It was another Sky Bet Championship weekend where there was a lot of things to be discussed, and lots of things that have gone on.
The results panned out that an already congested top end of the table is getting even more so, just three points separating the top four sides. Sheffield United sit top (25 points) followed by West Brom (24 points), Leeds United (23 points), with Middlesbrough a point further back (22 points).
That congestion drops further down the table with just three point, plus healthy goal difference, separating 6th place Brentford from 16th place Bolton Wanderers.
Here’s five talking points from this weekend, starting with two points from the early Saturday kick-off at Elland Road between Leeds United and Brentford.
Talking Point #1 – Canos should be punished
Canos attempting to headbutt Alisoki there… Should get a ban even if he’s on the bench #lufc pic.twitter.com/5UOesjGajN
— Aleks (@Aleks_LUFC) October 6, 2018
Without a shadow of a doubt, Canos needs punishing for this incident. Gjanni Alioski has every right to retrieve the ball as it goes towards the Brentford dugout. Thomas Frank has no right to keep hold of the ball. Whilst Frank and Alioski are grappling for the ball, Canos has neither right nor excuse to do what he did. Slying up behind Alioski, Canos’ headbutt might have lacked direction, but there’s definitely intent. That intent should see the football authorities summon him for an explanation, handing out a suitable retrospective ban.
Talking Point #2 – Jansson should be punished
Jansson’s interview. So Leeds it hurts. pic.twitter.com/b5RrBjeJWd
— I Hate Leeds (@ihatelufc) October 6, 2018
If Sergi Canos is to be punished for his headbutt attempt, then Pontus Jansson must also be punished for his post-match outburst questioning the referee and his integrity. When asked to sum up his feelings after he’d equalised, Jansson said: “Nothing. Feels s**t to be fair.” Asked by the Sky Sports interviewer to mind his language, Jansson was straight back on the straight-talking offensive.
He instantly responded with: “No, no, no I don’t care. This is a robbery from the referee so it feels bad.” Asked if he was not happy with the referee’s performance, Jansson replied: “You think I should be, huh? No chance!” That will likely bring about a formal charge of bringing the game into disrepute, and a likely fine.
Talking Point #3 – Wilder ride continues to roll on
Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United continue to flash and flare, the Blades cutting down the opposition before them. After 12 games, the South Yorkshire side sit atop the Championship pile with 25 points. This gathering of points comes despite having suffered three losses, this offset by having a league-leading eight wins and just the solitary drawn game. The Blades are a hardworking side fired by the seven goals of veteran striker Billy Sharp, ably backed up by five from fellow veteran David McGoldrick. Top at the moment and looking strong, will be interesting to see how they kick on from here.
Talking Point #4 – West Brom: a Jekyll and Hyde side
West Bromwich Albion have the firepower to rip sides apart and tear them asunder in equally destructive measures. The attacking prowess that they have at their disposal is frightening. Dwight Gayle (eight goals), Jay Rodriguez (seven goals), Harvey Barnes (five goals) and Matt Phillips (four goals) are a quartet of players knocking them in. This is one of the reasons that many are tipping them to bounce back up. That’s their Mr Hyde, it’s their Dr Jekyll that’s worrying some fans. In all of their Sky Bet Championship games this season, the Baggies have only kept one clean sheet – keeping Millwall scoreless in a 2-0 victory at The Hawthorns. Whilst this trend continues, West Brom fans will be hoping that their strikers continue to keep banging them in, because it looks like their defenders can’t stop that happening at the other end of the pitch.
Talking Point #5 – Ipswich off to first three points of season
Ipswich are off the mark and into the ‘W’ column after their 3-2 away win over relegated Swansea at the Liberty Stadium. That win lifts them off the bottom of the table and above Hull City who are now a point adrift at the foot of the table. Only a goal difference of 2 is keeping them in the bottom three, with Reading in the better-off 21st place and also on nine points. Ipswich’s next game is on Saturday 20th October at home against a struggling Queens Park Rangers where a second win might well be enough to kick the Tractor Boys into second gear and out of the clinging mire of the relegation places.
