The SkyBet League One season kicked off on Saturday and in typically unpredictable style, many of the sides expected to do well stumbled at the first hurdle. Here I take a look at the five things we learned from the weekend’s array of curtain raisers.
Sheffield United might not be as strong as we thought:
Sheffield United have been tipped for success in League One every season since their relegation from the Championship in 2011, and this season is no different. However unlike previous seasons, the huge strength of the Blades’ squad justifies their pre-season favourites tag. Going forward, they look especially strong as the signings of Connor Sammon and Billy Sharp testify and with Nigel Adkins’ experience and qualities leading the way, all looked rosy for the Yorkshire outfit. Yet on Saturday, Adkins took his side down to Kent to face dark-horses Gillingham and the result went against all expectations. For United to get beaten wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility but a 4-0 mauling such as the one they faced at the weekend couldn’t have been predicted by even the most optimistic of Gills fans. With 19 shots to United’s 5, Justin Edinburgh’s men were fully deserving of their opening day victory and take huge confidence from their performance. For Nigel Adkins and hie Sheffield United team, they have 45 games left to put it right. They say that Rome wasn’t built in a day, but perhaps the Blades aren’t as nailed on for promotion as their pre-season odds would have you believe.
