These two clubs have been safe as houses in the Premier League over the last two seasons, a scenario few would have envisaged when they first won promotion in 2015. Indeed, Bournemouth finished as high as ninth last term, scoring 55 goals, more than Manchester United. Their attacking play in last week’s opener away to… Read more →
Two of the three remaining teams with a 100% Championship record this season, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cardiff City meet to give us an early indication as to who might last the distance. Wolves’ success underlines the modernization of the division. They have recruited their coaching team and lots of players from overseas, largely through the… Read more →
The path these clubs have trodden over the last half a decade are almost symmetrical. Since meeting on the opening day of the 13/14 Championship season, both clubs then suffered relegation from this division in 15/16 but returned at the first attempt. They look stronger for the experience. Blackpool performed well at big boys Bradford… Read more →
Birmingham City picked up their first three points of the season thanks to a slightly fortuitous 2-1 win over Bristol City. Here’s our player ratings. Birmingham City David Stockdale – made some key saves to keep Blues in the game. 7 Emilio Nsue – struggled to handle Paterson’s movement in the first half, but made… Read more →
West Ham fans may be happier now than they were five months ago. The victory over Tottenham in April played a big part in galvanizing the club, leading to a positive finish to the last campaign. The club ditched last summer’s approach of taking cheap gambles in the transfer market, signing proven performers who have… Read more →
George Honeyman netted his first goal for Sunderland, helping the Black Cats through to the second round of the EFL Cup with a 1-0 win at Bury – but what are the seven talking points from the game? Using the left We saw an end-to-end opening to the contest with both teams attacking down the… Read more →
Exeter could have scored more than just the one goal in their victory over Cambridge last week. After Reuben Reid tucked away the rebound from his fifth minute penalty, Liam McAlinden missed two good chances, Lloyd James one while David Wheeler hit the post with his header. The Grecians might have had slices of luck… Read more →
It is fair to say that Bradford City’s performance, in their 2-1 win over Blackpool last week, was not a vintage one. They relied largely on their centre-backs: Matthew Kilgallon for his man-of-the-match performance and Nat Knight-Percival for his opener just before half-time, after Timothee Dieng flicked on Nicky Law’s free-kick. Another centre-back, Gabriel Zakuani,… Read more →
On the evidence of last season – but more specifically last week – Fulham like their attacking football. They were a joy to watch in the first half of their 1-1 opening day draw with Norwich City. The Cottagers had a speedy front trio of Neeskens Kebano and Sone Aluko either side of Floyd Ayite,… Read more →
Chelsea won their second title in three years last season, but there were plenty of enticing stories elsewhere. Tottenham said goodbye to White Hart Lane with another impressive campaign as both Merseyside clubs progressed significantly. Bournemouth made the top half while Burnley bridged financial waters to win more than half their home games. What’s in… Read more →