Playmaker’s hotly anticipated top four tier Power Rankings return, running you through the top 10 best performing teams in England for the second time this season.

The rules are the same, only competitions all teams play in are considered, so no European business or EFL Trophy lark, this is the top four tiers only. Oh and just in case you forgot, a win or loss after 90 minutes still counts as a draw.
 

10th, Portsmouth (New Entry)

Last 5: WWLWW League Cup: OUT (2nd Round)

©Getty / NurPhoto

While the pressure remains on Kenny Jacket, four wins in five definitely helps ease the stress, particularly with a 3-1 win over a previously unbeaten Sunderland at the weekend, featuring two goals from John Marquis.

9th, Newport (Re-Entry)

Last 5: WWWLW League Cup: OUT (Last 16)

Sitting pretty at the top of League Two, Newport have built on their early League Cup exploits to string together a fine run of form, culminating in a 3-0 win over Bradford this weekend with the excellent Padraig Amond and Tristan Abrahams involved again.

8th, Charlton (New Entry)

Last 5: WWWDL League Cup: OUT (2nd Round)

Following a successful end to the summer transfer window Charlton are yet to concede in four games, with four goals scored and 10 points collected. A 2-0 win over Northampton this weekend has things looking bright, as Charlton are beginning to add goals to a decent defence.

7th, Lincoln (Re-Entry)

Last 5: WWDLW League Cup: OUT (3rd Round)

After a brief stumble following their four wins to start the season, Lincoln are back on song with table-topping 1-0 win over Ipswich with yet another goal from Jorge Grant, this time a winner from the spot.

6th, West Ham («3)

Last 5: DDWLW League Cup: OUT (Last 16)

Despite a second draw on the bounce for West Ham, it was another against a top side, a 1-1 draw against Manchester City keeping them firmly in our Rankings after a surprisingly good start.

Everyone knows West Ham’s transfer policy has been a mess in the Gold and Sullivan era, but two of the more under the radar signings, Łukasz Fabiański and Michail Antonio, are not only excellent, but consistent too. That was enough for a point against last year’s runners-up, and could be plenty against many more.

⛔️Most #PL saves since 2014/15:

716🧤: ⚒️ŁUKASZ FABIANSKI⚒️
595🧤: David De Gea
592🧤: Kasper Schmeichel
552🧤: Ben Foster
543🧤: Hugo Lloris
480🧤: Jordan Pickford#WHUFC #WHUMCI pic.twitter.com/yMVV4wMI8H

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) October 24, 2020

5th, Stoke (»2)

Last 5: WDWDW League Cup: IN

With some more than impressive results in the League Cup, Stoke were looking to add a little bit extra in the Championship, and did exactly that with a headline 3-2 win over Brentford.

Only the Bees and Blackburn have more Champ goals than the Potters since Michael O’Neill took over in November, and with the excellent Harry Souttar headlining their defence, the foundations are there for a successful season.

📊Most Championship goals since Michael O'Neill's first Stoke game (9/11/19):

74⚽️: Brentford
63⚽️: Blackburn
58⚽️: 🔴STOKE⚪️, Leeds
54⚽️: Reading
51⚽️: Cardiff#SCFC pic.twitter.com/efiUR2Wo9Z

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) October 24, 2020

4th, Leeds (Re-Entry)

Last 5: WLDWW League Cup: OUT (2nd Round

If you try and think of a promoted Premier League player who needed a confidence boosting start more than Patrick Bamford, you’d almost definitely come up short. And with a eyebrow raising hat trick over undefeated Aston Villa taking his total to six for the season, Bamford is just one of many factors that have clicked perfectly so far for Leeds.

Leeds’ performances against Liverpool and Manchester City convinced plenty, despite only collecting a point, while the 3-0 win over Villa might be the game that ends any relegation fears even this early.

3rd, Southampton (New Entry)

Last 5: WDWWL League Cup: OUT (2nd Round)

©Getty / ANDY RAIN

Up into the league’s top six after a comfortable 2-0 win over Everton, there might soon be a time when people start to wonder if Southampton can stick around there in this, the strangest of Premier League seasons.

And if everyone stays fit, anything could happen. Two assists from the superb Danny Ings at the weekend, as well as Che Adams continuing to grow into a decent top flight player, Ralph Hasenhüttl has everything pointing in the right direction.
 

2nd, Reading (»6)

Last 5: WWDWW League Cup: OUT (2nd Round)

Only three other sides in the history of the Championship can match Reading’s total of 19 points from seven games, and while their last two wins have come against promoted teams, they’ve won all but one of their other five, some of which against sides they could be competing against for promotion.

Everythings gone right so far for Reading, and with two goals from the high-end Yakou Méïté at the weekend, things could get even better if he can up his levels of consistency.

❎Least goals conceded in England's top 4 tiers this season:

1⛔️: Reading
3⛔️: Watford
4⛔️: Sunderland, Birmingham
5⛔️: Aston Villa, Newport, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Lincoln, Charlton, Swansea, Millwall, Middlesbrough#ReadingFC #Royals pic.twitter.com/UvfWOhK6NG

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) October 24, 2020

1st, Peterborough (New Entry)

Last 5: WWWWW League Cup: OUT (1st Round)

Storming from out of nowhere to lead our Power Rankings is Peterborough, who are more than prone to excellent runs of form, and have strung together a perfect last five that includes impressive wins against Wigan, Oxford and most recently, a 2-1 comeback win over Hull.

Siriki Dembélé is looking like one of the league’s most complete players, and with a goal every other game, the signing of Jonson Clarke-Harris to replace Ivan Toney looks inspired.

🏎️Most opponents dribbled past this season (top 4 tiers):

23🔀: 💙SIRIKI DEMBELE💙, Adama Traore
20🔀: A.F. Zambo Anguissa, B. Osayi-Samuel
19🔀: G. Toure
18🔀: K. Harris
17🔀: J. Grealish, B. Brereton, J. Dasilva, B. Hanlan, V. Solomon-Otabor#PUFC pic.twitter.com/si4XaIS7GP

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) October 24, 2020

💪 A few months ago, with lockdown in full effect, #Playmaker and @thegraphicbomb started daydreaming about a fanzine on the top four tiers - and 'The Mighty Delta' fanzine was born.

Subscribe to our mailing list for a FREE digital copy!https://t.co/UQ7cP5c5PA pic.twitter.com/kITjuiHnM0

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) September 29, 2020