Ian Holloway ignoring speculation linking Wilfried Zaha with Crystal Palace exit

Arsenal and Liverpool have been heavily linked with the youngster

Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway will not let mounting speculation over the future of striker Wilfried Zaha affect either the player or the club ahead of the crucial festive programme in the npower Championship.

Palace still sit second behind leaders Cardiff despite picking up just one win in their last four games, having initially soared to the top on the back of a five-game winning streak on the back of Holloway's appointment.

Holloway's men travel to Birmingham on Saturday with Holloway insisting to the London Evening Standard: "When a player gets a chance to move and the club say no, we need to manage that disappointment and refocus that person."

Leaders Cardiff look to extend their fine home form at home to struggling Peterborough but third-placed Middlesbrough face an injury crisis ahead of their Riverside Stadium clash with Wolves.

Five players are doubts after the midweek Capital One Cup defeat at Swansea, with Andre Bikey, Faris Haroun and Grant Leadbitter all suffering hamstring injuries, while Andy Halliday and Seb Hines are also doubts.

Barnsley boss Keith Hill has insisted he needs more time to turn his side's fortunes around as the Tykes head into a potentially crucial Yorkshire derby against fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday at Oakwell.

Hill and Wednesday counterpart Dave Jones go into the game under equal pressure with Barnsley without a win in 10 games and Wednesday having lost seven in a row going into the weekend.

Hill said: "If my job is going to be dictated by the recent run of results, then fair play. But I brought in to create an identity, a vision - integrate the academy with the first team while dealing with financial fair play."

In another Yorkshire derby, improving Hull face Huddersfield at the KC Stadium, while Leeds look to get back on track after defeat at Derby as they host Ipswich, who have won three in a row under Mick McCarthy.

Henning Berg's Blackburn look to stem their slow slide down the Championship table as they travel to Blackpool, while Bolton meet Charlton without new long-term injury casualties Mark Davies and Matt Mills.

Millwall aim to get back to winning ways after last week's end to their 13-match unbeaten run as they meet Leicester at the New Den, while Bristol City look to continue their recent revival at home to Derby.

Gustavo Poyet's Brighton welcome Nottingham Forest to the AMEX Arena, while Watford travel to Burnley amid renewed speculation - emphatically dismissed by the man himself - about the future of boss Gianfranco Zola.

PA