Busy Easter for loanees

West Ham United's band of loanees enjoyed a busy Easter weekend of action.

In the Coca-Cola Championship, Freddie Sears and Bondz 'Gala took to the field for Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle respectively,

Centre-back 'Gala has been credited with the defensive improvements made by Paul Mariner's Plymouth, who remain four points adrift of safety with just four matches remaining.

The Forest Gate-born defender completed a full 90 minutes in Saturday's superb 2-1 win at Doncaster Rovers, only to suffer a setback when Middlesbrough secured a 2-0 victory at Home Park on Monday.

The 23rd-placed Pilgrims face Watford, who sit four points and two places above them, just outside the relegation zone, at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Sears' Coventry are virtually safe after reaching 52 points - seven above the drop zone - but have no chance of reaching the play-offs after two defeats over the weekend.

The striker appeared for eleven minutes as a substitute in Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Derby County, before completing the full 90 minutes in Monday's 3-0 loss at Reading.

In League One, Frank Nouble enjoyed a six-minute run out as a replacement in Swindon Town's impressive 3-0 win at Leeds United on Saturday.

The Robins, who have climbed into the second automatic promotion place behind runaway leaders Norwich City, repeated that scoreline against Tranmere Rovers on Monday, with Nouble appearing for the final 22 minutes.

In the same division, Matt Fry is still awaiting his debut for Charlton Athletic as he continues his recuperation from a knee injury.

The Addicks, who boast former Hammers Christian Dailly and Kyel Reid in their ranks, sit fifth in the table, two points behind Swindon with seven matches remaining.

Further afield, Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson has remained with Belgian top-flight side KSV Roeselare ahead of their relegation play-off fixtures in May.