The FA Cup schedule this weekend meant only five games in League One on Saturday. With all the top sides involved managing to pick up maximum points, things are beginning to get interesting at both ends of the League One table.
Sheffield United are beginning to pull away
With Bolton playing Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, the Blades were given the chance to pull away from second-placed Scunthorpe and the third-placed Trotters. The side duly delivered, picking up all three points in a goalfest 4-2 win away at Southend United, thanks to goals from Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Jack O’Connell, Caolan Lavery and Kieron Freeman. The Blades have been criticised for missing out on promotion from League One on numerous occasions over the last few years but are proving to be a force to be reckoned with this season. The club have now won six games on the bounce in the league and sit four points ahead of Scunthorpe and six points ahead of Bolton.
Bradford loss proves to be the final straw for Danny Wilson
Struggling Chesterfield lost 2-0 on a bleak afternoon at Valley Parade for the Spireites. This proved to be the final straw for gaffer Danny Wilson who has today been given his P45 by the club. The team now haven’t won in four games and sit in 22nd place which proved too much for the Chesterfield board who decided to take action. The next man who comes in will face a tough task in steering the side out of the relegation zone and into safety.
Goals, goals, goals
There were 20 goals scored across just six League One games yesterday afternoon. Although the top sides all picked up maximum points in the end, the likes of Bury showed that they’re not just going to roll over and can be a nuisance for the top sides. The performances of these teams lower down the league in games against the promotion pushers could prove vital in who gains promotion from League One come the end of the season.
The Bantams are back
Bradford stuttered at times towards the end of 2016 with losses against Southend and Swindon being followed up by four consecutive draws. But the team have recorded two consecutive wins in the last week and sit in fourth place, just five points off Bolton and seven points off Scunthorpe in second. Bradford face 20th placed Shrewsbury Town next, where they’ll be looking to pick up another three points and it’d take a brave man to write off the Bantams for automatic promotion just yet.
The rut continues for Swindon Town
Swindon could only manage a point against fellow strugglers Shrewsbury in a fiery affair at the County Ground. It’s now six games without a win in the league for the Robins and the mood is low around the club. Things seemed to be on the up when Tim Sherwood was brought in as Director of Football back in November but things aren’t going to plan for the club and many fans are slowly becoming tired of the team’s performances, with some fans calling for the sacking of boss Luke Williams.
Williams trying to take positives from 2 points from 2 home games, one against a bottom four side with ten men #clueless #stfc
— nickstfc (@nickgarbutt) January 7, 2017
Unbelievable shower of rubbish. Time for Power and Williams to go. Had enough now. #stfc
— ackers59 (@DavidAcklam) January 7, 2017
