Five things to watch for in EFL: Coaching struggles & Imps excitement.
Autumn has here, the leaves are falling, the dark evenings are drawing in, and there is a distinct cold in the air, but thankfully, the EFL is on hand to keep us warm and cosy.
Middlesbrough continue to lead the Championship, and they face a Southampton team whose start has been less than stellar, while Chris Wilder seeks his first Sheffield United success on a previous stomping ground, and Watford consider Paulo Pezzolano’s situation.
Lincoln City is making noise in League One, and Oldham Athletic and Barnet are settling back into League Two. Here are five things to keep an eye on over this busy weekend of EFL action.
Watford wavering on Paulo?
IMAGE SOURCE, REX FEATURESPaulo Pezzolano has overseen one victory from seven games as Watford boss
Anyone taking over as head coach at Watford these days is more likely to have their name on a Post-it note on the office door than one of those wonderful plaques. When Paulo Pezzolano was hired in May, he became the Hornets’ 14th permanent manager in the last seven years.
Unfortunately, his team isn’t boosting his long-term job prospects. On average, the Uruguayan’s 13 predecessors held the position for eight months, and one win from seven games in all competitions has left some fans expecting to see the words ‘Club statement’ above the seemingly obligatory photo of a corner flag every time they visit the club website this week.
“He’s talked a lot about the first few weeks and months; it may take some time for the players to acclimatise, but he’ll get there eventually. “The problem with that one is that it’s Watford, and they’re not known for being forgiving,” remarked BBC Three Counties Radio pundit Geoff Doyle.
This may not be the best time to face Hull City (Saturday, 15:00 BST), a club that isn’t hesitant to change managers but has found some success. A 3-1 victory over Southampton and a good 2-2 draw at Swansea City have given manager Sergej Jakirovic some breathing room, time that Pezzolano may be running out of.
Saints still waiting for lift off under Will
IMAGE SOURCE, REX FEATURESWill Still managed Reims and Lens in Ligue 1
With last season’s Premier League horror show behind them, Southampton fans may have felt safe to come out from behind the sofa, but a sequel might be on the way.
Things have not gone as planned since Will Still’s appointment, with only an opening-day win over Wrexham to show for their efforts in the Championship. Liverpool put on a creditable display in a 2-1 midweek Carabao Cup defeat, but that merely underlined the team’s current flaws to the head coach.
“We are continually inconsistent, which is bothersome. “We’re conceding too many goals at too low a cost, so we need to address this immediately,” he told BBC Radio Solent.
“It’s not fun, it’s not very enjoyable, but we need to keep believing in it, hammering away, keep plugging away, because that’s the only way it’s going to work.” The bad news for Southampton is that their next game is against league leaders Middlesbrough at St Mary’s Stadium.
Boro are only the fourth team in 40 years to lead the second-tier league by as many as four points after six games (the others are Huddersfield Town, Brighton and Hove Albion, and Oldham), and they are unbeaten.
For those who enjoy coincidences, Saturday’s game will also commemorate the 22nd anniversary of Middlesbrough’s last victory at Southampton – a reason for optimism for the Saints?
Wilder seeks more than a warm welcome
IMAGE SOURCE, REX FEATURESChris Wilder spent more than five years in charge of Oxford United
Chris Wilder may be a living legend at Sheffield United, but his success in returning Oxford United to the EFL has made him a beloved figure at the Kassam Stadium.
Winning the National League play-offs in 2010 marked the end of the U’s four-season drought, but this will be Wilder’s fifth return since 2014.
There may be a few handshakes and stories shared, but the recently reinstated Blades manager has more pressing concerns to deal with, particularly earning his first win of the season, though a point will suffice.
“We’ve got a bit of work to do – maybe I was too optimistic that we’d be fine,” Wilder remarked after supervising a 1-0 loss to Charlton Athletic on his return last Saturday.
Seven of the last ten teams to start a season by losing six or more league games have been relegated, indicating that Wilder still has work to do.
Despite their struggles, Sheffield United are only five points behind their opponents, with Oxford’s first win of the season at high-flying Bristol City last Sunday as much needed as it was shocking, extending Gary Rowett’s side’s unbeaten streak to three.
“We’ll be up against a team incredibly motivated to kick off their season again and we’ve got to back up the performance at Bristol City,” Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford on Sunday.
Imps causing trouble for League One’s hierarchy
IMAGE SOURCE, REX FEATURESBen House scored twice for Lincoln in a 3-1 win over Luton last Saturday
When you write the phrase ‘with all due respect’, it usually signifies you’re ready to disrespect someone.
With all due respect to Lincoln City, there are more glamorous and well-funded clubs in League One, but football is about far more than that. The Imps have been upsetting the apple cart this season, particularly with victories over Reading, Plymouth Argyle, and Luton Town, the latter of which briefly put them at the top of the table.
Boss Michael Skubala celebrates his 100th game in command against Peterborough United on Saturday (15:00 BST), and the former Leeds United coach is optimistic in his team’s performance at Sincil Bank.
“We’ve got players in the depth where tactically we can put a plan together to negate their (opponent’s) strengths,” says Skubala. “No one wins the league at the beginning of the season. We have to be in and around it so that the fans can appreciate it.
They should enjoy what we’re doing as a club. Lincoln have a short trip to London Road, but they will face a Posh side that has won back-to-back games and is gaining momentum after acquiring 16 new players since the end of last season.
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