In the third edition of 2021, Playmaker’s hotly-anticipated top four tier Power Rankings see some big moves, with a number of win streaks ended and plenty of new entries.
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!
Last 5: WLDDW
With a huge four-goal Charlie Wyke inspired win over Doncaster at the weekend, Sunderland continue their gradual climb up the League One table under Lee Johnson, and are showing they have all the right tools to compete for a place in the Championship.
🐈⬛Most goals since Lee Johnson became Sunderland boss (top 4 tiers; fr. 5/12/20):
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 13, 2021
12⚽️: 🔥CHARLIE WYKE🔥
10⚽️: Ivan Toney Luke Jephcott
9⚽️: Mohamed Salah
8⚽️: Dion Charles, James Vaughan
7⚽️: J. Lowe, P. Mullin, J. Clarke-Harris, C. Aneke#SAFC @RokerReport @Charliewyke1 pic.twitter.com/JL3jOc50WE
Last 5: DDWWW
With a big win at the weekend over previously table-topping Hull City, MK Dons round off a decent run of results that lift them towards the top half.
Last 5: WWLWW
Recovering from a hard defeat to Doncaster, Oxford bat aside Wigan and Bristol Rovers to move millimetres from their return to the top six.
Everyone expected the Us to be back amongst it after their excellent 2019/20, but a horror start dampened expectations, however, with nine wins in their last 10 in League One, a return to the top six looks inevitable, the question now is - can they make it to the top?
📈 Most League One points won in 2021:
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 15, 2021
1⃣8⃣: 👉OXFORD, 👉PLYMOUTH
1⃣7⃣: Peterborough
1⃣6⃣: Sunderland
1⃣5⃣: Doncaster, Hull, Lincoln#OUFC #PAFC @OUFCOfficial @Only1Argyle pic.twitter.com/dOjCwRTZXr
Last 5: WWDDD
After sticking with Gary Rowett following his difficult end to 2020, Millwall appear to be getting their rewards, with a five-game unbeaten run against some impressive names.
Holding the likes of Watford, Cardiff and Norwich, Millwall thumped an in-form Sheffield Wednesday before downing promotion pushers Reading at the weekend, and The Lions are now far closer to the top six than when they were worryingly close bottom three.
Last 5: WWWDD
A 3-1 victory over Coventry at the weekend saw Kieffer Moore bag his 12th and 13th goals of the season, moving him up to fourth in the Championship goalscoring charts.
Last 5: WLWWW
After a slight rough patch following a difficult start to life in management, Wayne Rooney tidies up Derby’s form with four wins in five after downing play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough at the weekend.
Aside from an awkward defeat to Rotherham in the previous fixture, Derby have looked pretty resilient at the back, and wins against Bournemouth, QPR, Bristol City and Boro are not to be sniffed at.
Last 5: WWDDW
Marking himself out as one of the best young coaches in English football, Ryan Lowe has Plymouth unbeaten in five and skirting around the edges of League One's top six after signing a contract extension until 2024.
A win against Fleetwood at the weekend adds to a draw against another of last season’s play-off sides in Portsmouth two games ago, and as long as Lowe and star striker Luke Jephcott stay at the club, the Pilgrims will continue their upward trajectory.
📈 Best shot conversion %s in 2020/21 (top 4 tiers; 40+ shots):
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 12, 2021
3⃣6⃣%: 🎯@Lukejephcott11 (16 goals fr. 45 shots)🎯
3⃣0⃣%: Son Heung-min (13/43), Lucas João (16/53)
2⃣8⃣%: Ivan Toney (23/81)
2⃣6⃣%: Matthew Lund (11/42)#PAFC @Only1Argyle pic.twitter.com/nxR3gMT2JE
Last 5: WWDLW
All it took was seven minutes of chaos for Leicester to put another dent in Liverpool’s season and take the upper hand in the top four race, with a team that was formerly overreliant on Jamie Vardy showing an enviable ability to score from midfield.
James Maddison and Harvey Barnes are now approaching double digits for the league season, and with Wilfred Ndidi looking Champions League quality in the 3-1 win over the reigning champions, there’s increasing belief Leicester could be heading back to the top tier of European football.
Last 5: WWLWL
There are new manager bounces and then there’s Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Maybe the fact it’s a second spell helps, but taking Burton from dead and buried in League One to just two points from safety is about as impressive as it gets.
Three wins in four, most recently against Northampton at the weekend, gives Albion all the hope in the world, and picking up three clean sheets in those wins, after not managing a single one since last February shows just how big an impact the Dutchman has made.
Last 5: WWWWW
The Premier League title is beginning to look close following Manchester United’s draw against West Brom at the weekend, and for City’s Champions League opponents, Borussia Monchengladbach, the nerves are probably getting unbearable.
