Welcome back to EFL Round-Up by Last Word on Football. This column delves deep into the world of the Football League, looking at the key games from each of the three divisions as well as providing a brief overview of every result from the Championship, League One and League Two.
This week, we take a closer look at the continuation of Queens Park Rangers’ struggles as they suffered a heavy loss at The Hawthorns, Oxford United’s horrendous start to the season under Karl Robinson and a miraculous fight-back from Swindon Town.
EFL Round-Up – Gameweek 3
QPR’s Thrashing ‘Unacceptable’
QPR suffered their heaviest defeat for more than 31 years as they were hit for seven by a rampant West Brom side. Hoops boss Steve McClaren branded the defeat “unacceptable” as his side conceded six second-half goals after going into the break with the scores level.
Former QPR man Matt Phillips gave the Baggies the lead after 29 minutes, but the visitors were level soon after as Joel Lynch volleyed in a free-kick delivered into the box.
The rout began in the 53rd minute when Kieran Gibbs lashed home following a goalmouth scramble, and Jay Rodriguez made the game virtually safe three minutes later when he converted from the penalty spot.
Dwight Gayle converted his first goal for the club after joining on loan from Newcastle in the 67th minute, and the hosts were awarded another penalty inside the final ten minutes as a mix-up at the back resulted in Matt Ingram clattered into Gayle. Rodriguez stepped up again and although Ingram got a touch to his effort, he couldn’t keep it out.
West Brom weren’t done there, and added a sixth just six minutes after their second penalty, with Phillips bagging his second of the game with a tidy finish before Hal Robson-Kanu got in on the act, poking home in stoppage time.
Oxford United Continue Abysmal Start
Oxford United’s abysmal start to the season continued yesterday as they were thrashed by Portsmouth. Karl Robinson’s side sit at the bottom of League One without a point and with just one goal to their name.
They looked to be holding out for something at Fratton Park when they went into the break level at 0-0, but completely fell apart in the second half. Gareth Evans fired past Jonathan Mitchell just three minutes into the second period to open the scoring.
Pompey doubled their lead not long after when Rob Dickie deflected a cross into his own net, and Jamal Lowe made it three goals in less than 20 minutes, flicking the ball over Mitchell after a goalmouth scramble.
Oxford finally netted their first league goal of the season as Jack Whatmough sliced the ball into his own net, but Lowe restored Portsmouth’s three-goal lead in stoppage time when he curled into the net from 25 yards.
Sensational Swindon Comeback Against Tranmere
Swindon Town came from two goals down to seal all three points against ten-man Tranmere, who had Jay Harris sent off less than 20 minutes into the game.
It looked as though it was going to be a long afternoon for Swindon as Jonny Smith and James Norwood had the visitors two goals to the good inside 13 minutes, but were reduced to ten men five minutes later when Harris saw straight red for a challenge on Martin Smith.
Elijah Adebayo then gave Swindon hope two minutes after the sending off when he poked home at the far post, and the hosts were level 15 minutes into the second half when Marc Richards tucked in Steven Alzate’s cross.
Alzate, on as a second-half substitute, was at the centre of it again for the third goal, this time providing the assist for Joe Romanski, who guided Alzate’s cross past Tranmere keeper Scott Davies to complete the turnaround.
Elsewhere in…
The Championship
Middlesbrough remained top of the league as two first-half goals away to Bristol City were enough to give them the three points, while Bolton also continued their good start thanks to Yanic Wildschut’s single goal away to Hull.
Aston Villa were held to a draw away at Ipswich. Jonathan Kodjia scored his first goal in almost 11 months as the Tractor Boys played for 51 minutes with ten men after Tayo Edun saw red.
Leeds and Millwall were also winners at the weekend; Leeds were 2-0 victors over Rotherham in a Yorkshire derby while the Lions beat Frank Lampard’s Derby 2-1.
A late winner from Billy Sharp gave Sheffield United a 2-1 victory over Norwich City, while there were 2-2 draws for Wigan Athletic and Preston North End in their games against Nottingham Forest and Stoke City respectively.
Finally, in Sunday’s game, a goal in either half for Brentford, scored by Neal Maupay and Ollie Watkins, gave them a comfortable win over Sheffield Wednesday.
League One
Barnsley and AFC Wimbledon remain the only EFL teams not to concede a goal this season after they held each other to a 0-0 draw at Oakwell, and there were also draws for Accrington and Fleetwood; 1-1 and 2-2 with Charlton and Rochdale respectively.
Liam Boyce’s third goal of the season gave Burton their first victory of the season following relegation from the Championship, and Coventry were also 1-0 winners as they defeated Doncaster at the Ricoh Arena.
Peterborough United eased to a 3-1 win over Luton thanks to Jason Cummings’ brace, two goals in two minutes for Southend gave them a win over Bradford and Walsall continued their good start to the season with a 2-1 over Gillingham.
Bristol Rovers were 2-1 victors away to Wycombe and, finally, Shrewsbury and Blackpool played out a 0-0 draw.
Finally, Sunderland eased to victory over Scunthorpe thanks to first-half goals from Max Power, Josh Maja and Chris Maguire in a 3-0 win.
League Two
It was a day of draws in League Two as one stalemate, four 1-1’s and a 2-2 draw were recorded. MK Dons held on for the final ten minutes with ten men after Mathieu Baudry’s red to secure a 0-0 with Crewe, Grimsby, Bury, Exeter and Mansfield all drew 1-1 with Lincoln, Forest Green, Newport and Colchester respectively, and Kevin van Veen’s brace helped Northampton to a 2-2 draw with Cambridge.
Carlisle United’s long trip to Cheltenham was a successful one thanks to Richie Bennett’s first-half goal, and Oldham Athletic secured a 3-1 win over Macclesfield Town.
Finally, there were 1-0 home wins for Port Vale and Stevenage as they beat Crawley Town and Morecambe.
Stats You May Have Missed
- MK Dons have had their best ever start to a season, winning two and drawing one of their league games while also being successful in the Carabao Cup.
- Goals seem to be at a premium in League Two, with 1-0 being the most popular score-line, appearing six times (16.7%)
- West Bromwich Albion are the top-scorers in the EFL, netting 13 times in four games.
- Norwich’s Onel Hernandez and Wigan’s Nick Powell are the only two players to appear in the top ten for goals and assists in the Championship
- Oxford United have scored just once this season; an own goal by Portsmouth’s Jack Whatmough.
All stats from FootyStats
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