This Weekend’s Football League Talking Points

We take a look back at the standout moments of the Football League this weekend.

Blackburn offer reminder of their potential as Bolton continue to slide

Given the antics that went on last year at Ewood Park it was understandable that expectations for this upcoming season were reserved – with a return of just one point from their opening three fixtures doing little to raise optimism.

However, such is the way in football a week has reinvigorated Rovers, with Eric Bowyer’s men picking up back to back wins in the process firing nine goals. The second of these a thumping 4-1 win on Saturday over local rivals Bolton, where Jordan Rhodes and co reminded us all that this a squad that still contains plenty of quality.

Whilst things might, for now at least, be starting to look up for Blackburn, Bolton have now taken just two points from their opening five fixtures – hardly the form of a side tipped by many to be involved in the promotion mix up.

QPR continue drama free

After the trials and tribulations of last season many expected things to go from bad for worse at Loftus Road, yet Harry Redknapp’s side now sit in second spot – a return achieved with the minimum of fuss.

Inflicting a first defeat on Leeds in the early kick off is perhaps the strongest indication yet that those predicting them to crash and burn might have to rethink their theory. The R’s have looked determined to make up for the horror show of a year ago, whilst Redknapp has successfully managed to trim the squad of those players most at fault for that disaster – creating a new sense of hunger at the club.

Having seemingly overcome what were significantly choppy waters, QPR look well set to mount a serious automatic promotion bid.

Weir woes continue

Now in their third season of League One football, Sheffield United were again amongst the favourites for promotion – yet the early signs suggest that the long suffering Blades pain is unlikely to end anytime soon.

Saturday’s dismal home defeat to MK Dons represented a third defeat in four games for David Weir’s side. The inexperienced Scotsmen has as yet only tasted victory once in his new role, meaning that pressure is likely to grow on him even at this early stage, particularly given that after two seasons of disappointment fans patience is wearing thin at Bramall Lane.

Crawley clinch unexpected London Road triumph

Undoubtedly the result of the day belonged to Crawley as they dispatched a previously unbeaten Peterborough side on their own turf. Further to that Posh were coming into this contest off the back of a 6-0 demolition of championship side Reading, and if that wasn’t enough their last league outing also saw them score big with a 5-0 victory over Tranmere.

Crawley’s form didn’t exactly suggest this would be anything other than a routine Peterborough win either, given recent back to back defeats against Rotherham and Wolves. Nevertheless the form book was firmly torn to shreds, as Ritchie Barker’s men nullified the threat of their free scoring opponents to clinch a mighty impressive 2-0 success.

Mansfield continue to flourish in new surroundings

Having been promoted from the Conference last season The Stags have adapted to life impressively at the next level. Since losing their opening fixture to Scunthorpe, Paul Cox’s side have gone four games unbeaten – a run which has seen them rise to ninth spot.

Their latest outing was their most impressive display to date, as Mansfield comfortably dispatched Dagenham and Redbridge by three goals to nil. This strong start will have left many at Field Mill wondering if they could well follow the recent trend of sides backing up promotion from one league with another successful campaign.

Chesterfield continue to soar

If the bookies were to be believed then Chesterfield’s clash with Portsmouth was likely to be one of the key fixtures in the title shake up – that might well be the case in the long run but right now Pompey are looking more like strugglers than promotion hopefuls.

Chesterfield have at least saved the bookies some face, given that coming into this fixture they had won three out of their first four fixtures. Unsurprisingly the fixture at Fratton Park went with the form guide, with the Spireites clinching an impressive 2-0 win – a result that sends them top and leaves Pompey languishing in eighteenth.