26/04 - 20:00
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!
Last 5: WWDWW League Cup: OUT (2nd Round)
©Getty / Hannah Fountain - CameraSport
Unbeaten to start the season, Ipswich took another three points in a 2-0 win over Accrington Stanley which leaves them top of League One with 16 points from a possible 18.
Fans will be cautious given their excellent start last season before a complete collapse, but the numbers so far are impressive, 13 goals for and two conceded, with 30 shots on target for and half the number against.
Last 5: WWWLW League Cup: (1st Round)
A late winner from Aaron Hayden against Colchester at the weekend capped off a decent run of form for Carlisle who also boast an impressive win over Port Vale after more necessary three points against Barrow and Southend, leaving them fifth in League Two.
Last 5: DWWWL League Cup: OUT (2nd Round)
A 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough is a pretty bland way for Reading to end their 100% start, but it means the Royals have conceded just a single goal in league action under Veljko Paunović, meaning there's still plenty to be positive about.
💥Unbeaten in the league (top 4 tiers; 2020/21):
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) October 19, 2020
✅✅✅✅Aston Villa
✅✅✅✅🤝Everton
✅✅✅✅🤝Bristol City
✅✅✅✅🤝Reading
✅🤝✅✅🤝Bournemouth
🤝✅✅🤝✅Sunderland
✅✅✅🤝✅✅Ipswich
✅🤝🤝🤝✅✅Forest Green
✅🤝🤝🤝✅🤝Walsall pic.twitter.com/YloCCrfw74
Last 5: WDWWW League Cup: IN
It was clear since his arrival last November that Michael O’Neill could well be the man to reverse Stokes downward trajectory, and nearly a year on with a good few stumbles, it looks like 2020/21 could finally be a season of progress.
A 2-0 win over a decent Luton side follows an OK start to their Championship campaign, and with two Premier League scalps in the League Cup, there’s a solid base to build on for the arduous season ahead.
Last 5: DWWLW League Cup: OUT (3rd Round)
©Getty / OBM/
They were so close to extending their impressive winning run to start the season, but Bristol City called it a day at four after Cauley Woodrow’s stoppage time penalty stole a point for Barnsley at the weekend.
Still, the Robins march on, and with Jack Hunt and Tyreeq Bakinson netting their 2020/21 firsts taking the number of different scorers to seven, there’s plenty to be excited about for Robins fans.
Last 5: WWLDW League Cup: (2nd Round)
It’s rare that an assistant going full time ever works out, but the jury is no longer out on Mark Bonner, who’s impressive record since taking over last season, the second best in League Two, speaks for itself.
A 5-0 romp over Scunthorpe at the weekend maintains their status as the fourth tier’s pace setters, while they have the best goal difference in the top four tiers with +12. And with the likes of Paul Mullin, Wes Hoolahan and Dimitar Mitov continuing to put in decent displays, this could well be the season where good things start to happen.
⚽️Most League Two points since Mark Bonner took charge of Cambridge (1/2/2020):
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) October 10, 2020
28👔: Cheltenham
23👔: ⚫️CAMBRIDGE🟠
20👔: Salford, Port Vale
19👔: Crawley, Carlisle, Exeter#CamUTD #EFL pic.twitter.com/xgUYJ2J7Yl
Last 5: DWWWW League Cup: IN
Putting aside the unsavoury challenges on Virgil van Dijk and Thiago Alcantara, Everton fans will have finished Saturday’s clash with Liverpool pretty happy considering what must have been an enjoyable turnaround following Jordan Henderson’s disallowed late winner.
And while they would have preferred a win, they remain unbeaten, and look to have all the hallmarks of a top six side, with Dominc Calvert-Lewin, Lucas Digne and Michael Keane all continuing their fantastic starts to the season.
Last 5: DWLWW League Cup: OUT (Last 16)
©Getty / Tottenham Hotspur FC
David Moyes bouncing up and down on the pitch said everything. Not only was West Ham’s extraordinary comeback against Spurs completely unexpected, so was their fantastic start to the season.
We should have some caution as the Hammers have had a few decent starts before falling off a cliff in recent years, but the expected goals numbers show their start is fully deserved, and could well continue.
Last 5: WDWWD League Cup: OUT (1st Round)
Despite the disappointment of a curtailed 2019/20 ending their play-off chances, Sunderland don’t seem too upset, and appear to have instead spent the time off practicing their defensive work, with just one goal conceded in league action this season helping the Black Cats to three wins and two draws.
On top of that, Sunderland have conceded just eight shots on target in open play, with Lee Burge stopping all eight, and with only a penalty conceded, Phil Parkinson has plenty to build on.
⛔️Best save percentages (top 4 tiers; 2020/21; excl. pens):
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) October 19, 2020
1.00%🛡️: 🔴LEE BURGE⚪
0.95%🛡️: Scott Brown
0.93%🛡️: Asmir Begović
0.91%🛡️: Rafael Cabral, Jayson Leutwiler
0.90%🛡️: Ben Foster
0.89%🛡️: Neil Etheridge #SAFC pic.twitter.com/SgxjKzXxFg
Last 5: WWLWW League Cup: OUT (Last 16)
©Getty / Jon Super - PA Images
What separates a good start to the season from a great start to the season is a side’s ability to not get ahead of themselves, and with a two week gap since their historic humiliation of Liverpool, Aston Villa could easily have folded against another top side in Leicester.
Instead they managed to snatch a shocking late winner thanks to Ross Barkley that shows not only has their recruitment been fantastic, but Dean Smith has been way too underrated by many.
💪 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.
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) September 29, 2020
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