Football League Update...

It’s been another busy week in Football League world with two of the three league leaders holding firm on top of their respective divisions and one very happy and relieved team in the Championship finally getting a win at the 39th attempt!

Championship leaders Wolves went to Charlton in a tricky looking away game but Sam Vokes’ double completed a fine second half comeback from Mick McCarthy’s men who came from a goal down to win 3-1 at the Valley. Birmingham City kept up the pressure on Wolves by seeing off newly promoted Doncaster Rovers by the single goal. City were reduced to ten men after Mehdi Nafti saw red but still managed to grab a winner through Cameron Jerome.

Elsewhere, Preston continued their impressive start with a goalless draw at Coventry whilst Bristol City are still proving that last season wasn’t just a flash in the pan as they claimed a solid draw at Cardiff to stay in the top six. The two Sheffield clubs are both riding high in the Championship with Wednesday producing an impressive 2-0 win over Watford. United suffered defeat this week though as they were beaten by Derby as Rob Hulse gave the Rams a first win in just under a year!

At the wrong end of the table, Plymouth are struggling and still can’t find a win. They were beaten 2-1 at home by Norwich this weekend and remain on just two points. Barnsley were beaten at Blackpool and stay second from bottom while Nottingham Forest head closer to the foot of the table with a home defeat to Burnley. Graham Alexander scored both goals for the Clarets, the second a penalty. That was Burnley’s first win of the season and takes them out of the bottom three.

In League One, Oldham continued their stunning start to the season by making it 16 points from a possible 18 with a 2-0 win over MK Dons at Boundary Park. Lee Hughes put Oldham in front before Mark Wright missed a penalty for the Dons. The miss was to prove costly as Oldham sealed the win through Mark Allott in stoppage time. Carlisle were beaten at Scunthorpe, who made it four wins in a row as Matt Sparrow and Paul Hayes scored the goals in a 2-1 win. Danny Carlton got the Carlisle goal and despite the loss they stay second, with Scunthorpe up to third.

The Don’s defeat takes them out of the top six and one team replacing them was Millwall, who stunned Leicester in an early kick off. Gary Alexander’s goal ensured the Lions overtook Leicester in the table. Meanwhile, Leeds continued their steady rise up the table with a comprehensive 3-1 away win at Swindon with Jermaine Beckford twice on the scoresheet.

At the wrong end of the table, I watched on as Northampton drew the local derby with Peterborough United, a draw that took us into the bottom four for the first time this season. Cheltenham remain bottom after another hammering, this time 4-1 at Hartlepool on Friday night. The Robins are already on a worrying minus 12 goal difference with six games played. Hereford were beaten at Southend and stay in the bottom four while Huddersfield’s poor start went on with a 2-1 home reverse to Tranmere Rovers.


League Two’s leadership changed hands once again as Bradford put four past Exeter City to come from behind at Valley Parade. Four goals in nineteen second half minutes took City to the summit of the table as Peter Thorne and Michael Boulding scored two apiece. Former leaders Wycombe were held to a goalless draw at home by Brentford and drop to third in the table in a game that saw Wycombe set a new clean sheet record with the longest run of clean sheets since they entered the Football League. Wanderers have now gone almost eight hours without conceding a goal! Bury continued their good start with a 3-1 win over struggling Lincoln City.

The result of the afternoon, though, goes to Shrewsbury who win 7-0 at the New Meadow against Gillingham. The Gills had made a good start to the season up until the weekend with ten points from fifteen but Shrewsbury were too much for them and romped home to match their best ever league result from 1995. Dagenham and Redbridge continue to be the surprise package of League Two as they won again, this time a 3-0 home win over Chesterfield. Aldershot stay in the top six despite defeat at bottom club Luton.

The Hatters reduced their deficit to minus 20 points with that win but still have an awfully long way to go to be even considering staying up. Bournemouth continue to struggle and remain on minus 14 points following a home defeat to Macclesfield Town with Gareth Evans the scorer at The Fitness First Stadium. Rotherham also remain in minus figures after an entertaining 2-2 home draw with Rochdale. Meanwhile, Barnet secured their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw with Morecambe.

So that’s it for another week in the beautiful Football League. There’s a full fixture list in the Championship in midweek as Wolves take on Crystal Palace while fellow high flyers Birmingham face a tough trip to Bristol City. Surprise package Preston take on Nottingham Forest and Derby will be hoping their win will spark more of the same as they go to newly promoted Swansea City.

Next weekend in League One sees Leeds travel to Carlisle for the first time since last season’s dramatic playoff semi-final that saw Leeds score a last minute winner to take them to Wembley. Elsewhere, leaders Oldham travel to Hartlepool and Scunthorpe visit struggling Hereford.

League Two is looking the most competitive in many a year and Bradford will be hoping to be one of the only sides this season to retain top spot for a second week as they meet Bournemouth at Valley Parade. Bury go to Barnet, who are still looking for a first win of the season, and the game of the day comes at Adams Park as Wycombe host Dagenham and Redbridge.