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EFL Power Rankings

2021/10/03 17:20
E0

As the entire Championship, and quite a few League One and League Two sides, prepare for a couple of weeks without football due to the international break, Playmaker analyses the three EFL divisions to produce a power ranking...


10th, Port Vale

Form: WWWWL

Four successive victories for Darrell Clarke’s Valiants has moved the Stoke side into the top three and automatic promotion spots in League Two. Clarke took over mid-way through last season and Vale’s form towards the end of the campaign suggested a promotion push could well be on this season. Their victory at the weekend was one of the standout wins throughout the EFL as they scored two stoppage time goals, via Dennis Politic and Jamie Proctor, to come from 2-1 down and continue their impressive form.

9th, Harrogate Town

Form: WDDLD

©Getty / James Williamson - AMA

The form of Simon Weaver’s Harrogate Town does not immediately strike as a team that should be in the top ten of an EFL power ranking. However, their one defeat in that run is their only defeat in ten matches so far this season and they were set to drop out of the automatic spots in League Two until they defeated strugglers Oldham Athletic at the weekend. That 2-1 win means they remain second in the table.

8th, Plymouth

Form: DDWDW

Plymouth suffered through some horrific form in the second-half of last season. It was form so extreme that it meant The Pilgrims looked set for a relegation battle this season due to it, seemingly, being too difficult to turn around. However, the impressive young career of Ryan Lowe has continued this year with the southerners sitting in the top three in League One. Three draws in their last four matches will frustrate them but it has been a very impressive start, regardless of that.

7th, Stoke City

Form: WDWLD

Victory over rivals and, as of before that match, unbeaten West Brom means Stoke have continued their very impressive start to the campaign. A summer recruitment drive that saw promotion winning experience brought in, as well as players that have perennially challenged at the top of the Championship, and Michael O’Neill’s first full season in charge always looked like a recipe for something quite tasty this season for The Potters. They are a solid and steady, trustworthy side built in the manager’s image and a top six finish, at least, looks a real possibility this season.

6th, Coventry City

Form: WLWDW

©Getty / Nigel French - PA Images

Unlike Stoke City’s trustworthy consistency, Coventry are going about their own successful start to the season in a different way. Mark Robins has performed remarkably well for the Sky Blues so far and the former Manchester United player looks set to potentially embark on another top six finish this season. They lost 5-0 in midweek away at Luton Town but either side of that they have scored seven goals, conceding just one against Peterborough and Fulham.

5th, Sunderland

Form: LWWDW

Lee Johnson will be hoping his streaky record in the past is not going to repeat itself this season. The Black Cats’ boss has a reputation for going on long winning runs followed by genuinely awful spells of form. Their 4-0 defeat at Portsmouth last weekend does not affect their status in the top two and the automatic spots in League One but it was a first-half whereby they will need to quickly move on before Johnson’s reputation is discussed once again. They won 5-0 at home to Cheltenham last week so it remains an impressive start to the campaign.

4th, West Bromwich Albion

Form: LWWDD

It has been discussed that the teams that will combat Valerian Ismael’s West Brom side are those that can challenge them physically. The Baggies had been unbeaten before Friday night’s loss at high-flying Stoke City. Their direct and energetic style of play with a three-at-the-back can be nullified, to an extent, when the directness of their play is challenged by a team just as, if not more, physically capable. Their 1-1 draw at home to Millwall was an example of that, as well as that defeat at Stoke.

3rd, Wigan Athletic

Form: WLWWW

Leam Richardson had never been the permanent manager of a football club until he seized the opportunity to take over a Wigan side in crisis following Paul Cook’s departure. He joined Cook as his assistant and contributed to three promotions at three separate clubs; since they have gone their separate ways, it has led to many suggesting Richardson might well have been the key factor in those successes. The Latics won again at the weekend to recover from last week’s defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday. Their 2-0 victory at Gillingham helped them rise to the top-of-the table.

2nd, Forest Green Rovers

Form: WDWWD

©Getty / Pete Norton

It becomes difficult to phrase the deserved praise of Rob Edwards as each week goes on. Forest Green have been the only consistently very good team in League Two and they have already opened up a four-point gap at the top-of-the-table. Their 2-0 win at Carlisle was their sixth successive clean sheet in the league. Their slick style of play means they will be relentless in their chance creation and this attacking system is something that should be sustained.

1st, AFC Bournemouth

Form: WDWWW

Scott Parker’s Cherries remain unbeaten in the Championship after 11 matches and they sit at the top-of-the-table. Their victory at the weekend over likely promotion challengers Sheffield United fifth win in their last six matches. It is a mixture of talented experience, with the likes of Gary Cahill, among several young and vibrant players, most notably Jaidon Anthony and Jordan Zemura. Parker is going for his second promotion already in his very young career.

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