NEW Ipswich midfielder Darren Currie will face the club where he started his career today determined to help his current team retain the Coca-Cola Championship top spot.

By Derek Davis

NEW Ipswich midfielder Darren Currie will face the club where he started his career today determined to help his current team retain the Coca-Cola Championship top spot.

Midfielder Currie, 30, made his first steps in football at West Ham more than a decade ago.

Currie, who has made an instant impact on the team since joining the Tractor Boys from Brighton, still has fond memories of his time at Upton Park.

“It was a fantastic place to start my career.

“The facilities were great, the training for us there as kids was first class and I really enjoyed my time there,” Currie said.

“Funnily enough if I play against West Ham on Saturday it will be the first time I would have played against them since I left there as a kid.

“I went to Upton Park with Brighton this season but unfortunately was left out of the team so hopefully I will get the chance to play them this weekend.

“It is a big game for both clubs and with West Ham 10 points behind us the pressure is perhaps on them to win the game and close the gap on us at the top.

“At the start of the season you would have had them down as one of the favourites for promotion but they seem to be blowing hot and cold this year.”

So much so, it took two highly-debatable penalties for the Hammers to salvage a 2-2 draw at rock-bottom Rotherham on Boxing Day.

“I saw them at Upton Park when I was there for Brighton and they were well below their best then and I hope it's the same on Saturday,” he said.

Gillingham manager Stan Ternent believes his new side's 3-1 win over Coventry is the perfect springboard into the New Year, starting with the visit of high-flying Reading.

The Gills currently lie third bottom on goal difference but Ternent believes their comprehensive defeat of the Sky Blues last time out is proof Gillingham are capable of hauling themselves clear of trouble.

He said: “The balance of the side was better against Coventry and they were committed.

“The overall performance, the desire and the will, transmitted itself to the fans and they were terrific as well.

“Hopefully it's onwards and upwards,” Ternent said.

Under-fire QPR manager Ian Holloway is calling on the Loftus Road crowd to maintain a sense of perspective despite the club's five-game losing streak.

Rangers currently lie 13th in the Championship table heading into the New Year's Day clash with visiting Brighton.

And Holloway said: “Parts of the crowd have been getting on our backs and I think that's because they feel like we've lost something.

“But all we've lost is a few games of football.”