As another weekend in the EFL season throws up more eye-catching results and storylines, former Swindon, Ipswich and Luton striker and BBC Final Score pundit Sam Parkin delivers his verdict on the big talking points across the Championship, League One and League Two.
Millwall’s win at Wrexham prompts automatic promotion questions
Alex Neil has guided Millwall into the Championship play-off places [Getty Images]
Millwall posted an impressive 2-0 win away at fellow promotion contenders Wrexham on Saturday to create a gap between themselves and the chasing pack. Five points behind the top two, can we consider them automatic promotion challengers?
Advertisement
Parkin: “I would say that’s probably a stretch, as we sit here today. They’ve got an incredible opportunity to be a Premier League team next season, but I think it’ll be probably a case of doing it via the play-offs.
“This is the most complete Millwall squad I can think of in recent memory. You’ve got the experience of [Jake] Cooper and Billy Mitchell, who have been there a long time, but there is now so much more control and quality across a variety of positions.
“[Caleb] Taylor and Barry Bannan have come in. Femi Azeez is one of the best forwards in the division at the moment, and the signings they made at the end of the window – I know [Anthony] Patterson didn’t play today, but him and Tommy Watson from Brighton would arguably get into most teams in the Championship.
“It tells you how far Millwall have come. There is a lot of joined up thinking, a real plan behind the scenes for Millwall to become, realistically, a Premier League team. They had to add a bit more quality, a bit more control and guile in midfield – they’ve done that.
Advertisement
“The way they’ve had success is by being really tough to play against at the Den, being physical at set-pieces, and they can still do all that, but there are many more facets to their game.
“It was the stand-out result of the day, because it gives them a six-point buffer over Wrexham and Preston. They’re sitting pretty, and they’ve got a real opportunity to achieve something special.”
Defeat at Birmingham compounds Leicester’s nightmare week
Leicester’s defeat at Birmingham was made worse by Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s red card [Getty Images]
At the end of a week in which they were deducted six Championship points for breaking Profitability and Sustainability Rules, Leicester suffered a 2-1 defeat at Birmingham on Saturday. They now hover precariously above the relegation zone and face a fight to survive in the final third of the season.
Advertisement
Parkin: “It’s one of those scenarios developing which you couldn’t believe was going to unfold. I know they had the points penalty hanging over them, which makes things difficult, and though they have that transparency now it’s going to be a hell of a fight.
“You look at the squad – some of the results and performances in the earlier parts of the season left you thinking they’ll have enough, but we’re now in February and they haven’t found any consistency whatsoever.
“They still rely on [Abdul] Fatawu to produce the odd moment of magic. The one glimmer is that they’ve been able to add players at the end of the window. It may take a little while to get them up to speed, but [Jamal] Lascelles and [Joe] Aribo are both experienced players who could be assets.
“It’s not to say that Andy King can’t be a good manager or isn’t a good coach, but he’s very inexperienced in having a job of this magnitude. The hierarchy may have to act to bring in someone as a final roll of the dice, to get a little bit of spirit and momentum.
Advertisement
“That’s a tough game today, though. Their season won’t be defined by those games, because going to Birmingham – who have lost once at home this season – is a really tough game. But it’s just another body-blow for the Leicester supporters who have endured a terrible week.”
Norwich win again to pull further away from relegation danger
Norwich have excelled in the Championship since Philippe Clement’s appointment in November [Getty Images]
If the Championship season had reset on the day of Philippe Clement’s appointment back in September, Norwich City would be sitting in the play-off places. The Canaries won again on Saturday, against beleaguered Blackburn Rovers, to put further distance between themselves and the bottom three.
Advertisement
Parkin: “There shouldn’t have been any doubt over Philippe Clement when you look at his CV, It’s just that Norwich were in such hellish form, especially at Carrow Road. They looked as though they were on a downward trajectory, but he’s been incredible.
“I covered the Coventry victory the other day, and I said after that this isn’t a relegation-threatened side – they’ll be nowhere near it, they’ll finish mid-table. I stick by that.
“They are compact, they are well organised, they’ve got goals. They’ve got a freshness from players returning from injury, and new signings. [Anis Ben] Slimane has been a revelation, playing as a ten in recent weeks. [Jovon] Makama up top is a proper player.
“Not that we were in any doubt, but Clement is a top manager, and I would be flabbergasted if Norwich were relegated this season. I’m not exactly sure where they’ll finish, but they’re a good Championship side now, and I think the results will continue to come.”
Advertisement
‘Under the radar’ Luton can gatecrash League One play-offs
Jack Wilshere has guided Luton Town on to the brink of the League One play-off places [Rex Features]
Luton posted what could prove to be a significant win in their season when they edged out fellow promotion hopefuls Bradford City at Kenilworth Road on Saturday. The Hatters have suffered back-to-back relegations in the past two years but are eyeing an immediate return to the Championship under Jack Wilshere.
Parkin: “I think they’ve gone a little under the radar. Maybe they’ve been so high profile the past couple of seasons and it’s suited them, while Jack Wilshere is just getting his ducks in a row.
“Anyone who saw him play, you’d have to respect him because he was an unbelievable technician. He has a clear idea of how he wants his team to play, he communicates it very well, and I’ve enjoyed watching his team. It hasn’t happened immediately.
Advertisement
“The biggest thing is that, successfully for a number of years and then unsuccessfully more recently, they’ve played a very robust, physical, back-to-front, energetic style of football, and he’s trying to change that.
“It got them to the Premier League but subsequently it hasn’t worked during the two relegations. It takes a little bit of time, so to see the improvement – in performances as well as results – when I’ve seen them live is really encouraging.
“There’s a lot going on, a lot of change, and they’ve clearly been working very hard on the training ground. They’ve gone a little under the radar, but now as we get to the important end of the season, that was a fine result today – albeit against a Bradford side who have dropped off but who have quality.”
Harrogate’s confidence levels will be boosted no end by long-awaited win
Simon Weaver has been in charge of Harrogate Town since 2009 [Getty Images]
They’ve had to wait for it, but Harrogate finally ended their long run without a win when they overcame promotion chasing Cambridge United in League Two on Saturday. Simon Weaver’s men, propping up the table, last secured three points in September but this victory renews their efforts to escape relegation from the EFL.
Advertisement
Parkin: “As a neutral you don’t want teams to be adrift. That was the stand-out result today – you could only see Cambridge winning there, but Harrogate’s performances have been improving.
“At Crawley, they played reasonably well between the two boxes. At Swindon, they pushed goalkeeper Connor Ripley – he was far and away the busier of the two keepers, but Swindon won courtesy of a penalty.
“They got the elusive victory today. Enormous credit has to go to the players and Simon Weaver, because it’s been since September when they last won, which is a long time coming.
“They’ve made wholesale changes, and it’s paid off today with a massive win. It’ll improve the confidence levels no end. There’ll be some belief growing. They’re now level on points with Newport and just two behind Shrewsbury, but there are so many points still to play for.
Advertisement
“They won’t be panicking. The thing at Harrogate is that in every game you’re pretty much the underdog and if you’re going in there to play you have to buy into that and fight for every point. They’ll do that – they’re battlers, it’s a part of their DNA.”
Read the full article here
