robbed Exeter of victory and maintained Swindon's push for automatic promotion to the Championship.

Photo: PA

Here is the current League One table:

With four games to go, it's Norwich's to lose. A couple of months ago, it was Leeds' to lose, which they seemed to have done spectacularly. But they've enjoyed a resurgence of late, winning their last three matches and pushing them back into the promotion places.

Danny Simpson seems to have been interviewed during the 9 hour trip yesterday, when the Newcastle United coach left at 1:00 pm from Benton, and arrived in Plymouth at 10:00pm. Danny Simpson wants to win league tonight Automatic promotion was clinched on April 5th, when Nottingham Forest only drew with Cardiff City, and it would be [.

By Chris Wright

Bit of breaking news for you here folks. West Brom have turned down West Ham's written bid of around £4 million for their influential midfielder Graham Dorrans.

The former Livingston man has had an outstanding season for The Baggies this term, contributing 18 goals from midfield, and has been a driving force behind the club's automatic promotion to the Premier League.

By Ollie Irish

◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 18

Charlton Athletic's Lloyd Sam (l) and Leeds United's Shane Lowry (r) battle for the ball

Photos: Neil Tingle / EMPICS

Akpo Sodje's 88th-minute header, which crashed in off Leeds United's Richard Naylor, means that Leeds still need a win against Bristol Rovers on the last day of the season to be guaranteed automatic promotion.

Goodison Park boss set to seal deal to sign Elland Road goal machine.

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David Moyes will apparently clinch a summer deal to sign Leeds United contract rebel Jermaine Beckford in a matter of weeks. The Everton boss is known to be a big admirer of the 26 year old and leads the chase to snap up the Elland Road goal machine on a Bosman deal early next month.