Saturday’s Championship action once again provided plenty of drama and excitement.
Former Peterborough, Hull and Bradford striker and Final Score’s EFL pundit Aaron McLean gave his five takeaways from what we learned across the second tier.
Free-kicks ‘out of the top drawer’
Ryan Manning and Nestory Irankunda both scored a free-kick in the space of three minutes
Southampton and Watford both scored late free-kicks in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road in the Championship.
Saints defender Ryan Manning and Watford’s Nestory Irankunda had already scored free-kicks this season and showcased their ability from the set-piece once again.
McLean: “As a game it was a fantastic spectacle and both teams had chances. I think it was fitting that they both scored unbelievable free-kicks.
“Manning’s was outstanding but he was definitely out-done by Irankunda – it was a worldie.
“I like the look of both sides and there is a lot of expectation on them both, especially Southampton as they have just come down from the Premier League.
“Both of them seem like they are still trying to find their feet and get a level of consistency. While there are some questions about them defensively, there is no doubt that in attack they pose huge threat.
“With those two quality free-kicks it’s a bit of ‘anything you can do, I can do better’. As a fan watching, it was incredible and I’m sure both managers were holding their heads because those were both out of the top drawer.”
Ipswich leveller ‘as late as they come’
Ipswich scored an equaliser against Derby in the 16th minute of injury time
Jack Clarke scored a dramatic stoppage-time penalty to earn Ipswich Town a 2-2 draw against Derby County.
He struck home in the 16th minute of time added on to deny Derby a first Championship win of the season.
McLean: “That Ipswich leveller is about as late as they come.
“Derby will be absolutely gutted to lose it that late on in injury time, it’s a huge blow for them and they need to start getting some points on the board and move up the table or they could find themselves in a relegation fight.
“If anything, I think they is a slight hangover for Ipswich from the relegation season. I think there is a level of expectation for them and they’re not handling the pressure.
“Losing Sam Morsy was a big blow for them. In the promotion season he was pivotal to all things good about Ipswich. His leadership as well as quality on the pitch was massive for them.
“I think when they find a patch of form I fully expect them to rocket up the table – it’s just if the others up the top have accumulated too many points for Ipswich to catch up when they get there.”
QPR show ‘tremendous character’
QPR bounced back from 7-1 loss with victory over Charlton
QPR registered their first win of the season against Charlton Athletic, bouncing back with victory after last week’s 7-1 thumping at the hands of Coventry.
Koki Saito came off the bench to score a stunning goal alongside Paul Smyth’s opener and Richard Kone’s late strike.
McLean: “QPR showed tremendous character. After last week you’d expect a response but to go and win in front of your own fans and for it to be as comfortable as it was will be the most pleasing thing for them.
“Those are also the games you need to be winning, you need to be beating your newly promoted teams in Charlton.
“To get their first win on the board and for it to be a great response to the 7-1 defeat was a really good afternoon’s work for them.
“Richard Kone scored again and he’s a brilliant player, he’s worked his way from the bottom and he keeps improving.
“I fancy he has a real chance of going one further and getting to the Premier League.”
‘Vital’ that Norwich keep Sargent
Josh Sargent has been linked with a move away from Norwich this summer
Josh Sargent scored twice as Norwich City beat 10-man Blackburn Rovers to make it back-to-back away wins in the Championship.
Sargent has now scored six goals in five appearances for Norwich across all competitions this season.
McLean: “I think Norwich will be delighted with the win but also the performance. They created a lot of opportunities.
“Sargent getting another two goals is big for him too. There is a lot of expectation in and around Norwich but I think today will fill everyone with a lot of confidence.
“It would be a huge loss if Norwich were to lose Josh Sargent – I don’t know if you can replace him, especially at this late stage.
“He’s pivotal to Norwich’s ambitions. They want to get out of the Championship and into the Premier League and in order to do that you have to keep your best players, and he is one of the best strikers at this level.
“It’s vital that they keep hold of him and he keeps doing what he has been doing, I think he could go and play in the Premier League. That’s how good I think he is.”
Wrexham can now ‘go from strength to strength’
Wrexham beat Millwall to pick up their first league win of the season
Kieffer Moore’s header and Lewis O’Brien’s stoppage-time goal gave Wrexham their first Championship win of the season at Millwall.
The win was Wrexham’s first in English football’s second tier since the 1981-82 season, and moves them up to 15th in the table.
McLean: “Wrexham winning today was huge.
“They are a club that over the past few seasons have just been used to winning continuously and they are now at a level where you have to fight and scrap for every point.
“Getting your first win on the board, especially away at The Den, which is an intimidating place to go, means they can go from strength to strength after that result.
“I think if they can finish in mid-table this season then that would definitely be classed as success.
“Because of the amount of money they have spent I would say they are expected to do more than just survive, but I think a mid-table finish and building on that would be good for them.”
Aaron McLean was talking to BBC Sport England’s Dan George
