Old Farm rivals flying high again
Next season marks 30 years since Norwich and Ipswich last met in the top flight. Both sides were relegated at the end of the 1994-95 season and have only played each other in the second division since. Norwich have enjoyed the upper hand in recent years – they haven’t lost the East Anglian derby since 2009. That could be about to change, though – after four seasons spinning their wheels in League One, the Tractor Boys have returned to the Championship with a bang. Kieran McKenna’s side have won their first three games to top the table – and Norwich’s unbeaten start under David Wagner suggests an “Old Firm” promotion battle could be on the cards. A tight-knit, organised outfit, Ipswich are determined to remain a “humble group” according to defender Cameron Burgess. Whether or not they maintain their impressive start, they will surely have an eye on 16 December, when Norwich come to Portman Road with that long unbeaten derby record to protect.
Birmingham’s US revolution
It’s been a long 12 years for Birmingham City since League Cup success and relegation in 2011. The Blues are now the Championship’s longest-serving club and have looked more likely to leave the division via the League One trapdoor. The club’s stagnation under former owner Carson Yeung has seen a points deduction and dramatic final-day escapes, with a number of highly-rated managers seeing their careers stall at St Andrew’s. After two other takeover attempts fell short this summer, the club are now under new and ambitious American ownership. A major stadium upgrade is in the works and the chairman, Tom Wagner, has brought in NFL legend Tom Brady as a co-owner. It’s not the first time a Brady in the boardroom has stolen the spotlight here, but things are quietly going well on the pitch, too. The manager, John Eustace, is a lifelong Blues fan and experienced backroom coach who has built a solid base amid constant off-field issues. For now, the aim under the new hierarchy is steady progress, and Eustace looks the right man to deliver it.
Trouble for northern powerhouses
Three games in, seven Championship clubs are still winless – two from South Wales, and five from Yorkshire. The presence of Leeds and Middlesbrough among them may seem surprising, but both two clubs have undergone difficult summers. Daniel Farke faces a tough rebuilding job at Elland Road after a player exodus, and must decide whether to force Willy Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra to stay put. Michael Carrick led Boro to the playoffs last year backed by the goals of Chuba Akpom, who has left for Ajax, and the on-loan Cameron Archer, who is heading for Sheffield United. With one goal in three games, Boro are the division’s lowest scorers and above only Sheffield Wednesday. Darren Moore’s departure punctured the momentum built in the dramatic playoff success and while new manager Xisco Muñoz has made some intriguing signings, he may not be given the time he needs. Four of Wednesday’s next five games are against other strugglers, though – including Leeds and Middlesbrough.
An open race in League One
The battle for promotion from the third tier is often tight and unpredictable, and the early table is already confounding expectations. While pre-season favourites like Derby and Barnsley have struggled for consistency, unfancied Cambridge have leapt to the top. After beating the drop on the final day, the U’s were expected to struggle again but Mark Bonner – a local who has worked his way up the coaching ranks – has made an impressive start. Their only defeat in four games came against promoted Stevenage, who also sit on nine points. Bolton, Oxford and Peterborough separate the two surprise packages – but the team with the division’s best record sit in 19th place. Wigan started the season on -8 points after a season of financial turmoil, with day-to-day survival their only goal. That all changed in July after a takeover from local billionaire Mike Danson, and the Latics have made a flying start under Shaun Maloney, winning at Derby on the opening day and beating Bolton 4-0 away. “It’s as enjoyable a day as I’ve ever had at Wigan,” the former FA Cup winner said afterwards.
Wrexham’s box-office drama
Many fans of fourth-tier clubs might roll their eyes at the inclusion of the Hollywood pet project. The Welsh club’s Football League return has been undeniably dramatic, though, featuring scorelines that scriptwriters might consider unrealistic. A 5-3 opening defeat to MK Dons (watched by Hugh Jackman) has been followed by a 4-2 win over Walsall and a 5-5 comeback draw against Swindon. The Dragons have the division’s hottest attack and the leakiest defence (13 scored, the same amount conceded). The club’s defensive woes have led keeper Ben Foster, a hero in their promotion run, to dramatically hang up his gloves once again and return to podcasting. It’s never dull at the Racecourse these days – but perhaps that needs to change, if League Two leaders Gillingham’s four consecutive 1-0 wins are anything to go by. Behind them, MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon are second and third, threatening a loveless promotion battle worthy of its own Netflix mini-series.
… and a Pompey fan runs the line
Portsmouth would be top of League One had they found a home winner against lowly Cheltenham on Saturday. Instead, the hosts settled for a goalless draw – despite having a home fan running the line for most of the second half. After the assistant referee was injured in the first period, fourth official Stephen Brown also picked up a knock – leading to a plea over the Fratton Park PA system for a qualified official. Up stepped local league referee Julian Browning. “I got some kit from the officials, and a spare pair of gold boots appeared in the changing room,” Browning told the BBC afterwards. The lifelong Pompey fan admitted he was nervous – “if they score, how am I going to react?” – but delivered a flawless, impartial performance. “He was probably the best official we’ve had this year,” joked Robins manager Wade Elliot, whose decision to allow Browning to officiate for the final 35 minutes – and 21 minutes of stoppage time – paid off with a point.