SUNSPORT’S Football League Reporter TOM BARCLAY gives you the lowdown on this weekend’s EFL action – from one to 11.
1. This week’s… hot topics
OUT WITH THE OLD… AND NOT SO OLD: We are well and truly into sacking season in the EFL with more managers getting the bullet this week.
Karl Robinson’s six-year MK Dons tenure came to an end while Walter Zenga was axed by Wolves after just 87 days. Gary Caldwell was also fired at Wigan and there has even been talk that Robinson could take over at the DW.
NEIL AND PRAY: Neil Warnock and Steve Bruce have come in at Cardiff and Aston Villa respectively and already taken seven points from three games apiece. It shows what quality managers they are at this level and I now expect Cardiff to be safe and Villa to finish in the play-offs.
As for the other Championship clubs who changed boss, Steve McClaren has a serious amount of work to do at Derby – top of his in-tray will be teaching the team how to score again.
While I can’t see Rotherham being saved by Kenny Jackett, as good a manager as he is, and it is already more about planning for next season in League One.
If the Millers lose at Ipswich on Saturday, it will equal their worst-ever run of eight straight league defeats.
IN THE MEIRE: Controversial Charlton chief exec Katrien Meire did a rare interview on talkSPORT on Thursday where she revealed hated owner Roland Duchatelet will not be leaving and that protesting fans must talk to her for the club’s civil “war” to be over.
Reconciliation is always a possibility but it is hard to see that happening at the unhappy Valley – particularly as Duchatelet still has not attended a game since October 2014.
You’ve got to wonder, with relegation, crowds down and protests at most games, what does he possibly get out of owning the club anymore?
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2. This week’s… manager who needs a result
TOO MANY COOKS? Paul Cook has been in charge of Portsmouth for nearly a season and a half but how much have the South Coast giants on League Two progressed in that time?
Pompey paid £150k to pinch him from Chesterfield which is big money at that level and they will be expecting a return on that investment.
Cook took them to the play-offs last season but with the squad they have and their resources, they should be targeting automatic promotion this year.
Three defeats in their last five league games means they are now five points off third so a win at Cambridge is needed to get them back in contention.
3. This week’s… player who should be in the goals
YOU GOTTA BACK-INDE: Forget Will Grigg, John Akinde has been on fire ever since he joined Barnet from non-league Alfreton two years ago.
He has 65 goals in exactly 100 league starts – and only two appearances off the bench – and 11 already this term.
Four in his last three and a home clash against Hartlepool – the second leakiest team in League Two – means you have to back him.
4. This week’s… whizkid to watch
RYAN MIGHTY: I was impressed with Barnsley’s loan whizkid when I took in their 2-0 win at Brentford last week.
I could easily be talking about Adam Armstrong, farmed out from Newcastle, but the player I’m referring to is Ryan Kent, on loan from Liverpool.
The 19-year-old showed some jet heels to beat a man and crash the ball against the post to tee up Sam Winnall’s strike at Griffin Park and looks one to watch.
5. This week’s… amazing stat
LEEDS MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL: Nigel Clough has an amazing record as a manager against Leeds, winning all six games versus the Whites when in charge of Derby.
He will be desperate to carry that run on when he takes his Burton side to the EFL Cup quarter-finalists on Saturday.
6. This week’s… potential Premier League target
SLAM DUNK: Lewis Dunk, Brighton’s strong centre-back, has been on several clubs’ radar for a while now. Rivals Crystal Palace failed with transfer bids in the summer and the Seagulls managed to tie the 24-year-old to a new five-year contract in September.
It is a sign of their intent to succeed where they just missed out last year and make it to the Premier League – yet they may have to ward off more interest in January after Dunk’s impressive start to the campaign.
7. This week’s… game of the weekend
BIRMINGHAM v ASTON VILLA: The first league derby between these two sides in nearly six years, this is arguably the stand-out Championship fixture of the season.
It has added spice with the return to St Andrew’s of Steve Bruce – and I fancy the former Blues chief to come away smiling with a win here with counter-attacking Brum generally better on the road.
Get Jonathan Kodjia down for first goal-scorer – he’s been on fire since Bruce took over.
8. This week’s… transfer tip
NEXT OF ‘KINS: Ollie Watkins, 20, has impressed since becoming an Exeter regular last season with a host of interested parties.
I understand Brighton, Huddersfield and Brentford are all preparing January bids for the striker which is not surprising as all three have proven track records of taking the best young talent from Leagues One and Two.
9.This week’s… protest (there seems to be one every week these days)
ROVER AND OUT: The Venky’s tenure at Blackburn has to be one of the worst reigns in football history.
The clubs debts have risen to over £100million and they look destined for the drop to League One.
Remember when they came into Ewood Park and said the target was to finish fourth in the Premier League? Understandably, Rovers fans have had enough and are planning a different kind of protest at Saturday’s evening kick-off at home to Wolves.
Supporters will turn up on 18 minutes and leave on 75 minutes – a reference to 1875, the year the club were formed.
As I said with Duchatelet at Charlton, just what do the Venky’s get out of owning Blackburn anymore?
10. This week’s… dead cert
SCUNTHORPE (home to Swindon): Boss Graham Alexander has ruled League One with an Iron fist so far made up of goals, goals and more goals.
Most have come from Josh Morris, signed for a song in the summer, but if the left winger is having an off day then Paddy Madden, Kevin van Veen and others are more than willing to step up.
Swindon are just a point above the drop zone and have managed just 15 league goals in as many games - fewer than half of Scunny’s total.
Oh, and to make things even tougher on Luke Williams’ mob, Scunthorpe are unbeaten in their last 19 home league games - two short of their club record.
11. This week’s… cheeky punt for your acca
NEWCASTLE (away at Preston): It may seem strange to label this a cheeky punt given Newcastle’s form in the league and the fact that they just whacked North End for six in the EFL Cup.
But that horrorshow aside, Simon Grayson’s men have been superb in the league of late, going unbeaten in their last six with impressive wins over Aston Villa, Huddersfield and Norwich.
Still, the way Rafa Benitez’s side are going, I can see more Magpies’ joy at Deepdale, in a game that sees the division’s top three assist-makers compete in Preston’s Paul Gallagher and Toon pair Matt Ritchie and Jonjo Shelvey, who all have five.
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