The Championship rejoin the Football League bandwagon this weekend after the international break, as Leagues One and Two got their time as the headline act.
Apologies for missing the deadline for last week’s preview for the fans of the Football League, but you should be covered here this week.
League One have attempted to keep themselves in the spotlight this week with the announcement of the first managerial change for 2015-16, but more on that in the League One round up.
Otherwise it’s back to business with a full book of games this week, and the preview of the best of this week, and the review of last week’s best is below.
Championship
Brighton had the honour of holding onto the top spot of the table for an extra week due to the break, but that three-point gap could evaporate this weekend as they take on Hull who are second and just a win behind.
It is tight as ever though with second to 12th covered by just three points, and although it is early days it will probably be similar in a few months’ time.
Five teams still remain winless after five games including pre-season favourites Derby County, and big names Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers. At the bottom of the pile is Rotherham who have just a point to their name, the equal worst return in the Football League, and their manager is widely tipped as the first Championship casualty of the year.
Championship upcoming highlights
Brighton versus Hull City
For the second round in a row it is Brighton involved in a first versus second battle, this time against Hull City. After beating Ipswich at Portman Road confidence will be high to win two big games in a row, and show that Brighton are to be taken seriously this season after surprising thus far. Hull have gone under the radar a little and look capable of rebounding to the EPL at the first attempt.
QPR versus Nottingham Forest
QPR have had a good few weeks, winning three in a row and keeping a hold of Charlie Austin, despite plenty of transfer window interest. His goals will prove vital if he stays fit, and they have helped QPR up to fourth on equal points with Hull.
Nottingham Forest would have fancied their chances at the start of the season but five points from five games is so far underwhelming and a loss to a promotion rival will leave them closer to relegation. Losing arguably their best player in Michail Antonio to West Ham won’t help despite some good business in the transfer window.
Preston North End versus Derby
Derby are winless, 19th, and just a point above second last. Surely a position that few would have thought at the beginning of the season, though four draws in five will do that to a team. But that’s the Championship, nothing is easy, and neither will their road trip to Preston this weekend. Preston are getting acclimatised to the second tier after promotion last season and sit just a point above the Rams.
League One
So, League One has broken the cherry on manager changes for 2015-16 with two changes announced during the week. The first was Peterborough who dismissed Dave Robertson after just a few months in charge. The Posh sit in 20th with four points from a win and a draw, showing the pressure of promotion chasing already.
The potential replacements could be Steve Evans from Championship cellar dwellers Rotherham or Ady Pennock who is in charge of unbeaten Forest Green Rovers in the National Premier League.
Not to be outdone, Doncaster Rovers advised they no longer required manager Paul Dickov as they sit in 17th with six points from a win and three draws, and in a slightly better position than Peterborough. His reign lasted just over two seasons.
Assistant Rob Jones takes over as caretaker manager and will be a chance for the job if he can fend off the usual suspects for a manager vacancy. One direction that the club could head into is Doncaster fan Louis Tomlinson from One Direction, laughably quoted at 125-1 in UK markets to be the new manager.
On the field, Gillingham sit atop of League One, just a point ahead of Coventry, and the top seven which includes Walsall, Sheffield United, Burton Albion, Rochdale and Swindon Town are covered by just three points. Crewe took over last place as Blackpool won their first game in a long time. Colchester remain the other winless team.
League One: The best of last weekend
Scunthorpe 0-1 Blackpool
A long winless streak you say? The Tangerines won their first game in 24 and first away game in 17 months (25 away games without win) and climbed off the bottom of League One in the process. They only sit one point behind their opponents from Saturday and it may just be the result they need to kick start their season.
Chesterfield 2-3 Wigan
Two upper midfield teams went head to head, and there was nothing in it or goals at 62 minutes. By the 70th Chesterfield were 2-0 up and cruising. However, three goals in quick succession by the 90th minute stole the game for former FA Cup winners Wigan.
Walsall 0-1 Bury
Top of the table Walsall were beaten at home by a sixth minute Bury goal to relinquish their hold on the top step. It was a first win of the season for draw specialists Bury, who now sit nicely in the midfield in 12th.
Burton 1-2 Coventry
Coventry scored all three goals on the day as they scored in the 20th and 54th minutes to cancel out an 11th minute own goal. Coventry leap Burton to go second, while Burton will still be happy with four wins from six games and fifth place.
League One: Upcoming highlights
Burton Albion versus Rochdale
These two teams will be quite happy to be sitting this high at this stage of the season in fifth and sixth, and a win for either side will have them close to an unlikely top two position.
Oldham versus Peterborough
Interest will be in how Peterborough react to the sacking of their manager after last weekend, and while a manager sacking is usually good for a turnaround in fortunes, a trip to draw specialists Oldham Athletic won’t be easy.
Gillingham versus Blackpool
Can Blackpool do it again? After their drought breaking win last weekend they are rewarded with an away trip to table topping Gillingham who are three from three at home. A win here for Blackpool will certainly give fans hope for more than avoiding a second straight relegation.
League Two
The big story of League Two was the first defeat of Leyton Orient who lost their 100 per cent record with a big 4-0 away loss to Exeter. They still sit first but are now just three points ahead of Oxford in fifth, and surrounded by some of the pre-season favourites in Portsmouth, Wycombe and Plymouth.
The only undefeated sides are also in the top five, which is no surprise really. The O’s dominance may continue with ex-EPL star Kevin Nolan training with the side from West Ham, if he plays it will be some addition.
Another three points separate sixth to 14th in a packed upper midfield. All the teams except last placed Newport County have now won a game after six rounds, Newport have the equal worst return of points in the Football League with just the one point.
League Two: The best of last weekend
Exeter 4-0 Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient’s perfect start to the 2015-2016 season came to an end with quite a jolt as they were beaten by the previously 13th placed side. Two goals in each half was enough to seal the O’s first loss, and three points for Exeter who climbed into the top seven.
Northampton 1-2 Dagenham and Redbridge
Dagenham and Redbridge broke their duck for 2015-16 with a good away win over Northampton Town. It looked like another loss for the Daggers and Northampton took the lead 1-0, but two goals in the 28th and 39th minutes gave them a lead they held onto for the remainder of the game. The win helped them move out of the bottom two and further away from the dreaded drop to the National League.
Newport 0-3 York
Newport’s bad start to the season continued and arguably got worse with a 3-0 home loss against fellow strugglers York. The solitary home point is the only reward for Newport this season so far. York climb up to 17th with their first away win for the season.
League Two: Upcoming highlights
Wycombe versus Plymouth
A top of the table clash awaits at Adams Park with second placed Wycombe welcoming third placed Plymouth. Both sides have the four wins so far this season, Wycombe’s record is slightly better with two draws compared to two losses for Plymouth. Both might smell blood with Leyton Orient’s loss last weekend.
Exeter versus Hartlepool
Interesting game for the sheer travel involved for Hartlepool. Just a lazy 560 kilometres for the north-east side. Also of some interest as the two sides currently sit in seventh and ninth.
Notts Country versus Luton Town
Two of the more fancied teams for promotion find themselves in a worse position than they would have hoped for at this stage with Luton in 19th and Notts County 21st. A loss could see Notts County in the bottom two at this early stage of the season. Luton won their first game last weekend, whereas Notts County haven’t won since the first round.
Full fixture list – all Saturday 3pm (UK time) unless stated
Championship
Reading vs Ipswich
QPR vs Nottingham Forest
Charlton vs Rotherham
Leeds vs Brentford
Middlesbrough vs Milton Keynes
Preston vs Derby
Birmingham City vs Bristol City
Bolton vs Wolves
Brighton vs Hull
Burnley vs Sheffield Wed
Cardiff vs Huddersfield
Fulham vs Blackburn
League One
Walsall vs Doncaster
Barnsley vs Swindon
Burton vs Rochdale
Chesterfield vs Colchester
Crewe vs Millwall
Fleetwood vs Bradford
Gillingham vs Blackpool
Oldham vs Peterborough
Port Vale vs Wigan
Scunthorpe vs Coventry
Sheffield United vs Bury
Southend vs Shrewsbury
League Two
Bristol Rovers vs Accrington
Cambridge vs Leyton Orient
Carlisle vs Dag and Red
Exeter vs Hartlepool
Mansfield vs Crawley
Newport vs Morecambe
Northampton vs Oxford
Notts County vs Luton
Portmouth vs Barnet
Stevenage vs York
Wycombe vs Plymouth
Yeovil vs AFC Wimbledon
Tables
Championship
League One
League Two
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