23/08/2014 The Football League Show

Hello there, it's still early days in the Skybet Football League

but nothing like a fast start to launch a successful campaign.

Talking of campaigns, after months of protests, this week finally saw

Sky Blues fans celebrating the fact they're being sent back to

Coventry and a long overdue return to the Ricoh next month.

Well, Steve's here to discuss that amongst other things.

Three defeats in their first three matches back in the Championship,

it's been a nightmare start for Felix Magath and Fulham.

we'll find out whether they could get that finally

winning feeling against Derby County in our featured match.

After a three year absence the East Anglian derby is back with a bang.

We've the best of the action from a packed Portman Road as Ipswich

So far so good for Stuart Pearce at Nottingham Forest.

We've extended highlights of their match against Reading.

And Fleetwood town are the early pacesetters in the race to get into

the championships. We are at Highbury Stadium for the visit of

Chesterfield. Well first, to the Ipro for the

contest involving pre-season favourites Derby and newly relegated

Fulham. Rams boss Steve McClaren was looking for a reaction after his

side's surprise 3-2 defeat at Charlton on Tuesday night. Fulham's

loss to Wolves on the same evening, meant they've played 3, lost 3.

Commentary from John Roder. It is surely too early to talk about

a crisis at Fulham. Derby face a big week. This is the first of three

home fixtures for the Rams. Jamie Ward scored twice in midweek. This

is the only change to the full team. Patrick Roberts keeps his

place. Seven of this line-up are 21 or under.

There was a little bit of room on that far side. Petr Prevc early

opportunity for Derby. Good build-up down the near side. Look at the

amount of room Johnny Russell has. A delicate ball in and a lovely

goal. Jamie Ward. Two goals in midweek and he has scored the opener

this afternoon. Christie with a little past two Russell. A delicate

ball into the penalty area from Russell. And Ward stealing it.

MacCormack spotted that Grant was off his line. And Grant had to get

that when at full stretch. Fulham's best chance of the first half coming

here. He had to back pedal to keep that one at bay. I am sure he will

be satisfied with the start his side have made to this match.

A free kick given away by Eustace. It was in a promising position for

Fulham. MacCormack is a left footed player.

And it is him straight into the wall. Plenty of Fulham shirt is

forward and they have got an equaliser. Scott Parker. Lee Grant

was beaten. The 1200 or so Fulham fans who have made the journey up

from the capital are celebrating widely. The low shot that beats

Grant and brings the scores level. Martin, how did he miss that? Having

just conceded a goal Derby County almost immediately go up the other

end and nearly restored their lead. The change perhaps is afoot for the

visitors. A chance of a shot from distance and

MacCormack takes that opportunity, but Grant was able to see it all the

way. Doesn't that ball move in the air? A lovely ball into the middle

and Derby are back in front. Huge relief around the stadium. Craig

Bryson making it 2-1. Meanwhile, Fulham have made the

change. Chris Martin, 3-1. Two goals in as many minutes for

Derby County. Martin getting away from burgess. A little touch to set

himself up. And Derby are firing on all cylinders again.

Into wards Martin. A patient build-up.

Dawkins, so much room. Of the post and it is in by Chris Martin. Those

who have just made their way through the exit have missed a fourth goal

from Derby County. Will Hughes, one of the substitutes involved, setting

up another Simon Dawkins and Chris Martin could not quite believe it

when that ball rolled into his path. Fulham's afternoon gets worse

and worse. Four successive defeats in the Championship now for Felix

Magath's team. It is another! 5-1. The top scorers in the Championship

last season have got five against a full team who were in the Premier

League last season. A little bit tentative the first half. Fulham

dominated possession and once the equaliser I thought, we have got

another reaction to give and the players got stronger as the game

went on. The last 20 minutes running and running and scoring goals and

that was more like the Derby County that we know. You have lost three

games in a row and you are one down and you come back and equalise and

then you are very excited and you want to go on and you get another

goal, so it was too much for that young team and we stopped playing

after the second goal and we lost too much. Derby piling on the misery

with a kind of cutting edge and fluency we saw so often last season.

Steve McClaren referenced it. It was back to how they were at their best

last year. The movement today was fantastic. The three in midfield

gave them great support and the two wide players were excellent in

giving service and distribution and the movement today was fantastic. A

good combination from Cyrus Christie down the right-hand side. They were

a threat all over the pitch. These are worrying times for Fulham. They

have played four and lost four. At 1-1 they should have momentum and

they fall apart. When teams work hard to get back into the game they

do not carry on and they take a step back and they are conscious they

want to protect what they have got. Fulham are not good enough

defensively to do that. The movement from Derby was too much. You get rid

of over 20 players and you have got to have players left who are good

enough to step up to the mark. It is OK saying they are a young team, but

that is an excuse. They are your young team and you have made a

judgement call to keep those young players. It is almost like he has

come in yesterday. That is the sort of thing you get. The amount of

change we have seen this season I do not know whether he knows his best

team and he should know that at this stage. It is too much too soon and

you almost fear they could do a Wolves. On the evidence of what we

have seen. I saw them on Tuesday and I saw them today and he says they

are going to get promoted and it looks a long way off. It could be

the other way. Things have to change quickly.

Well, heading into the weekend, Nottingham Forest were top

of the Championship after Tuesday's smash and grab win at Bournemouth to

add to the feel-good factor that's followed Stuart Pearce's arrival.

On Saturday, they took on Reading, who were stung by a home defeat to

There were two changes for Forest with Hunt and Harding coming in

Nigel Adkins also made two changes including a full debut for

Antonio, and it is in. Make Alain Tony breaks the deadlock against his

former club. Just the start Stuart Pearce was

looking for. A good save. Matty Fryatt can't turn

it home. The corner was driven in. It was a great leap from Antonia. It

is a let off for Reading. It could so easily have been two.

another one. He scored against Reading for Sheffield Wednesday last

season as well, and yet again he comes back to haunt his former club.

Antonio grabs his second of the day. It is a mountain to climb now

for Reading. The keeper just cannot get there.

Fryatt! 3-0. Matty Fryatt surely sees Nottingham Forest home. This

time it is Antonio turning provider up against Guenther. Far too easy,

as far as Nigel Adkins will be concerned, surely game over.

Assombalonga... Nicely done. Held at bay for now. He has won a corner.

Forest are looking for more. Antonio is in there, Fryatt is in there

again. Assombalonga! What a scoreline we have here. That is four

in three games for Assombalonga. The City Ground is jumping. Seven

Reading players back there, not one of them could stop Assombalonga.

Three of Stuart Pearce's summer recruits on the scoresheet. Can

Reading find any kind of consolation today? An afternoon to forget so

far. Forest determined to keep that clean sheet. Reading have not

offered an awful lot today, but when they did, he came to the rescue.

Paterson! Good save from Federici. Not properly defended, but Federici

did his job. Driving rain here on the banks of the Trent.

That was close! It has been an awful long time since Eric Lichaj got on

the scoresheet. We have a group of players who want to put into play

everything we ask of them and that is really pleasing. The goal just

after half-time, again, we have got to defend that. It is a simple ball

to go and defend, the third goal, and we haven't done it so that

affects the scoreline in that respect. We have a young side out

there, we made poor mistakes so it is a good experience for everybody.

After wins over Norwich and full, Wolves were looking to win, but they

were nearly behind after 13 minutes when this corner crashed off the

inside of David Marshall's post. If it nearly worked once, why not try

again? This time it was Wolves who nearly ended up conceding. With

everyone seemingly in the Cardiff half, this player went alone and

kept going. It would have been the goal of the day but the keeper did

enough to force him wide. Anthony Pilkington's corner fell for

Morrison, but seemingly not kindly enough. Into the second half when

Kenwyne Jones replaced Maynard in the attack and they almost have

their reward. Kevin McDonald tried his luck, his deflection completely

wrong-footed Marshall as the game headed into stoppage time, there was

no way back. Cardiff were beaten. The second half looks like it was

falling away, one chance each end, before our perseverance and it shows

you that if you keep putting the ball into the box you get the reward

in the end. Good to see you smiling but you didn't deserve to lose that,

surely? It is a good thing you said it. David Marshall never had a save

to make. He had some crosses to deal with and he dealt with them well but

it is an unlucky deflection. We should have cleared it.

Unbeaten in the league and Cup since March, Millwall's run had to end

somewhere but not many expected a home game with rather to be the

tipping point. This was the best chance of the first half. Thereafter

the Millers have the better goal-scoring opportunities and

should have taken the lead into the interval. Revel was able to take a

match-winning assist away from the game, and this was the game's only

goal. Millwall saw plenty of the goal but one shot on target is a

statistic that tells its own story. Rotherham were quite different

proposition. Pringle was denied a second. The only took one chance

today, so we need to look at that, but overall it is a great win for

us. Well done to Steve and Paul and their players. They are used to

winning, they had a great vibe about them. Now we have been beaten after

12 games. We were not quite up to the mark today. Huddersfield Town

against Charlton, and Charlton's striker has made an impressive start

to his time with the team but he couldn't find his way through.

Huddersfield lost the services of Wallace before the interval. When

the red card was brandished, Wallace and his team-mates felt aggrieved

that they didn't let it affect them. Instead they edged ahead. Matty

Wells had scored a hat-trick against Chesterfield, and added to his

tally. James Vaughan came off the bench and was involved in one of the

main talking points of the game. Vaughan went down under this

challenge, and the referee waved away the penalty appeals. The

unbeaten record of Charlton was taken with this goal. We had a large

sent off, I haven't looked at it yet but I believe we should have had a

penalty. -- lad. I don't really like commenting on referees, but what a

great performance from Huddersfield Town. Bournemouth were the last team

to win at Blackburn, that was March, this was August when there was no

holding Rovers. Jordan Rhodes showed why City might want to buy him.

Patients, determination and nine for the goal. After 21 minutes, it was

2-0. This corner met by Grant humbly with a thumping header, well

finished, Bournemouth reeling. But they didn't learn, three minutes

later another corner and another Blackburn goal. This shot was

diverted, then this, 3-0 and comfortable. Bournemouth's

second-half pressure comfortable. Bournemouth's

second-half finally paid off with ten minutes remaining. Brett Pitman

made it 3-1. Hopes of an unlikely comeback gathered more momentum when

Bournemouth scored in the final minutes. We gave away some really

poor goals today, and against good teams you cannot do that. It made it

difficult for us mentally, 3-0 down but we put on a good show in the

second half. Jordan Rhodes up and running with the goals and we all

know what he can do but running with the goals and we all

know what he can do but there are signs of real positivity emanating

from Ewood Park because despite what many people thought, he is there to

be sold but the statement says they are keeping hold of him. Obviously

we don't know how much is bluffing and how much to get a strong

position in the bargaining stakes, but I think... They have turned a

corner. There seems to be an element of trust that there hasn't been.

There was Sam Allardyce, Michael Appleton, it is their money and if

they are going to give it to a manager there has to be some element

of trust. We have a strike force that has cost over 10 million. I

know a lot has been made of the people who have gone out, but there

are also people who have come in that have cost money. He was bought

for 7 million, he will not be on small wages so that is going to go

up. Suddenly you are starting to think, they are backing the manager,

they have faith in the players and it is an upward curve. Similar kind

of story line at Nottingham Forest, a real sense of unity now for Stuart

Pearce. Talking about exciting attacking forces, you're not going

to get better than what Stuart Pearce has assembled there. He has

brought new players in, can they gel? That is a misnomer to me. If

you can look players in an area where they are confident and they

are used to playing, why shouldn't they gel? That is exactly what they

did. Antonio had a major part to play, four goals already which is

great, but the two winners making such a big impact on the game. And a

statement from Wolfs. Well Saturday's games got

off to a cracking start as Ipswich and Norwich renewed rivalries

in the East Anglian derby. Mick McCarthy's men came back twice

against Birmingham to snatch a draw in the dying seconds at

St Andrews, while the Canaries looked to have found

their feet after back to back wins. There was one change for Ipswich

with David McGoldrick starting up Neil Adams also made one change,

Ryan Bennett coming in for It is Lewis Grabban from

long-distance! They are off balance. A cheap corner

given away here from Ipswich. Lots of big, blue bodies there for

Ipswich. Grabban's header on, 1-0 Norwich.

The goal is good and Norwich strike first for the 10th Derby in

succession. It is four goals in four for Grabban, and this one is his

biggest yet. decision to make. He was played

onside. McGoldrick. A great routing, great effort, so close. Clinically

done by the Tractor Boys. That was a great header and not too

far wide. Darren Murphy, a great connection. That is mighty, mighty

close. Lewis Grabban again, what a chance.

The man who is at the moment red for Norwich has missed a golden moment

to make it 2-0 for the Canaries. A third joins the party in the shape

of Elliott Bennett. That is Lewis Grabban again. That was a good save.

The flying Dean Gerken to the Tractor Boys' rescue. A fabulous

stop. And it is off the line by Tommy Smith. That touch took him to

close to Dean Gerken. That touch was a difficult one and Dean Gerken

closed the angle. Smith on the line gets it away. Delighted obviously.

It is a big game for us and it is three points. It is a win and we

know what it means to the supporters. 2100 fans were here

today and they will go home happy. They could not finish it off. We

lost the plot. For ten minutes they were better, but overall we had our

chances and could have scored. So far this summer break and bus Mac

fans have been perturbed by the lack of new faces. Their optimism or a

lack of it was not helped by an early goal from Bolton's Max Mills.

But the sequels were starting to come together. This was a

spectacular equaliser. -- the Seagulls. There was not much of the

goalkeeper could do about this one, worse still a collision with his own

team-mate. He could play no more part. Bolton survived the ensuing

scramble with the goalkeeper improvising a save from Andrew

Crofts. Lonergan might have done better. Short on numbers they

maybe, but this was the matchwinner. His second goal in as many games

insuring back-to-back wins for his club. On the ball we know we have

the quality. I felt we gave as good as we got and it was a very tight

game. We are frustrated. Worrying times for Leeds United whose latest

setback came at Vicarage Road. This first ever stayed out, but they made

the most of the second attempt. Up until then Leeds looked comfortable.

Gomez was powerless to intervene. This did not go to plan. A penalty

was conceded and the United debutant made an early departure. The spot

kick was put away. Watford scored a second and a third and the contest

was effectively over. Daniel Tozer added a fourth late on, but

United's misery was not quite complete. They had a second player

sent off. It was an off the ball incident. The referee consulted with

his assistant and he was dismissed. Leeds finished the match with nine

men. A forgettable afternoon and reports emanating from the club

suggest the manager's job is under threat. We were doing a really good

job and we had a double moment of madness and we end up with 2-1 down

after a penalty and a man sent off. An early plays in the Championship

tops expected for the winner of this one. But Boro became the architects

of their own downfall after six minutes. They did not get close

delivery and could not make any clearance. Boro could have hit back

almost immediately if only this free kick had been a few inches lower.

The home side found themselves on the back foot. Wednesday's new

strikers DV may saw his shot tipped onto the post. It was 2-0 after 24

minutes and that scoreline became better after the restart. 3-0 and

game over. Not so fast. Boro found a way back with just under 20 minutes

remaining. The Spanish striker KK was brought down. Leadbetter did the

rest and there was no time for celebration. They needed all the

minutes going. Back came Boro again with another penalty. Up stepped

Leadbetter to keep alive his team's hopes of a dramatic comeback. But it

was not to be. I thought today it looked like it was going to be a 3-0

win and it was a great performance and in the last ten minutes it was

very nervy. One of the penalty should not have been given. Having

left Griffin Park in the summer, Clayton Donaldson was back in West

London with Birmingham and he wasted little time with the reacquainting

himself with a former team-mate Craig, and it was a 16th minute red

card. Paul Caddis did the rest for the Blues and they could not build

on the ideal start. It took a magnificent save by David button to

stop them. In the second half Birmingham sat back riding barely

luck. -- riding their luck. The referee said no to this penalty and

the Bees were inspired by this sense of injustice and Birmingham shrank

into their cell -- shell. We wanted the ball and we played the second

half and it was a positive performance. They came on with

energy and quality. But it was a performance of character and real

endeavour. Wigan have made their worst start in 13 years, but the

manager remained upbeat. Blackpool were fortunate to survive as

Emmerson Boyce ventured forward, but could not find the required finish.

Only Callum McManaman will know how he squandered the scoring

opportunity. All alone and another let off for the Seasiders. A summer

recruit from Osasuna arrived at the club with a reputation for scoring

goals and he gave them a lift. Blackpool's problems continue. It is

116 years since they last loss their first four games. Blackpool are

pointless and only Fulham are below them in the Championship table. The

first half was the best since I have been at the club. It was phenomenal

for the players, but we could not get the second, the third and the

fourth goals. I would be happy to have one week to prepare for the

next game and to have a break to make a good assessment of the

situation. A fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions for

Blackpool. For the fans their worst fears are being realised. Eight few

things do not make sense. At Charlton daylight the manager. But

he closed to Blackpool and has a stand of pre-season with the

chairman. They do not get any player 's end. They left it late last year.

But they started the season very well. It has not happened this year.

Who is culpable or to blame? I think there has been a lack of

communication and a lack of a good relationship between the manager and

the chairman. Is that enough of an excuse? I do not know. Rumours

flying around about the Leeds United coach leads Hockaday. Is it right we

should be talking about his future so early in the season? The chairman

has given him the job. After four games this was a scenario you could

have foreseen. Whether it was right or wrong to give him the job is

irrelevant. He has got to have the chance to do it. Whether it is right

or wrong, a decision has been made, give him the opportunity. And a

quick word on Bolton. For the third time in the week they have failed to

hold onto a lead. They have dropped eight points from winning positions.

They picked up periods of last season and felt awake again. We are

looking at the squad and thinking you must do better. It is Bolton

against Leeds and it is huge already.

Right, time for League One then where newly promoted Fleetwood Town

began the weekend top of the table with three wins out of three.

It's the kind of start that has fans dreaming of an incredible

Clem takes up the story as Chesterfield arrived at Highbury.

Since the cod wars with Iceland in the 1970s they have not had a lock

to shout about in these parts. The odd industry award for their famous

cough sweets. And a local but they do have the still unfolding

story of one of England's football's most meteoric rises. Here

we are. This is how we are now. But ten years ago when you came in there

was a little social club over there. Correct. Anything else? Very little.

Apart from this. This is Fleetwood town of yesteryear. What capacity?

We are talking about 80 seats. It was designed for speedway back in

the 1950s. That is what used to bring in the crowd rather than the

football. How did you get involved? I got a phone call from my bank

manager about ten years ago. At first I put in ?5,000 and used to

pay the wages until the end of the season that was probably ten weeks.

How much have you spent over the last decade? In all honesty for the

happiness and a pleasure it has brought to me and to the people of

this area I would do it all again. Did you answer the question? I would

need my accountant. Give me a ball park. Maybe around ?15 million I

suspect. In your job as kit man I have gone from a bin liner to now

getting teams ready to play like Sheffield United, Coventry and

Bristol City. Where we are now is unbelievable. You used to take one

bag to a game and now we take the skips and everything. They turn up

with their own personal bits and pieces and that is it. There is a

camaraderie about everyone and it is nice and homely, it is not a massive

club but we are getting there. When I started it was very run down. Now

I am eating scampi and drinking be no grazier -- Pinot Grigot. It would

be off the Richter scale. It is beyond thinkable. You are thinking

it though, aren't you? We have been good at winning promotions over the

years and we will keep on living the dream in League 1 and see where it

takes us. Despite Fleetwood's dream start of the season, they almost

conceded a nightmare opener. Owen Doyle's run caused panic

conceded a nightmare opener. Owen Doyle's run caused panic but the

keeper kept a call head. The home side roused from their slumber after

the break and started to show glimpses of their stellar form. This

driving run from Evans almost paid dividends but Chesterfield always

looked the more likely, and almost grabbed all three points in a

frantic last-minute when Banks was denied by Maxwell. This shot hit the

post. They are still unbeaten but only just.

Would I be right in thinking that if I had offered you ten points from

the first worldview would have snapped my hand off? Probably right,

yes. We are pleased with the start we have made, three wins and a draw,

we have got to be happy with that. There is a balance between ambition

and unrealistic expectations but the way we have started the season makes

us know that we can compete at this level. There are a lot of games, a

lot of ups and downs and we will make sure we keep the players' feet

on the make sure we keep the players' feet

on the ground and work hard to achieve success. It is an incredible

story really. The first time ever in League 1 for Fleetwood, one person

that abyss surmises that football club has got to be Nathan Pond,

surely. -- that epitomises that club. Yes, to be able to go through

that amount of divisions and still be able to play your part, good luck

to him. The question has to be asked, how far can they go? Probably

as far as the money will take them. This will probably be the best year

they will have with regards to expectations. Financially they have

been one of the major players, now it is a pretty level playing field.

As I say, expectation will be realistic so who knows what they

will achieve. You cannot question their commitment.

Peterborough boss was looking for a determined response, and after this

half decent chance was wasted for Bradford, that is what he got. Some

task striking the post before Burgess was shot down in the ensuing

scramble, and his players shifted up another gear early in the second

half. Vassell's fourth goal of the season was sensational. The Push

move into the top two. -- push. This goal allowed him to celebrate a

new arrival, but a determined start of the second half by Rochdale

caught the Robins off-guard. Two goals denied in quick succession as

Bristol City were forced onto the back foot. It was a sign of things

to come. Raising the tempo did the trick for Dale. This cross was

turned in by Henderson for his third goal in as many matches. It might

have been even better for him and Dale, but the goalkeeper's brilliant

stop preserved the Robins' brilliant start to the season. MK Dons

dominated this match, but failing to score meant they failed to win. This

player found himself thwarted not once but twice. Even when they were

one on one with the goalkeeper, the ball did not run kindly for scoring

finish. Midfielder Daniel Powell had the best chance of the second half.

Powell did everything right, except hit the target. So Carl Robinson's

side slip to seventh. The players were very good today against a very

good Coventry side who were boosted by the news in the week. When you

see the fans out today and the intensity, that shows how good our

performance was. This was always going to be a big test for us, but

we could have done better on the transitions, but I thought it was

two very good sides who I think will be challenging at the top end of the

table this season. John Gregory described crawly's midweek defeat to

Bradford as a real punch on the nose but his team came out fighting at

Bramall Lane. Mark Howard's reactions proved too sharp for this

shot. The visitors haven't lost on their previous two visits to

Sheffield. Sheffield United finally got their season going with a win at

Peterborough in their previous outing, and came to life in the

second half of this one. Baxter was again on the mark, this time serving

up something really special. A strike worthy of winning any game,

and with the crowd now firmly behind them, they pulled forward once

more. Davis starting and not quite finishing the move that would have

added more gloss to the scoreline, but United now in the groove

although crawly run them close. Unbeaten so far this season and

unstoppable it would seem, Preston took just four minutes to open up

Oldham, who haven't found a winning touch so far in this campaign. It

was Preston's day but the manager still once more. We were a little

bit lacklustre in our performance. We have played far better than that

this year and not won. It is not the worst I suppose, Grayson saying they

could play better. Oldham And, looking for that elusive win.

Peterborough have made a good start, three wins out of four. They have

had big name players come and go, and have come across another one,

Vassell. Yes, is that four in four for him? A great start. There are

got some players at Oldham. If you can isolate them... May be the team

around them isn't as good but you can see that potential. The big news

to come out of League 1 is that one of the biggest signings we have seen

in Coventry's history, their return to the Ricoh Arena, what a massive

boost for them. It is, it has been a disgrace that the club have been

what they have been through. As soon as you sell your prize asset... And

let's be honest, this goes back to the time when they sold Highfield

Road and didn't have a home to go to, you cannot sell your football

ground without owning the next place you go to, and that has always been

a problem. It is a big club, a big City with huge potential. It can be

self servicing, even if it doesn't own its ground because it has that

level of support so let's hope this is a corner turned for them and now

they can go on to fulfil that. That boost cannot be understated really,

because it will be a fillip to the players. For Steven Presley to

recruit players, to say this is our home. Nobody has taken to

Northampton, it's not like they have got a third of people that normally

watch them travelling, nobody is bothered to go there, suddenly there

will be 12,000, 14,000 at the next game, maybe even more than that.

Port Vale maintained their unbeaten start in League One

thanks to Tom Pope's fifth goal in four games in all competitions

Vale's next challenge came in the form of Shaun Derry's Notts County.

Knox County had two players sent off midweek, but they still got the win

against Colchester, and once Gary Jones put them in front at Port Vale

they looked well capable of wrapping up consecutive victories in the

space of four days. Liam Noble evaded a couple of limp Port Vale

challenges before being shut out by the feet of Sam Johnson. Knox County

didn't win a league match until September last season, but they made

certain of the points here. -- Knox County.

Port Vale's first defeat of the season. Colchester are living up to

their preseason billing as relegation favourites. Colchester

hung on until the 65th minute, Carl Bennett took his second goal of the

season. Doncaster are rediscovering their League 1 rhythm. Swindon had

one of the best home records of the division last season and this

performance underlined why. The Man of the Match proved how practice

makes perfect if you work hard enough on the training ground. Crude

dropped to the bottom of the table due to their own continuing

defensive weakness. Lee Molineux lost possession and then this goal

meant the visitors looked set for another tough season.

This shot had the keeper worried. Dean Smith believes his side can

achieve something this season, they are still without a win but it could

have been worse if it were not for this fine stop. You want to win your

home games. I'm pleased we have got a clean sheet but disappointed we

were not able to unlock them. We have some periods where we got right

on top but we couldn't convert those opportunities into goals. After a

wobbly start, Barnsley are warming to the task nicely. Two goals inside

half an hour set them on their way. The home side's second was slightly

less spectacular but no less effective. Some win all doing the

damage with a fine header. There was to be no letup after the break,

19-year-old Cole has just arrived on loan from Manchester City, and

clearly shares his dad's eye for the goal. Gillingham tried to respond

and got their reward when they won a penalty. That gave Kedwell his

chance. Substitute Jennings tried to make his bid for goal of the season

but Stephen Bywater was equal to the task. But the keeper could do

nothing as Jennings celebrated his return from suspension. Even though

a first home win of the season was secure, Barnsley were unlucky not to

make it five. But the overall faithful could have no complaints

and the job done. You will's win on Tuesday would have

been a major relief to all concerned. They looked in the mood

to back this attempt up, but Scunthorpe's attack was being led by

Paddy Matin and he was keen to remind the home fans he was still a

major danger. A superbly crafted goal gave the Glover 's lead five

minutes past the hour. Scunthorpe had come into the weekend rock

bottom. He had come back to haunt his former team-mates. The Yeovil

fans will not remind us of the predatory instincts of Paddy Madden.

It has been a reality check. It was a record-breaking season last

season, but three defeats out of four and it is a whole new ball game

in this league. Some take a little while to find their feet. With

Scunthorpe it is the flip side of the coin. A marvellous finish to the

last season and up another league questions asked so far and they have

struggled a bit. Not many goals in League 1 at the weekend. 17, four of

them being scored by Barnsley. What about the first one? It is a quality

goal. They will be pleased they started so well. Get the relegation

out of their system and get that feel-good factor back. It is three

defeats in a row for Job done. They started as one of the relegation

favourites in that division. It will be a long, hard season. I played at

a club in Brighton and it was always a bit of a struggle to stay in that

division. The disappointment of losing when you are a club of that

size is not as profound as it would be at a bigger club. You do not

expect to get beaten, but you look to the next game and it does not

have the damning effect it would have at other clubs. They and he

have shown they can cope at this level. The youngsters have one more

year of experience. Absolutely. Nobody will write them off, there is

no real pressure on them at this stage. They will turn it around.

League Two now and what a start it's been for Morecambe. Widely tipped

for a season of struggle, the Shrimps started the weekend top

thanks to the irrepressible Kevin Ellison who got the winner at home

to Oxford on Tuesday. So could they maintain their 100% start away at

First Oxford and Cambridge. Morecambe had passed both tests in

the space of four days. For the use of it was another lesson in how not

to defend, especially having blown a 2-goal lead at York before. Some

parity was restored in the second half, but in the end it was still

academic. The Morecambe striker showed great composure to get his

second of the day. But Cambridge continued to ask questions. Chadwick

was kept off the scoresheet by Barry Roach. This is Morecambe's best ever

start, four straight league wins. Top marks. Newport had lost all four

and Burton had a perfect record of winds. But the form book went out of

the window nine minutes before the break. Moments before the interval

the home fans were on the point of celebrating again. But the

thunderbolt came back off the Brewers' crossbar. Edwards crossed

from the right and it was fired home through a crowded six yard box.

Burton have made their best ever football league starts and you would

have thought they would have gone on to win the game. But they were

denied by the woodwork and Newport have secured their first point of

the season. All change at Shrewsbury with 16 players signed since the end

of last season as they come to terms with the demands of League 2. But

the referee felt a red card was warranted and they lost a man.

Collins showed commendable composure. The striker who started

on the bench then forced a save from the Northampton keeper. The Cobblers

left it late to restore parity. In the dying moments substitute

Sinclair made his mark. But there was still a time for Mohammed to

threaten a winner, but the game was to finish one point apiece. With

wins and boys had to come by Oxford tried to make a quick start, Joe

Riley denied by Paul Jones after two minutes. The keeper was at it again

just before the interval, this time Danny Hilton able to find a way past

him initially, but then the post was denied to him. The late when it came

courtesy of Craig West car's knee which was cruel and costly. The good

teams do not always play at their best in the first half and we did

not play at our best and the standard was not quite what we set

in recent games. It was a hard earned victory. To get the point is

always a big thing. A positive result for Wimbledon would have

capped an excellent week and maintained their unbeaten start to

the league campaign. It looked rosy when Matt Tubbs was allowed time and

space to grab his fourth goal in five games. Hartlepool made the long

journey south having lost four in a row. They almost conceded again when

Barry Fuller rattled the woodwork. Charlie White signed on loan from

Middlesbrough on Thursday marked his arrival by rising above the crowd a

minute after the restart. To the home side's irritation the

21-year-old spent three months with them last season. Jones did not

travel with Hartlepool. But a more experienced marksman was on hand.

Facing their first league reverse of the season the Dons rallied. When

Tubbs hit the deck as he turned Tommy Miller, referee Brendan Malone

ordered the penalty. Tubbs took the responsibility from the spot.

Carlisle have found life in League 2 hard going, but amid weak point

ended a three match losing streak and gave them a platform to build

from. Sweeney's header should have put a spring in their step, but

almost immediately south ends bonded as Conor Clifford sent them to the

break all square. Lee Painter is yet to open his account and he has not

scored for almost a year. He is still waiting. That elusive first

win is still to arrive. It could so easily have been another loss and it

not been for the keeper as he denied two chances in rapid succession. I

was wanting more from my wingbacks to be a bit more courageous and take

the game to the opposition, but we were not able to do it. But it is a

point in the end. Two late goals cost Tranmere last weekend, but they

bounced back in midweek and Elliot Richards gave them a terrific start.

The keeper's reactions in the crowded box denied Jason Taylor an

equaliser. It served to pump up his team-mates. Cull Stockton was the

creator. But fair play to Cheltenham, they stormed back. But

soon the floodgates were to open. Williams shutout Sterling James, but

Richards was waiting for the rebound. Then two young players

turned the game on its head. Then the former Arsenal trainee Jordan

Wynter sealed a remarkable victory for Cheltenham. Stevenage is without

a win in all competitions and needed a change in fortune and Charlie Lee

almost gave them the start they were looking for. Charles provided a

breakthrough moment and there was a 50-50 chance with the goalkeeper.

But they could not build on it and would have equalised, Paul Hayes

producing a delightful finish. Their second came from the strangest of

set piece routines. It succeeded in confusing the Stevenage players and

Peter Murphy got there first. He has now scored in all of their wings.

Substitute Matt McClure completed the scoring. It is early days, but

they have showed encouraging sides in the opening weeks of the season.

Matt McClure had the final say. Patients has been the keyboard that

in this season. They had to wait until midweek to get their first win

of the campaign and they had to wait to get something at the stroke of

half-time. It came from Luke Howell at close range. Their second was the

result of another well constructed build-up. Although Ashley Chambers'

cross was blocked, Abu go-go got his second goal in the space of a week.

Paul Cox admitted his side did not turn up, Sam Coker saw his shot

blocked on the line. It was one of those afternoons for the visitors.

Bury were swiftly out of the blocks. The Shakers underlined their

ambition to one promotion back to League 1 when Danny Rose completed

his move from Barnsley at the beginning of the week. The

20-year-old's ability to pound reinforced by David Flitcroft has

such a high regard for the striker. Plymouth were thumped four zero

earlier on. The defendant claimed it was outside the area, but the

referee pointed to the spot. Late on the momentum was with the Pilgrims.

Their opportunity to level things up fell to Kelvin Mellor who miscued

and Bury held on. Two side yet to taste that winning feeling. Not even

Exeter's home form offered much cause for celebration. David

Wheeler's eighth minute header was just what the doctor ordered. But

York are proving a tough nut to crack with their three

York are proving a tough nut to crack with their previous league

games finishing all square. This was a let off for the home side who

needed that second goal to kill the game off. Their inability to do so

backfired when Keith Powell powered home eight minutes from the end.

After taking a pasting in midweek this was always going to be a test

of character for Accrington. But inside nine minutes they were up

against Luton. Just past the quarter hour they appeared to be heading for

their first win of the campaign. McNulty displaying the spirit and

bravery his manager had called for before the game. But Accrington's

fans were taking nothing for granted especially so after Luke Rooney cut

inside Adam Buxton to halve the deficit. The home side have lost all

four of their games this season, but this was a match they should have

won. Matt Tyler shut the door on George Bowerman. Three minutes

before the break, a deflected free kick earned Luton a point.

Disappointment for Accrington, but at least they are off the bottom. An

entertaining game. Markham, incredible scenes, almost similar to

what happened this time last year. Yes, fantastic. If he could keep

everything as it is and nobody got injured, I'm sure he would be

pleased but with the smaller clubs you tend to get some injuries and it

does on balance what you have got, but a brilliant start, reminiscent

of last year. Certainly the way he is speaking about them, he fully

expects them to see it through. The comeback of the day undoubtedly goes

to Cheltenham, 2-0 down and in the space of six minutes, three goals. I

think he changed the system to 4-4-2 and it obviously have the desired

effect. He is a brilliant manager, disappointing that things stalled

last year but up and running and he will want to keep the momentum going

now. Disappointing start for Oxford. They have eight defeats on the

spin, and what is more concerning for Michael Appleton who has taken

over, one goal. It is always a concern if you are struggling to

score goals but as you say, it is a hangover from last year, they are

struggling this year. They put a good side under a lot of pressure so

there are positives they can take from the game. That is almost it

from us. Let's take a look at the tables before we go.

Peterborough move up to second after yet another Kyle Vassell

The bottom five were all winless although Russ Wilcox's Scunthorpe

picked up their first point of the season at Yeovil.

Crewe, the only side with a 100% losing record,

Morecambe's best start to a league season continues

after a fourth consecutive win, five of the top six remain

unbeaten, including Portsmouth who stretched their unbeaten run under

Oxford United are rock bottom of the Football League after their fourth

Accrington are also in the relegation zone

despite picking up their first point of the campaign, drawing 2-2 against

OK, well that's it from us but we're back on Wednesday night

for all the drama of the second round of the Capital One Cup.

Join us if you can at 11.05 on BBC One.