After all the excitement of the FA Cup and midweek round of Championship it’s time for a full 3 tier program to return. Here’s our thoughts on all that lies ahead. Plus a cacth up of what’s gone on, starting with the FA Cup results from last weekend.
FA CUP WINNERS & LOSERS
Some of the lower Football League clubs had a good third round despite the lack of multiple giant killings. As ever the Championship sides had the worst of it.
WINNERS:
Exeter & Wycombe (L2) – proved a match for a under strength Liverpool and under performing Aston Villa respectively. Although not winners on the day, the replays at the EPL grounds should boost the coffers nicely. Northampton and Portsmouth also got handy draws against Championship sides, Portsmouth particularly impressive away at Ipswich. Colchester (L1) hadn’t won in 10 games including 9 losses in a row, somehow they found someone going worse than them in Charlton and proceeded to the fourth round.
LOSERS:
Bolton (CH) only just managed to get a draw against Non League Eastleigh, but will at least get a replay to put that right, otherwise a loss might be the final straw for manager Neil Lennon. Charlton too are in a bad way, unable to beat the team with the worst current form in the Football League. Troubles are just on field though with fans protesting against the Belgian owners and have a point. A 5-0 loss midweek compunds the misery.. Milton Keynes, Brentford, Preston, Ipswich, and Cardiff all couldn’t get past lower league opposition. At least Ipswich and Milton Keynes have a replay and chance at redemption.
OTHER NEWS
BRIGHTON DROPS
Brighton seem to do things in runs. After impressing all with 21 games without loss, they are now 7 games without a win. They are only two points ahead of seventh now and look set to drop out of the playoff places all together, and a pack of hungry midfield teams will be waiting, Sheffield Wednesday (7th) have 4 from 5, Wolves (10th) have won 4 in a row, Preston (13th) 3 wins in a row and Nottingham Forest (15th) are unbeaten in 9.
TRANSFER WINDOW
An interesting time of the season when the EPL comes swooping for the best of the best Football League players, most of them added to the squad with next to no game time, and on occasion loaned back to the club anyway, or another club. Then the next tier down is the top tier Championship sides taking some talent from the lower ranked Championship sides, then League One and Two is plundered. Everyone is looking for the next Jamie Vardy. Demarai Gray (Birmingham to Leicester) and Sam Byram (Leeds to Everton) are the big name moves. With Charlie Austin from QPR surely to be picked up by a struggling EPL side before February.
MANAGER CHANGES
A trend with the Manager Ins of late is clubs returning to a former successful manager, see two of this week’s appointments. They join John Still (Dagenham & Red), Nigel Clough (Burton), Brian McDermott (Reading) and even Guus Hiddink (Chelsea) who have rejoined a club they previously managed since December.
IN
JOHN SHERIDAN @ OLDHAM – previously manager Oldham in 3 stints 2001, 2003-04, 2006-09.
JOSE RIGA @ CHARLTON – managed for 3 months in 2014 before joining the sinking ship that is Blackpool.
JAMIE FULLARTON @ NOTTS COUNTY – has a Football academy in Spain – 1st job as manager in football League.
OUT
JOHN SHERIDAN @ NEWPORT – left to head back to Oldham
STEVE COTTERILL @ BRISTOL CITY – last year’s League 1 championship not enough when you are third last and no wins in 6.
NEW MANAGERS SPECIAL MULTI
CHARLTON, OLDHAM, & NOTTS COUNTY all to win @ $88.
CURRENT STATS AHOY
CHAMPIONSHIP
Most Wins – Middlesbrough have 5 wins in a row, Wolves 4 in a row
Unbeaten Run – Boro (1st) & Nottingham Forest (15th) on 9 games
Losses – Brighton (6th) and Bristol (22nd) on 3 straight losses.
Winless – Charlton 9, Brighton and QPR 7.
Middlesbrough have 9 straight clean sheets
Only 3 of Top 6 in the Top 6 form for last 6 – Boro, Hull, Ipswich.
LEAGUE ONE
Unbeaten Run – Burton with 7
Winless – Colchester 11 with 9 straight losses in the middle of two draws.
Losses – 3 in a row each for Southend, Blackpool, Bury
Oldham king of the draw with 12/24 and a home record of 1 win in 13.
Coventry yet to lose at home.
Peterborough best scorers in Football League with 52 in 25, Gillignham next best 51 in 26.
Colchester worst defensive record with 59 goals in 25 games.
LEAGUE TWO
Relegation getting interesting with 20th to 24th just four points apart and seven behind 19th.
Unbeaten Run – Wimbledon 4 games
Wins – Northampton with 3 in a row
Losses – Hartlepool with 4 straight
Winless – Exeter with 6. Not including Liverpool games.
TIPS
Finally onto the best way to stay awake following the Football League until 3am on a Saturday night – with multis ahoy. Here’s our “best” of each division.
CHAMPIONSHIP
NOTTINGHAM FOREST to beat Bolton
WOLVES to beat Cardiff
DRAW – Blackburn v QPR
MIDDLESBROUGH to beat Bristol
$1 for $23
LEAGUE ONE
PETERBOROUGH to beat Southend
SWINDON TOWN to beat Crewe
WALSALL to beat Bury
DRAW – Colchester v Sheffield Utd
$1 for $23
LEAGUE TWO
YORK to beat Newport
WYCOMBE to beat Hartlepool
BARNET to beat Carlisle
PLYMOUTH to beat Stevenage
LEYTON ORIENT to beat Exeter
$1 for $46
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