EFL round-up: Blackburn top the Championship

Blackburn Rovers, Peterborough United, and Walsall all currently sit top of their respective leagues in the EFL after an entertaining day in 'the 72'.

Championship

Blackburn Rovers sit top of the Championship with two games gone after an impressive 3-0 win away to Swansea City. Sammie Szmodics opened the scoring on his debut before Ben Brereton Díaz added a second and Lewis Travis made it two goals in two games. 

©Getty / Rhianna Chadwick - PA Images

It was a positive weekend for two of the newly-promoted teams with Rotherham United not in action until Sunday. Wigan Athletic managed a point away to Norwich City after James McClean opened the scoring with Max Aarons pulling the Canaries level.

Meanwhile, Sunderland defeated Bristol City 3-2 with debutant Ellis Simms scoring a brace on his debut and Ross Stewart scoring the winning goal.

Vincent Kompany’s Burnley enjoyed lots of possession at home to Luton Town but could only manage a point. Dan Potts gave the Hatters an early lead after just five minutes but the Clarets hit back through Josh Brownhill in the second half.

Elsewhere this weekend there were wins for Sheffield United, Stoke City, and Reading over Millwall, Blackpool, and Cardiff City respectively. Birmingham City also won 2-1 over Huddersfield Town in Friday’s late kick-off.

Full-time in the #SkyBetChampionship!#EFL | @CazooUK pic.twitter.com/9GNPut8NLg

— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) August 6, 2022

League One

Peterborough United sit top of League One after two games played. The Posh won comfortably at home to Morecambe. Joe Ward, Ben Thompson, and Hector Kyprianou all made the scoresheet for Grant McCann’s team.

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Two of the newly-promoted teams enjoyed thumping 4-0 wins. Bristol Rovers were helped after Burton Albion’s Conor Shaughnessy was sent off for bringing down Aaron Collins with just a minute gone in the game. Collins went on to bag a brace with Anthony Evans and James Connolly also on target.

For Exeter City, it was a thrashing of fellow promoted side Port Vale at home – the Grecians’ first home game in the third tier for a decade. Jevani Brown scored a brace with one from the spot while Harry Kite and Nombe made the scoresheet as well.

Meanwhile, Forest Green Rovers’ first League One game at The Bolt New Lawn ended in defeat to Ipswich Town.

FT: How did your team get on today?#EFL | @CazooUK pic.twitter.com/eIxDGCVKbS

— Sky Bet League One (@SkyBetLeagueOne) August 6, 2022

League Two

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The home side took the lead after Ben Whitfield scored just after an hour with Jake Young hitting back almost immediately for Bradford. Josh Kay made it 2-1 in the 85th minute but there were still a few more twists. 

Bradford looked like they grabbed a late equaliser with Andy Cook scoring in the fifth minute of stoppage time until Josh Gordon immediately restored Barrow’s lead. That’s two wins in two now for the Cumbrian team.

Mickey Demetriou’s own goal for Newport County condemned them to a defeat at home to Walsall. The Saddlers are currently in first place though thanks to a superior goal difference over the other teams with perfect records: Crewe Alexandra (3-0 winners over Harrogate), Leyton Orient (won 1-0 away to Crawley Town), and Stevenage (scored late to defeat Stockport County 2-1).

Plenty of second-half drama in #SkyBetLeagueTwo this afternoon!#EFL | @CazooUK pic.twitter.com/5bRSvoQY52

— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) August 6, 2022