Yet more incredible storylines to discuss from another scintillating EFL weekend.
Chris Wilder has lift off in his third spell at Sheffield United following their win at Oxford, Ipswich may well have turned a corner against Portsmouth.
Lincoln City looked really good with a strong win over Peterborough in League One, while in League Two, an impressive Grimsby side hit seven past Cheltenham and Walsall are back on top.
‘It was Sheffield United of old’
Sheffield United got their first win since Chris Wilder returned to the club away at Oxford, thanks to Callum O’Hare’s goal.
Parkin: “It is not going to be a quick fix, like I said last week. I looked at the stats and it seems they gave up a lot of possession to Oxford.
“Gary Rowett’s team has better players now and more ways to hurt the opposition. I always felt it was going to be a tough game.
“Chris Wilder had success last year being a transition team. It is almost back to the old.
“They tried to change with Ruben Selles and in time were going to become a team to dominate possession, but we saw Sheffield United in the Wilder guise that led to a pretty successful season last time.
“Callum O’Hare is playing in his preferred position as a number eight Gustavo Hamer is back in form. They got the most important thing, three points. They are going to need consistency to get where they wanted to be in pre-season.”
‘Ipswich will move up now’
Ipswich are now 12th in the Championship
Jaden Philogene and George Hirst scored to give a struggling Ipswich side back-to-back home wins, sparking hope of the pre-season promotion favourites’ form finally improving.
Parkin: “I expect Ipswich to climb the table. In keeping with all the relegated sides, it takes time to refocus.
“They thumped Sheffield United last time at Portman Road; today was going to be a difficult game. Portsmouth are really well set up, especially away from home, so it was no surprise there was only a goal between them.
“I expected Ipswich to win the game, Jaden Philogene is flying with four in his last two at home. George Hirst is doing a good job filling Liam Delap’s boots.
“A good win, and I expect Ipswich to move up now.”
Grimsby are the joint highest scorers in League Two with 21 goals, along with Swindon Town
Grimsby Town stunned everyone in League Two with a 7-1 thrashing of bottom club Cheltenham, who ended the game with only nine men on the pitch.
Parkin: “Grimsby are a really eye-catching side. I’ve seen them in the flesh already this season, they surprised me with the sophistication of the football they’ve been playing.
“David Artell has been promoted previously; he’s got a good reputation and I can see why.
“Playing against Grimsby will be a difficult proposition any time the way they are going, but to go down to nine men with the problems Cheltenham have, no manager and losing Gary Johnson as director of football as well, it was every ingredient for a catastrophe.
“You feel for the guys in interim charge and the nine lads out there. It is a tough challenge to play five minutes with nine men, to do it for the majority of the second half is one of the worst places you can be as a footballer.”
‘Lincoln have goals coming from everywhere’
Lincoln are third in League One after a comprehensive 3-0 win over Peterborough.
“They’ve had a couple of near misses. Last year they missed out by a distance in the end but the previous season they were really close to making the play-offs.
“I was very impressed with them against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup; if it weren’t for a mad minute or two, they could have provided an upset.
“They are very strong, robust, cause all manner of issues from set pieces. They got two goals from full-backs today in Tendayi Darikwa and Adam Reach, which shows they can get goals from all over ad they have great options at the top of the pitch.
“They are a really strong side and they have vast experience as well, which is something I would have associated with them the last couple of years.
“They have a well-rounded squad and I have high expectations that it could be a play-off season for Lincoln.”
‘Something special happening at Walsall’
Mat Sadler’s Walsall are a point clear of Swindon atop League Two
Mat Sadler’s Walsall are top of League One after a 3-1 win over Accrington, and look to have put last season’s play-off final heartache behind them.
Parkin: “Walsall had one of the hardest summers for any club and that is an obvious thing to say when you have lost in the play-offs.
“The way it happened from the turn of the year, the decline in their results was so stark, it was going to take something special.
“I do believe that something special is happening there. They have continuity with Mat Sadler and his style but to drip feed in a number of new signings and have the positive start they’ve had is pretty miraculous.”
Sam Parkin was speaking to BBC Sport England’s Harry De Cosemo
