Hello, I am back once again with what I feel are the five biggest talking points of the Saturday football action. This week’s might be slightly self-indulgent than others, considering I was at a game yesterday, but I aim to cover all bases.

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1. Millwall vs. Leeds 

I played the part of a media darling yesterday and sat with the press to watch the Championship clash between Millwall and Leeds. It was a pulsating 1-0 win for Neil Warnock’s men, with Millwall having every right to be annoyed after having two penalties turned down and having a penalty pulled back for a retake that Darius Henderson subsequently missed.

I noticed three things in my taste of Championship football yesterday (yes, I am doing a list inside a list – this can happen, it’s my blog.)

1. Ross McCormack is a VERY good player. He was constantly threatening throughout the game, making a lot of key run and passes, and scoring the winning goal of the game. Also scored a Messi-esque second, flicking it over the defender before his shot was saved by the keeper. He will be a Premier League leading striker soon – you can bank on it.

2. The atmosphere at The Den was INSANE. It is a real cauldron of a stadium, really keeping the sound inside of it. The chanting back-and-forth between the Leeds and Millwall fans (as offensive as some of it was) was amazing to see and hear in person. The Den is a great ground, which is something I never thought I’d say.

3. Neil Warnock is actually quite a decent bloke. In the press conference afterwards, he was very warm and very funny, talking about how they haven’t fixed the cold showers in the away dressing room in two years. He welcomed all questions and was just a great person to hear from. Judging books by their covers and all that.

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2. Arsenal don’t actually need Robin van Persie

Arsenal managed to win a game without goal-maniac Robin Van Persie as they beat Aston Villa 3-0 at the Emirates. This must be a massive confidence boost for all Gunners fans who can see that it’s not just Robin in a purple patch; the whole team can come together and get the goals for them and guide them third place. If Podolski ends up there next year, bank on them being fighting for the title next season.

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3. Peter Crouch scores a 35-yard wondergoal against Manchester City

Boof. Eat my goal – what a strike.

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4. Yaya Toure scores a 40-yard piledriver against Stoke City

Boof. Eat my goal – what a strike. Déjà vu?

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5. West Ham do not want to get promoted

It appears that Sam Allardyce and his boys have decided they love football so much that they want a few more games at the end of the season – so they are opting for the play-offs after leading the Championship for a lot of the season. Yesterday was yet another draw, this time having a claw back a 2-0 deficit against Burnley to 2-2 with goals from Kevin Nolan and James Tomkins. You’d think they are all too busy playing that new hit phone app that’s on the market the amount of drawing they have been doing recently (ooh, pop culture reference) and they have now dropped well off the pace behind a dominant Southampton and a surprise late burst from Reading. It looks like they will be taking the play-off route where I reckon they will lose out to Brighton or Middlesbrough, so in the end it looks like a second season in the second tier for Big Sam and his boys. Good work lads, all that money was worth it, right?

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So there is my five random points on yesterday’s games – do you agree or disagree with them? Let us know on Twitter at @ballsybanter, and until then, I will see you next time at full-time.

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