Saturday’s championship action once again provided a lot of plays and enthusiasm.
Former Peterbaro, Hull and Bradford Striker and Final Score EFL Aaron McCalin learned his five Tech Uye at the second level.
Free-Kicks ‘out of top drawer’
Both Ryan Manning and Nestory Irananda created a free-kick in a three-minute space
Both Southampton and Watford made late free-kicks in a recreational 2–2 draw at Vikrej Road at the Championship.
Saints Defender Ryan Manning and Nestory Irinda of Wattford had already made free-kicks this season and once again demonstrated their ability with set-pieces.
Mclean: “It was a great spectacle as a game and both teams had the possibility. I think it was appropriate that they both scored incredible free-kicks.
“Maning was outstanding, but he was certainly done by Irrankunda – it was a world daughter.
“I like the form of both sides and are highly expected on both of them, especially as Southampton they have come down from the Premier League.
“Both feel that they are still trying to find their feet and achieve the level of stability. While some questions about them are defensively, there is no doubt that they pose a huge danger in the attack.
“With those two quality free-cics it is a bit of ‘anything, I can do better’. As a fan, it was incredible and I am sure that both managers were holding their heads because they were both out of the top drawer.”
Ipswich Leveler ‘As soon as they come’
Ipswich scored a single against Derby in the 16th minute of injury time
Jack Clarke created a dramatic stoppage-time penalty against Derby County to earn Ipswich Town 2–2.
He attacked the house in the 16th minute to refuse Derby’s first championship of the season.
Mclean: “They come as the Ipswich Leveler.
“Late in the time of injury to lose the derby, it is a huge blow for them and they need to start getting some points on the board and pursue the table or they can find themselves in an accusation.
“If anything, I think they are a minor hangover for Ipswich from the season of charge. I think there is a level of expectation for them and they are not handling pressure.
“Losing Sam Morsi was a major setback for him. In the promotion season he was important for all things about Ipswich. The quality on the pitch along with his leadership was also largely for him.
“I think when they find a patch of a patch, I hope to completely rocket the table from them – it is just a lot of points for Ipswich over others, when they reach there.”
QPR show ‘tremendous character’
QPR faced a 7-1 defeat with a win over Charlton
QPR recorded its first win of the season against Charlton athletic, jumping back with a win in Covantry after hitting 7–1 of the last week.
Coci Sato Paul Smith’s opener and Richard Con came out of the bench to score a surprising goal with a late strike.
Mclean: “QPR showed a tremendous character. After last week you will expect a response, but will be as comfortable to your own fans to go and win and win as much as it would be the most pleasing thing for them.
“There are also sports you need to win, you need to beat your new promoted teams in Charlon.
“It was a good afternoon for him to win his first win on the board and to be a great response to a 7–1 defeat for it.
“Richard Kon scored again and he is a great player, he has done his work from below and he keeps on improving.
“I imagine that they have a real chance to go and enter the Premier League.”
‘Important’ that keeps the Norwich Sergeant
Josh Sergeant has been paired with a step away from Norwich in this summer
Josh Sergeant scored twice as Norwich City defeated 10-Man Blackburn Rovers, so that it won a back-to-back in the championship.
The Service has now scored six goals in five demonstrations for Norwich in all competitions this season.
Mclean: “I think Norwich will be happy with the win, but also demonstrates. He created a lot of opportunities.
“Sergeant is also big for him to achieve one and two goals. There is high hope in and around Norwich, but I think today everyone will be filled with great confidence.
“It would be a huge loss if Norwich Josh had to lose Sergeant – I don’t know if you can change it, especially on this late platform.
“He is important for Norwich’s ambitions. They want to get out of the championship and in the Premier League and to do that you have to keep your best players, and he is one of the best strikers at this level.
“It is important that they hold him and he keeps doing what he is doing, I think he can play in the Premier League. I think he thinks how good he is.”
Wrexham can now ‘from strength to strength’
Wrexham defeated Milwall to win its first league of the season
Kifar Moore’s header and Lewis O’Breen’s stoppage-time goal won Wrexham’s first championship of the season in Milwall.
The win was Wrexham’s first at the second level of English football since the 1981–82 season, and took them to 15th position in the table.
Mclean: “Winning Wrexham today was very big.
“They are a club that have been used only to win continuously in the last few sessions and they are now at a level where you have to fight and scrap for every point.
“Getting your first victory on the board, especially in the den, which is a scared place to go, means that they can move from strength to strength after that result.
“I think if they can end in the mid-table this season, it will definitely be classified as success.
“Because of the money they have spent, I would say that they are expected to do more than just surviving, but I think it would be good for them to build a middle-table finish and it.”
Aaron McLeen BBC Sport was talking to Dan George of England
