Ipswich Town 5-0 Sheffield United

The Championship returned from the international break with a meeting between two teams who haven’t started the season in the way they had hoped and that most would have expected. Neither had a win to their name as the Friday night game kicked off, although Ipswich had spent big to try and rectify that problem. Ipswich could at least find solace in having a handful of points on the board, compared to Sheffield United who had lost all four of their opening league games, scoring just once, and had also lost their sole cup match. There was some shock when beleaguered Blades boss Ruben Selles chose to leave star striker Gus Hamer on the bench for this one, and it was a decision that ultimately bore no reward.

The first twenty minutes were fairly even, but when Jaden Philogene fired in the first of his three goals for the evening – his first hat-trick in senior football – Sheffield United fell apart. Playing at right-back, Ben Goddard was repeatedly embarrassed by the rampaging Philogene, who repeatedly found space to hammer home his efforts. Blades keeper Michael Cooper was nutmegged twice, adding to the humiliation. It was a truly woeful defensive display by the Blades, and it was a result that sealed Selles’ fate. By Sunday morning he was removed from his position, set to be replaced by Chris Wilder, the man United somewhat bafflingly sacked at the end of the previous season. This result will be a big confidence boost for Kieran McKenna and his side, who will look to build on this result to force their way up the table.

Ipswich move up to 14th in the standings, whilst Sheffield United remain rock bottom having lost every game.

Charlton Athletic 1-1 Millwall

It’s been a long time since Millwall have been beaten by Charlton. In fact, you have to go back to the 1995/96 season when Alan Curbishley was at the helm to witness when the Addicks last took three points from their local rivals. This was the first meeting between the sides since 2020. After an opening day victory, Charlton have only managed two points from the last nine available. They are fairly solid at the back, but struggling to score goals, having only managed two before this match started. Millwall’s start to the season has been mixed, with two wins, two defeats and a draw.

Sonny Carey gave the Addicks the lead in the 40th minute of this one, firing into the net through a sea of players after Millwall keeper Steven Benda had punched away a corner. As the game went on it looked like that may be enough to break the hoodoo the Lions have over Charlton, but then in the 74th minute a silly lunge from Kayne Ramsay saw him get a second yellow and reduce his team to ten, putting them in jeopardy in the closing stages. Millwall must have thought it wouldn’t be their day after Bangura-Williams, who had been impressive after coming on as a sub in the 66th minute, had an effort chalked off due to handball. In the end his persistence paid off, however, as his 88th minute strike did count - and once again Charlton walked away from a match with Millwall without three points. Their winless run extends to four, and their long wait for a victory against their local rivals goes on.

Charlton sit in 18th, Millwall are 13th.

Oxford United 2-2 Leicester

It was Leicester’s first trip to Oxford in 31 years, and came off the back of victories against Birmingham and Charlton before the international break. Leicester haven’t been especially ruthless thus far, but they have been clinical, with the quality in the team often overcoming average performances. At the start of play Oxford were still one of five teams yet to pick up a victory this season, although by the end of the day that group would narrow to just three clubs – all of whom ended the weekend in the relegation places. Having lost their first three games, Oxford had managed a decent home draw against Coventry going into the international break.

A bright start from Oxford saw Will Lankshear put them ahead after just nine minutes. The Spurs loanee has had a solid start to his time at the U’s, with this being his third goal of the season. Oxford’s lead, however, didn’t last long. A terrible backpass from newly-appointed Oxford skipper Cameron Brannagan was intercepted by Leicester’s Jordan Ayew, who gratefully accepted this gift and duly equalised. Ten minutes later, it was disaster for the Foxes as Aaron Ramsey marked his debut with a red card for a dangerous challenge on Oxford debutant Filip Krastev. Things got worse before the break, as Oxford went ahead via a deflected header from Ben Davies, going in off unfortunate Leicester defensive midfielder Boubakary Soumare.  Foxes’ boss Marti Cifuentes sprung into action at half time, bringing on Harry Winks and Ricardo Perreira, and it was the latter who once again brought Leicester level ten minutes after the restart. Despite late appeals for a Leicester penalty, the game would have no more goals, with Oxford picking up their second point of the campaign with another four-goal draw against a side that would have been expected to beat them.

Oxford remain in the relegation places, 22nd, whilst Leicester sit in 4th position.

Preston 2-2 Middlesbrough

After sacking Michael Carrick in the summer, it would have been reasonable to assume Boro would need some time to adjust as new manager Rob Edwards took the helm. Not so, however, as the Teesiders had notched four wins out of four before the international break to sit top of the pile. Preston had ended last season terribly, but started this one in much better form, only losing once in their first four games.

On-loan Aston Villa winger Lewis Dobbin fired Preston ahead with a fantastic shot from outside the box in the 22nd minute, his first goal of the campaign. Boro had lost in all of their last five visits to Deepdale, and must have thought history was repeating itself as a 72nd minute equaliser from Matt Targett was only enough to keep them level for eighteen minutes. A short-range header from Jordan Story in the 88th minute appeared to have sealed victory for the hosts, but an almighty goalmouth scramble in the 92nd minute saw Boro summer signing Sontje Hansen net his first Boro goal, causing the points to ultimately be shared. Middlesbrough miss out on winning the first five games of the season for the first time in their history, but one imagines they’ll be pleased with taking a point from this one in the end.

Preston remain just outside the playoff spots in 8th, and despite losing their perfect record, Boro are still top of the table.

Coventry 1-1 Norwich

Coventry have started the season relatively well, as last season’s playoff contenders won and drew two of their opening four fixtures. Frank Lampard’s side have been scoring goals aplenty, the division’s top scorers at this early stage. Mixed results for Norwich had given Liam Manning a reasonable platform to build on, with four points gained from their two matches before the international break.

Despite looking so potent thus far in front of goal, it was Coventry’s forward line that let them down in this match. They utterly dominated, with 28 shots to Norwich’s 4. Nonetheless, a first goal of the season for Norwich’s Danish striker Mathias Kvistgaarden in the 17th minute was the only thing separating the two teams for the majority of this match. Norwich repelled wave after wave of Coventry attacks, and looked to have battled to an unlikely three points, but in the 96th minute American striker Haji Wright tapped in a rebound for his fifth goal of the season, and one that ultimately earned the Sky Blues a point and ensured they remained unbeaten. It was a bitter blow for the Canaries, but they will still count themselves fortunate to have come away with a point considering they were second best all afternoon. Although wasteful in front of goal on this day, Coventry continue to lead the way as the division’s top scorers, with an impressive fifteen goals in their first five matches.

Coventry are in 6th, with Norwich three places below them in 9th.

Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Bristol City

Spirited as they have been this season, the Owls only had a solitary point from their first four matches. The club’s ownership issues are very much manifesting on the pitch, as was expected after a summer which saw many senior players leave the club with no hope of picking up suitable replacements. Gerhard Struber’s Bristol City have made a bright start to the season, unbeaten and having picked up eight points from the first twelve available.

It was a game to forget to Wednesday fans, as their side did not manage a single shot on target. An opening own goal from eighteen-year-old debutant Harry Amass after just six minutes was followed by sustained, vehement cries of anger from the Hillsborough crowd throughout the first half – aimed not at the manager or the team, but rather at owner Dejphon Chansiri. Emil Riis’ third goal of the season after eighteen minutes made it two, and Anis Mehmeti also netted his third of the season after thirty-two minutes to put the game to bed. Wednesday were spared any further embarrassment as City did not inflict additional punishment, but it was another chastening afternoon for the embattled Owls.

Sheffield Wednesday remain in 23rd, just above their city rivals, whilst Bristol City rise to 3rd in the early standings.

Stoke City 1-0 Birmingham City

Stoke fans are used to having early season hopes dashed by inconsistent performances, but so far this season they had seen their team win their opening three matches. A home defeat against West Brom was a small setback, but overall Mark Robins seems to have lifted the dark clouds that have been above the Potters for a number of years. We all know Birmingham’s story – a lot of exposure, a lot of money, and a lot of expectation. Much like Stoke, an unbeaten start to the season had been lost before the international break, as the Blues had tasted defeat for the first time against Leicester.

And defeat they would once again taste two weeks later, with this their second loss in a row combined with a second game where they have failed to get onto the scoresheet. Defender Bosun Lawal’s looping header in the 21st minute beat Birmingham keeper Ryan Allsop, and that was enough to give the hosts all three points. It was a game of little quality after this, in truth, with Stoke not looking like adding to their tally and Birmingham not having a single shot on target throughout – although the Blues did threaten a few times in the second half, they were unable to convert their attacks into meaningful chances.

Stoke sit just behind Boro in 2nd, Big Club fall to 11th after back-to-back defeats. 

Swansea City 2-2 Hull City

Having barely escaped relegation last season, Hull brought in new boss Sergej Jakirovic with the hope of a more productive campaign this time around. However, after four games the Tigers had only won once, and lost their last two games going into the international break. Swansea, mired in mediocrity for a number of seasons now, had picked up eight points from their first four games and appear to be in decent shape under manager Alan Sheehan.

Two names I’ve frequently referenced during my roundups are Zan Vipotnik and Ronald – with the Slovenian and the Brazilian having been at the heart of much of Swansea’s early season success. Vipotnik had been heavily linked with a move away throughout the summer, but in the end he remained in Wales and based on his form, Swansea fans will be delighted this is the case. He opened the scoring in the 40th minute, driving a ball into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area. A third Championship goal of the season, alongside one assist. Former Swansea man Oli McBurnie managed to get a goal back for Hull before the break, sliding home a Ryan Giles cross. Swans’ right-winger Ronald put the hosts back in front in the 57th minute, his third goal of the campaign coming from point-blank range. The Tigers were staring down the barrel of a third straight defeat, but Hull centre-back John Egan drilled home a 97th minute equaliser to stun Swansea and deny them the three points they looked on course to get.

Swansea sit in 7th, whilst Hull are in 20th.

Watford 0-1 Blackburn Rovers

The Hornets have struggled with consistency over the past few seasons, and this season’s first few games suggest this is still going to be a problem for them. Their opening four games saw one win, two draws and a defeat, having conceded goals in every match thus far. Rovers meanwhile had lost three and won one match – with their first win at Hull immediately followed by yet another bitterly disappointing home defeat to Norwich just before the international break.

However, that defeat did not seem to be on the minds of Rovers’ players, as they played well and thoroughly deserved this hard-fought away victory – with both of Rovers’ wins thus far coming away from Ewood Park, and both with clean sheets. Rovers gave a first start to new Japanese signing Ryoya Morishita, and the winger made his intent known in the first half as he rifled a shot against the bar. Not to be denied, he opened the scoring just after the break, slotting home after being fed a through-ball from compatriot Yuki Ohashi. Rovers’ goalkeeper Toth made a good save from Kwadwo Bah during the second half, but otherwise Rovers were largely comfortable against a lacklustre Watford side. Valerien Ismael will no doubt be delighted to get one over on his former employers, having set his team up perfectly to secure an away victory.

Watford slip to 17th, whilst Rovers move up to 15th.

West Brom 0-1 Derby Country

John Eustace had done an incredible job keeping Derby County up last season, when all hope seemed lost, but this season things had not started well. Going into this match they were one of five teams yet to register a victory, having already shipped eleven goals from just four matches. West Brom meanwhile had made a good start to life under new boss Ryan Mason, snagging nine points from the first twelve available.

In the end, the form table went out of the window here as the Rams earned an unexpected away victory at the Hawthorns, with a solitary goal from former Rover (and former Baggie) Andy Weimann enough to snatch all three points and a first win of the season for Derby.  Weimann’s 84th minute strike was Derby’s only shot on target, and put a dampener on a day that was supposed to celebrate WBA’s 125th anniversary. Derby seem to have the Baggies’ number, having knocked them out of the Carabao Cup in August and having now beaten them in six successive games across all competitions. Despite hitting the woodwork and having 18 attempts to Derby’s 4, it ended up being an intensely frustrating afternoon for WBA as they saw themselves fall to defeat for the first time in the league this season.

WBA sit in 5th, Derby are in 19th place.

Wrexham 1-3 QPR

Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham side had endured a tough start to the season, only picking up one point from their first three matches. However, a win just before the international break away to Millwall seemed to point towards things going in the right direction for the Welsh side. QPR looked to be in trouble early doors, with just one point from three matches themselves – including one match where they were hammered 7-1 by Coventry. That seemed to act as a wakeup call for the Hoops, though, as they responded with a 3-1 home win against Charlton a week later.

Julien Stephan’s men continued where they left off two weeks prior, securing back-to-back wins as Wrexham’s struggles returned. By half time QPR were two ahead, with an own goal from Conor Coady in the 33rd minute followed eleven minutes later with a thumping strike from Richard Kone – his third in three matches. Wrexham showed improvement after the break and gave themselves a lifeline as Kieffer Moore scored for a third game in a row, heading in a corner from Lewis O’Brien. Wrexham pushed for an equaliser, but this was ultimately their undoing as a counter-attack from QPR led to a first Rangers goal for Jamaican centre-forward Rumarn Burrell, and that was enough to ensure QPR left Wales with all three points.

Wrexham slip to 21st, hovering just above the relegation spots, whilst QPR surge up to 12th.

Southampton 0-0 Portsmouth

Southampton and Portsmouth met on Sunday for the first league meeting between the south coast rivals for thirteen years. I would like to say it didn’t disappoint, but then I’d be lying. Anyway, Southampton under 32-year-old manager Will Still are yet to really get going this season, having won one, drawn two and lost one of their opening four games. Portsmouth have fared better than their much richer rivals early on, with two wins, a draw and a defeat to their name.

Zero goals. One shot on target from either side. Southampton fans booing the final whistle. Not a derby to remember. Portsmouth had the better of the first half, and Southampton the better of the second, but Andre Dozzell’s shot hitting the bar for Portsmouth was about as good as it got as far as attacking quality was concerned. It was just the second scoreless game between the two sides in their history, with the other coming over one-hundred years ago in 1924.

Southampton sink to 15th, with the mighty Rovers now breathing down their necks. Portsmouth sit in 9th place.