It's a big, old game at the Riverside this afternoon. It's top (Derby) against fourth (Middlesbrough), with a place at the summit the prize - until 4.45pm at the very least. Throw in Steve McClaren's return to his former club and you have the ingredients for a tasty contest.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter, Clayton, Adomah, Bamford, Reach, Vossen. Subs: Garcia, Husband, Whitehead, Omeruo, Veljkovic, Wildschut, Mejias.

Derby: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth, Hendrick, Mascarell, Bryson, Dawkins, Martin, Russell. Subs: Buxton, Coutts, Hughes, Roos, Calero, Best, Ibe.

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)

The teams are in for the early clash of the Championship high flyers at the Riverside Stadium.

Fourth-placed Middlesbrough are unchanged from the side which thumped Millwall 5-1 at the New Den. One switch for league leaders Derby, with Richard Keogh in for Jake Buxton.

We'll be bringing you plenty of updates from the early Championship game at the Riverside, sprinkled with plenty of Premier League build-up. Here's some team news from the second tier...

Derby's trip to Middlesbrough is the Championship's standout fixture, with Aitor Karanka's third-placed side welcoming the league leaders in the division's early game (12:15 GMT).

That meeting gives second-placed Ipswich the opportunity to gain something on at least one of their closest promotion challengers, but Mick McCarthy's side welcome a Bolton team revived under Neil Lennon's stewardship.

At the bottom of the table, Malky Mackay takes Wigan back to his former club Watford desperate for points to haul the Lancashire side out of the relegation places.

Football Focus BBC Sport

Kick off in the Premier League games is around two hours 45 minutes away but first up is Football Focus, which starts at 12:10 on BBC One and online.

It includes interviews with West Ham's Alex Song, Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart and Swansea's Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Go to the highlights tab at the top of this page to watch live.

Football Focus
BBC Sport

Today Football Focus are running a vote and the question is: Where will West Ham finish in the Premier league? You can vote here, external or reply to @bbcsport, external on Twitter using #top4 #top6 #top10 or #bottom10.

The vote will close at 12:40 GMT and the result will be announced shortly after. For full terms and conditions, see here., external

Thanks Mandeep. How is everyone then? Fed up of the shops already? Or have you stayed at home, put your feet up and devoted your full attention to today's football. If so, I doff my cap to you. First thing's first... let's have a little vote.

It's handover time and it's now time to pass the reins onto the lovely Marc Higginson. Enjoy.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's second spell in charge of the club began with a 2-0 win over today's opponents Hull.

The Portuguese now believes he has a better side. he said: "[It is] a completely different team. The evolution in the quality of our game, evolution in many individuals that after so many weeks of work they improve a lot.

"We are a better team. I hope the result can be the same."

Top-flight leaders Chelsea suffered their first league defeat of the season when a 23-game unbeaten run came to an end at Newcastle last Saturday.

But the Blues players, the tactics of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho or the Magpies resilience had nothing to do with the loss. Ohhh no, of course not.

According to the Portuguese, the blame lay squarely at the feet of the Tyneside club's ballboys. Today, they host Hull and will be out to show the defeat was purely and temporary blip.

Image source, EPA

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres is on loan at AC Milan and has been linked with a move back to former club Liverpool. Asked about the Spaniard returning to Chelsea, let's just say Blues boss Jose Mourinho doesn't seem to keen.

"That's an impossible picture," said Mourinho . "He's on loan for two seasons at AC Milan. We have no space. We have no space for players in our list either in the Champions League or in the Premier League."

Are you sure you don't want him back Jose?

BBC Radio 5 live

We've teamed up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live - how far is TOO far to go in supporting your team:

Oscar Harman:, external I have bought over a £1000 of Arsenal kits since '98 and was at the FA Cup victory parade four hours early!

Image source, @ojnharman

Send in your stories about what you consider a step too far in the life of a supporter by using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter or via text on 81111.

BBC Radio 5 live

John Hartson fully expects former club Arsenal to recover from last weekend's defeat at Stoke when Newcastle come calling.

"There will be a lot of expectation and pressure and Arsene Wenger will want a reaction," he said.

"I know they can be got at at the back but if they don't concede early, keep the crowd with them and play with the pace they've got up front they should have enough."

BBC Radio 5 live

Burnley manager Sean Dyche believes Newcastle have nothing to fear ahead of their trip to Emirates Stadium.

"They look a different animal to earlier in the season," he said. "The new players have adjusted and they're on a good run. Now they have familiarised themselves with the Premier League, their talents are showing."

QPR midfielder Joey Barton, a former Newcastle player, added: "I think Hull at home was key. They were 2-0 down and got a draw and the fans were baying for Alan Pardew's blood. Mike Ashley actually deserves a lot of credit for sticking by him - and I didn't think I'd ever be saying that about him."

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew hasn't always been Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger's favourite person but feelings between the pair appear to have thawed.

"Alan Pardew has gone through a very difficult patch at Newcastle and he has dealt with it with strength and dignity. Fortunately he has been rewarded for it," said Wenger.

"They had a great result last week, they are doing well and they are on a good run. It will be a very interesting challenge for us.

Can their relationship survive their meeting in today's late game?

It's the festive season and love - or mutual respect - appears to have broken out between Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Newcastle counterpart Alan Pardew. The two had a touchline spat in 2006 when Pardew was in charge at West Ham but seem to have made up.

Pardew says the abuse fans aimed at Wenger, who was booed when boarding a train following his side's 3-2 Premier League defeat at Stoke last Saturday, was "totally disrespectful".

The Magpies boss also believes Arsenal should name their stadium after Wenger in recognition of the Frenchman's achievements at the club.

Image source, Getty Images

Football Focus BBC Sport

Join Football Focus for a preview of the weekend's action on BBC One from 12:10 GMT. Today's programme is presented by Dan Walker and he is joined by former Manchester United defender Phil Neville are ex-Arsenal centre back Martin Keown. There will also be interviews with West Ham's Alex Song, Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart and Swansea's Gylfi Sigurdsson.

You can watch reaction as all the goals go in around the grounds with Final Score, live on the Red Button from 14:30 and on BBC One from 16:30 - except for viewers in Scotland who can watch Sportscene from the same time.

And of course later there'll be Match of the Day - today it's on at 22:30 on BBC One.

Image source, Premier League

It can be football's equivalent of what happened to the baddies in Superman II when their powers were taken away in the film to leave them defenceless.

We are of course talking about the manager and player of the month awards. For some reason, winning the award has a reputation for not being a good sign for its recipients.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero won the player gong for November and the curse struck him even before he had won it as he got injured last Saturday and will be out for about four to six weeks.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew won the manager award and we'll see how he gets on against Arsenal today.

BBC Radio 5 live

We've teamed up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live, as we always do on a Saturday. How far is TOO far to go in supporting your team:

Bantam Of The Opera:, external Went to Torquay supporting Bradford. Set off at 6am - after 10 mins of the game we were 2-0 down and our keeper sent off. Nightmare!

GJ Morland:, external Arranged a romantic weekend away in Chester with the wife. Just so happened Morecambe were playing there on the Friday night

Khael Malik:, external Stayed up all night to watch 2008 Champions League final. Had an exam that morning. Fair to say that didn't go so well...

Send in your stories about what you consider a step too far in the life of a supporter by using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter or via text on 81111. And listen to The Danny Baker Show by hitting the live coverage tab at the top of the page.