Jack Goddard's EFL Review: Brilliant Blackburn, bad Burton and barmy Barrow

Another EFL gameweek has concluded and we are beginning to get a clearer picture of how England’s chaotic lower tiers will play out. Here are the week’s big talking points.

Rovers top the table

After the first two games in the 2022/23 Championship season, Blackburn Rovers are the only team still with an unblemished 100% record. Victories over QPR and Swansea has enabled the Lancashire side to set the early pace, largely due to their solid defensive structure that has proved tough to break down - they are one of just three sides yet to concede a goal.

Tony Mowbray was surprisingly allowed to leave Ewood Park this summer after five years of notable progression, with former Newcastle player Jon Dahl Tomasson replacing him after winning back-to-back Swedish titles with Malmö. 

Rovers’ left-field appointment makes their final league position a tricky one to predict but, if they are to have a successful year, they must keep hold of Ben Brereton-Diaz. The Chilean international opened his goal-scoring account for the year on Saturday and, if Blackburn can bat away the Premier League attention for their main man, they could make a surprise play-off run this year.

Swansea, who were stuffed 3-0 by Blackburn at the weekend, were tipped by many to be a surprise promotion contender this season but they have had a miserable start to their campaign. Their recent thrashing was preceded by a draw at perennial strugglers Rotherham, putting manager Russell Martin under immediate pressure.

Martin was protected last season by three words - ‘work in progress’ - but if the Swans don’t see any improvement this year, his possession-based project could be in peril.

Although there was no love lost between the two, Martin seems to have gleaned at least part of his footballing philosophy from his former gaffer Daniel Farke. However, the ex-Norwich boss followed a mid-table finish in his first year by lifting the Championship title in his second. Swansea fans will want to see similar rewards for their patience.

How bad are Burton?

League One plus Peterborough United equals goals. Thankfully, the Posh are back amongst them after netting three times in two consecutive games upon their relegation to the third tier. That return will be a welcome sight after the Cambridgeshire side broke the club record for fewest goals scored last year, clocking in at just 43.

Mirroring the Championship, Peterborough are the only League One side with six points out of six, whereas three sides are yet to register a point at all.

Burton are one of those teams, and they have by far made the worst start of any EFL side, with their -7 goal difference already noticeably worse than all the teams directly above them.

The Brewers weren’t helped on Saturday by Conor Shaughnessy’s first-minute red card, but being 4-0 down at half time to Joey Barton’s newly-promoted Bristol Rovers side is not exactly the perfect response to adversity. 

This follows a disastrous pre-season for Albion that saw them lose five games out of six - their only win coming against Stratford Town.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s side has now failed to score in eight of their last ten league games either side of the summer, picking up just six points in the process. If that form continues they could be well-placed for the drop back to League Two.

Barmy Barrow

If you’re a fan of a crazy finish then look no further than League Two, as the EFL’s bottom tier again delivered some bonkers games.

In case you missed it earlier this year, Mark Hughes (yes, that Mark Hughes) is Bradford City’s manager now, and his first-ever league trip to Barrow ended up being more bizarre than his appointment itself.

The Bluebirds scored in the 85th minute to take a 2-1 lead, only for Bradfords’ Andy Cook to bundle the ball over the line in the 95th minute, sending the packed away end mad and leading to a (very small) pitch invasion. Literally seconds later, however, Barrow scored again, securing the win in the final minute and leaving the Bantams with just a single point from two games.

Barrow, on the other hand, are one of five League Two teams still with a 100% record; they’ve now beaten two pre-season promotion favourites after being tipped for relegation at the start of the year. Perhaps they are a side worth keeping an eye on.

Elsewhere, Doncaster secured their first victory of the season despite entering stoppage time 1-0 down at home to Sutton United. George Miller headed home in the 92nd minute before Kieran Agard stroked the ball across the line just moments later to send the Rovers fans wild. Even at the Eco-Power Stadium, that is surely an unsustainable way to win matches?