Jack Goddard's EFL review: Norwich taste defeat, Stanley battle back and Orient dominate

Jack Goddard

16 August 2022

Another EFL gameweek has concluded and we are beginning to get a clearer picture of how England’s chaotic lower tiers will play out. Here are this week’s big talking points.

Dieng delivers, Potts strikes and Dean struggles

The Championship burst into life on Saturday for the first time this season. The best viewing was found at the Stadium of Light, as Sunderland and QPR played out a 2-2 draw that saw a total of 36 shots.

However, this match won’t be remembered for the interesting statistics. Instead, all the focus will be on QPR goalkeeper Seny Dieng, who surged into the opponent’s box to contest a corner and looped his header into the net to give his side a 92nd-minute equaliser. The Senegalese international scored from a very similar situation five years ago when he played for Whitehawk.

Elsewhere, Preston fans were finally treated to their first goal of the season (for or against) - and it was worth the wait. A cross from the left was absolutely slammed into the roof of the net by Brad Potts, who somehow managed to execute the perfect scissor kick while approximately ten feet in the air.

Preston are rock solid, and their 1-0 defeat of Luton saw them record a third consecutive clean sheet. If they can bolster their scoring with some more conventional strikes, not just goal-of-the-season contenders, then they may be shock promotion contenders.

At the other end of the table, Norwich are currently relegation candidates. Not content with spending almost the whole of 2022 at the bottom of the Premier League, the Canaries are currently holding up the Championship too.

Dean Smith can feel a little aggrieved. His team are creating chances, but constant blunders at the back are costing them dearly. To sum up their season so far, Hull took the lead on Saturday after Max Aarons cleared the ball straight into Andrew Omabamidele’s backside in Norwich’s box.

Many Canaries supporters are already at the end of their tether with Smith after the club’s awful performance last season. Wins need to start coming soon or the Norwich boss could be the first to face the sack this year.

Preston (1.92) play Rotherham on Tuesday. Norwich (1.68) look for their first win at home to Huddersfield.

Super Accy go ballistic

The best viewing in League One was definitely found at Wham Stadium, where Accrington Stanley played out a 4-4 draw at home to Burton Albion.

The Brewers were 3-0 up after 50 minutes, all thanks to a Davis Keillor-Dunn hat-trick, but also 4-2 up as the game entered its 90th minute. Then the Accy onslaught began. Special mentions must go to Sean McConville, who pulled the match back to 3-2 with a brilliant chip from the edge of the area, and Josh Woods, who managed to lob the Burton keeper with his head to make it 4-3. Stanley could have even gone on to win the match, but missed from about four yards out in the 98th minute.

I’ve been harsh on Burton after their 3-0 and 4-0 defeats to start the season, but a point away to Accrington is always a good result at this level. The Brewers are now off the bottom of the table too. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s side has been replaced by MK Dons, who appear to be suffering a play-off hangover after finishing third last season. The Dons were comfortably beaten 3-0 at Portman Road on Saturday, as Ipswich jumped to the top of the pile. 

Accrington Stanley (3.3) face Forest Green on Tuesday, while Burton Albion (6) host Ipswich.

Awesome Orient remain unbeaten

League Two saw just one away win this weekend, as Grimsby grabbed their first three points back in the Football League. Luke Waterfall scored a 92nd-minute winner in a 1-0 victory over Rochdale to get the Mariners up and running for the year. That result means the Dale are yet to register a single point this season - after an 18th-place finish last year, they would have expected better this time around.

The weekend also saw four 100% records fall by the wayside. Walsall and Stevenage drew, and Barrow and Crewe lost for the first time. Leyton Orient, however, retained their perfect start to the season with a 1-0 defeat of Mansfield, despite a decent away display from the Stags.

Just four teams in the top four tiers of English football boast the maximum number of points so far. Orient sit alongside Manchester City, Arsenal and Blackburn, who saw off West Brom 2-1 on Sunday.

Leyton Orient are 2.98 to win away at Swindon on Tuesday night.


Jack Goddard

16 August 2022

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