From haunted training grounds to wonder goals from wonder kids, James Clement takes you through five EFL stories you may have missed this weekend.
Happy Haunting Ground
Ian Holloway is well and truly back in the EFL as his Swindon Town side picked up their first point under the outspoken Bristolian on Saturday. In the wake of their 2-2 draw away at Accrington Holloway had an excuse for their poor run of form that only he could suggest.
Embed from Getty ImagesClaiming that the training ground was haunted, he stated that the grounds were “very close to an ancient burial site.” This comes after captain Ollie Clarke ruptured a tendon in training recently.
“I’m going to get my wife to come up and say sorry to all these people and hopefully we’ll have a bit more luck” said Holloway.
Swindon Town currently sit in 22nd, just one point clear of the relegation zone.
Maguire’s Don Drama
Embed from Getty ImagesHarry Maguire is not the only defender in his family adept in both boxes as brother Laurence scored a late winner for MK Dons at home to Cheltenham Town. “I’ve got the attributes to score goals” said Maguire after netting his first for the club.
MK had found themselves 2-0 down after just 13 minutes but pulled level through Alex Gilbey and Ellis Harrison. Maguire scrambled the ball home in the 86th minute following a corner. A far cry from the towering headers his brother has scored in an England shirt, but it will mean just as much to the defender.
Five straight wins have seen the Dons march up to fifth place, just one point off the automatic promotion spots.
Together Forever
Embed from Getty ImagesTwo sides that have been seemingly inseparable throughout three divisions met again at the weekend as Stockport County played host to Hollywood darlings Wrexham. Having been jostling for promotion in both the National League and League Two, both sides are sitting pretty heading towards the festive period.
Naturally it would take something special to split the two sides, and that is exactly what one time La Masia prodigy Louie Barry produced on 24 minutes. Gathering the ball on the left side of the edge of the box, Barry wrapped a fine finish past Callum Burton. It’s easy to forget the striker is still only 21 years old, as he sits atop the League One scoring charts in his second loan spell at the club.
This feud seems far from over, as both sides occupy the spots directly outside the automatic promotion places.
“Giant” Killers
Embed from Getty ImagesWalsall are having a strong start to their season as they find themselves in fourth with games in hand over all those above them. Yet it is the cup competitions that they find themselves as part of an incredibly unlikely stat.
Having cast aside four sides from the division above in their three cup competitions, they remarkably have either bettered or matched NINE League One sides for victories over League One opposition this season. Bolton, Birmingham, Huddersfield and Shrewsbury have all tasted defeat to Walsall this season. A League One outfit in waiting?
Born in the EFL
Embed from Getty ImagesEngland closed out Lee Carsley’s tenure and clinched promotion to League A of the UEFA Nations League with a convincing 5-0 dismantling of the Republic of Ireland on Sunday night. A notable feature of Carsley’s brief stint at the helm was the number of debutants and fresh blood brought into the England side.
Remarkably, every player to either score or assist in this game cut their teeth in the EFL. Either through loan stints such as Harry Kane or Anthony Gordon, or development on a permanent basis such as Jarrod Bowen or Jude Bellingham, it has never been more apparent just how invaluable the English pyramid is to the national team.
