After two-and-a-half months of waiting, the Sky Bet Championship returned this weekend and as expected, bought its fair share of memorable moments.
There was plenty of late of drama, including last-gasp winners for Derby County and Swansea City over Reading and Sheffield United respectively, whilst Norwich City, Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town all scored late on to earn 2-2 draws.
Brentford finished the opening weekend of the campaign in top spot, after thrashing newly-promoted Rotherham United 5-1 at home.
Based on statistics from Whoscored.com, we have compiled a Team of the Week from the first 12 games of the new Championship season.
Formation: 3-4-3
Goalkeeper: Daniel Bentley (Brentford) 7.71
Daniel Bentley is the first of four Brentford players to make our inaugural Championship Team of the Week.
Despite a comfortable 5-1 victory over Rotherham, Bentley was forced into action on several occasions, making four saves; three of which were from efforts inside of the penalty area, including a well-struck volley from Joe Newell.
He did concede late on to Will Vaulks, but by that point, Bentley had already put in a solid performance to deny The Millers any real chance of getting back into the game.
Defender: Alan Hutton (Aston Villa) 8.56
Alan Hutton grabbed his first goal since December 2014 to help Aston Villa earn a 3-1 victory against Hull City on Monday evening.
After receiving the ball midway inside the hosts’ half, he steamrolled through their back line before his low shot across goal proved to be too much for David Marshall to deny.
The 31-year-old was named as Whoscored.com’s star man and attempted the most dribbles out of any player in the match, the joint-fourth highest in the league this weekend.
Defender: David Wheater (Bolton Wanderers) 8.29
David Wheater’s contributions at both ends of the pitch for Bolton Wanderers were invaluable as they earned a 2-1 win away at West Bromwich Albion.
With just a minute left, Wheater provided the assist for Yanic Wildschut’s last gasp winner with a towering header from a corner.
Making five interceptions, he had the joint most in the league over the weekend; he also won seven aerial duels, fully warranting his star man award for his performance at The Hawthorns.
Defender: Cheyanne Dunkley (Wigan Athletic) 8.28
Wigan Athletic defender Cheyanne Dunkley makes up the defence after impressing during their 3-2 win at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
He won 12 aerial duels, the second best in the Championship this weekend, only bettered by Birmingham City’s Lukas Jutkiewicz.
Dunkley also won three offsides, the joint best in the league and despite being booked, he put in a fine display against The Owls.
Right-midfield: Sergi Canos (Brentford) 8.65
Spanish midfielder Sergi Canos is the second of the Brentford quartet to make our side following their comfortable win over Rotherham.
The 21-year-old added The Bees’ second goal on the stroke of half time after controlling Lewis Macloed’s corner before firing into the top corner.
Canos also made four dribbles in the match, only beaten by three players in the whole league, who all played for the duration of their matches, whilst Canos was removed after 68 minutes.
Centre-midfield: Lewis Macloed (Brentford) 9.19
Macloed’s assist was certainly not his only contribution against Rotherham, after being one of only two players in the league to receive a score higher than nine out of 10 on Saturday.
The Scottish midfielder completed the home scoring late in the second half with a thunderous strike from outside of the penalty area.
He also made a league highest of six crosses and his three key passes proved to be highly influential as Brentford set the bar high on the opening weekend of the campaign.
Centre-midfield: Alan Browne (Preston North End) 8.33
Preston North End began their season with a 1-0 win at Deepdale against Queens Park Rangers, courtesy of Alan Browne’s second half goal.
The Irish midfielder looped a header over goalkeeper Matt Ingram after getting on the end of Josh Harrop’s cross.
His six successful aerial battles were only beaten by visiting striker, Matt Smith.
Left-midfield: Michael Jacobs (Wigan Athletic) 9.84
This week’s star man is Wigan’s Michael Jacobs after he shone at the DW Stadium against Sheffield Wednesday.
Jacobs scored twice in the opening 26 minutes and could have had a hat-trick by half time, only to be denied by the frame of the goal.
The 26-year-old’s effort on the hour mark was saved by opposition goalkeeper Cameron Dawson, but was eventually turned in by Nick Powell.
Right-wing: Gwion Edwards (Ipswich Town) 8.58
Gwion Edwards marked his debut for Ipswich Town with a first half goal during their 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers.
The new £700,000 signing from Peterborough United met the cross of Freddie Sears after just five minutes to open the scoring.
Edwards also provided for the assist for fellow debutant, Tayo Edun, who levelled the match late on at Portman Road.
Striker: Neal Maupay (Brentford) 8.93
Neal Maupay was the only player in the league with three direct goal contributions over the weekend after following up his brace with an assist.
He opened the scoring in the fourth minute from close range before getting Brentford’s fourth on the hour mark, turning in another saved effort from Rotherham’s Marek Rodak. Maupay proved that its not about how many shots you have, it’s how you take them, with his only two efforts against Paul Warne’s side being converted.
The French forward provided his side’s third goal, which was expertly taken by Ollie Watkins.
Left-wing: Onel Hernandez (Norwich City) 8.55
After failing to score last season for Norwich City, Onel Hernandez netted twice in the final seven minutes to earn a 2-2 draw at Birmingham.
His first saw him cut in from the right and beat two of The Blues’ defenders before converting, whilst his second, which secured The Canaries a point, saw him calmly finish past Connal Trueman after being put through on goal by Dennis Srbeny.
Hernandez will be hoping that his brace in the West Midlands will be the boost he needs to enjoy a prolific first full season at Norwich
