Whistles sound for the first time across the north-west, the north-east and the Midlands. We have lift off in our five Premier League matches.

Image source, Reuters

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "I'm shocked. Our level of performance wasn't where I expected it to be. It's disappointing when we've built expectation levels so high at home. It's about the basics, really. If we don't play to our best, we'll struggle. We warned the lads about Crystal Palace's set plays because 50% of their goals have come from set-plays. And we've conceded from two corners and a free-kick.

"I think Glenn Murray could have been sent off in the first half for the number of fouls he committed. He was lucky to stay on for that long. We should have had a penalty for the foul on Diafra Sakho, and it should have been a red card for Mile Jedinak too. That would have made it 3-2, and then you never know."

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew: "Up until the sending off, we were in total control, but we don't make it easy for ourselves. We had some scary moments.

"It was a mixed afternoon for Glenn Murray. He could have had a hat-trick in the first half. He gets into the right positions. The sending off was a little bit unlucky. He has to go for the ball, and I don't think he deserved that. I spoke to him at half-time. We all knew he was on a knife edge.

"But I'm absolutely delighted with him. He was terrific. It shouldn't take away from a terrific performance."

On Mile Jedinak's alleged elbow on Diafra Sakho: "Jedinak's cleared the ball. I don't think there was anything malicious. If the media want to pick up on it, we'll see where it goes."

Saquil Hoque: Is this the day Manchester United finally play 4-2-3-1 with Ashley Young and Angel Di Maria wide? I certainly hope so.

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Former England captain Jimmy Armfield
BBC Radio 5 live at Old Trafford

"I know a lot of people have been saying otherwise but I still think Manchester United are doing reasonably well. Of course they want the fluency of the Ferguson era, but it is a results business.

"Louis van Gaal has had a few trips along the way, but they have got the players, and I think in this latter part of the season, this is where he has to prove a point. This is the kind of match where he will be saying; 'Let's really go for it.'"

The teams are in the tunnels around the country. Not long now...

Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "This is a key week for us. We've got two really important home games. Hull have had a bit of a boost in confidence, and they'll have been buoyed by recent results. They're in better form than two or three weeks ago, but we're playing well too."

Hull manager Steve Bruce: "Unfortunately, Nikica Jelavic tweaked his knee on Thursday, and with the operation he's had on it, we can't take a risk. Dame N'Doye has been halfway round the world in the last 10 days, having come here from Russia via Senegal, so we've decided to put him on the bench.

"Let's hope our good run continues. We've lost a couple of players today, but we're healthier than we were three months ago, when we had seven, eight, nine missing."

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson
Football Focus

"Louis van Gaal is turning into a bit of a bluffer if you ask me, Manchester United are so slow in their build-up play. When you played against United you could never get your breath back but now they are slow and methodical. David Moyes would have gone if they had been playing like this. Get Wayne Rooney up front, let him play with Radamel Falcao, because Robin van Persie does not give you enough. It's a terrible thing to say as an ex-professional, but I don't think van Persie tries hard enough."

Top side in League Two Burton can press on for promotion when they host Newport, but hot on their heels Shrewsbury can close the gap with maximum points against Northampton.

Another defeat for bottom side Hartlepool against Wimbledon will see them edge closer to relegation, but Cheltenham can climb out of the drop zone with a win against Tranmere.

Plymouth entertain Bury, Portsmouth host Oxford and Luton face Dagenham & Redbridge.

The full League Two fixture list can be found here

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City can extend their five point lead in League One with a win over Rochdale, but second-placed MK Dons will be confident of collecting all three points when they travel to struggling Coventry.

Crawley and Leyton Orient have the opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone with wins over Sheffield United and Walsall respectively, while FA Cup quarter-finalists Bradford will look to maintain their promotion push against Peterborough.

Oldham host Preston in a North West derby, Chesterfield play Fleetwood and Lee Johnson takes charge of Barnsley for the first time at Gillingham.

The full League One fixture list can be found here

Image source, Getty Images

The most interesting match in the Championship this afternoon sees the bottom two sides in action at Bloomfield Road. Blackpool - rooted to the bottom - take on Wigan, one win in their last 11. A draw would be good for neither side.

Leaders Derby can extend their advantage at the top of the table with victory over struggling Fulham, but the Rams would need Sheffield Wednesday to halt second-placed Middlesbrough for that to happen.

Elsewhere, Bournemouth host Blackburn, Leeds face Watford and Charlton entertain Huddersfield.

The full Championship fixture list can be found here

Pete Serjeant: Neil Warnock came to my parents' house in Cornwall, bought it and has managed to stay longer than he has in any recent managerial roles!

Former England captain Terry Butcher
BBC Radio 5 live at Upton Park

"A well deserved victory for Crystal Palace, their game plan worked very well. They looked very strong, while West Ham now have a lot to ponder with some big games coming up. They dominated the game after Glenn Murray's red card but Julian Speroni was excellent in the Crystal Palace goal."

BBC Final Score

We've teamed up with Final Score to ask whether you think Manchester United will finish in the top four. Vote now at the top of the page - the vote will end at 17:00 GMT. Terms and conditions can be found here.

Sir Bobby Charlton thinks Louis van Gaal was "surprised by the enormity" of Manchester United when he took over as manager last summer.

But, writing in today's matchday programme ahead of Sunderland's visit to Old Trafford, the United director insists the Dutchman will be a success at the club.

He wrote: "A new manager comes in and has lots of things on his mind, a lot to think about at once, and Louis van Gaal was perhaps a little surprised by the enormity of the club.

"I am not worried about the season or the future. I think we can look forward to some fantastic times here."

He has to say that...

Image source, Reuters

But it is a far from happy scene among the Hammers fans trudging out of the Boleyn Ground. Watching Eastenders is more fun than watching the Hammers for Irons fans at the moment. That's now just one win in 10 Premier League matches since Christmas.

Edward Hamilton: What a brilliant result. Superb performance from the mighty Eagles, super Alan Pardew! Five successive away victories!

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Jubilant scenes among the Palace contingent. The Eagles players wander over to the Trevor Brooking Stand where the band of travelling supporters are gathered, winger Jason Puncheon embracing a woman on the front row before throwing his shirt into the crowd. Palace are up to 12th in the top-flight table ahead of the 15:00 GMT kick-offs.