Five talking points from the EFL this weekend: Huddersfield impress while West Brom woes continue
- Gabriel Sutton
- 21 February 2022
The Championship Play-Off scramble is heating up but for Steve Bruce, he certainly has his work cut out at West Brom.
A mere seven points separate third from 10th which, considering the lowest five teams have played fewer games than the highest three, means no-one is out of the picture and no-one has their place sown up.
Huddersfield's shock 2-1 victory at leaders Fulham, therefore, could make all the difference in their bid for a top six berth.
Danny Ward and Duane Holmes grabbed the headlines for Town but, from Lewis O'Brien's relentless pressing to Matty Pearson and Tom Lee's defiant defending, to Lee Nicholls' goalkeeping heroics, this was very much a team effort.
Anyone who hadn't considered Carlos Corberan's side serious contenders before that result in the capital certainly will now.
New manager, same decline for Albion
West Brom moved within four points of the automatic promotion spots in late January, when the West Midlanders defeated Peterborough 3-0, but that feels a long time ago now.
In fact, Grady Diangana's goal to round off the scores that day was the last time Baggies fans saw the net ripple at the right end, because they've since gone five games without scoring.
Steve Bruce defended his side's first half showing in the 2-0 loss at Luton, but was unhappy with the reaction to falling behind and needs a response from his players for Tuesday's tough trip to Middlesbrough.
Right now, Albion look more like a mid-table side than a play-off challenger.
Youthful Wimbledon in danger
One of AFC Wimbledon's best performances of the season was December's 2-2 draw at Wycombe: in their XI that day was Anthony Hartigan, Alex Woodyard, Ayoub Assal, Luke McCormick, Jack Rudoni and Ollie Palmer.
In Saturday's 4-0 loss at Bolton, after which head coach Mark Robinson offered to reimburse supporters who travelled to see a no-show, none of those players featured.
💙 FULL TIME 💛
— AFC Wimbledon (@AFCWimbledon) February 19, 2022
Apart from a few good minutes either side of half time, it was all Bolton. FT 4-0#AFCW pic.twitter.com/AEUJ6L0qZk
Granted, Sam Cosgrove looks a decent replacement for target man Palmer, who moved to Wrexham while George Marsh could come in for Hartigan with minimal disruption.
However, the Dons missed the talents of Assal, McCormick and Rudoni, as well as the midfield presence of Woodyard, so getting key players back will be vital with some crucial games coming up in the relegation dogfight: the Londoners are just one point above the drop zone.
Alfie May be the best striker in League One
Back in March 2010, Cheltenham won 6-5 at Burton thanks to an injury-time winner from Michael Pook.
Robins fans could have been forgiven for thinking of that day when, just as they did 12 years ago, they came back from 5-3 down to draw level, this time at Wycombe.
Alas, there was to be no last-gasp winner on this occasion for Town, but Alfie May did become the first player to score four goals in a League One match and not be on the winning side since Jordan Rhodes for Huddersfield against Sheffield Wednesday in 2011.
May has scored a remarkable eight goals in his last four games, and his third at Adams Park had EFL on Quest presenter Colin Murray salivating!
Barton's Bristol Rovers on the march
Antony Evans has often been considered Bristol Rovers' star performer, but the versatile forward has been absent recently with a slight hamstring tear.
Despite this, the Gas have secured back-to-back wins, including a 4-0 thumping of Stevenage last time out.
Elliott Anderson, on loan from Newcastle, has already made a big impression, producing a sharp, tight-angled finish in Hertfordshire after a delightful backheel from Sam Nicholson.
🅰️🅰️
— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) February 20, 2022
2️⃣ Assists for Sammy yesterday!#BristolRovers pic.twitter.com/zXhBGaZtfs
Aaron Collins brings boundless energy up top, but Joey Barton can also call upon fit again Scunthorpe recruit Ryan Loft, who will give this side the reliable focal point they have missed all season - and the creative Jon Nolan is still to come back too!
Rovers have depth that the rest of the division will envy and could make a late charge.
