Gab Sutton's EFL Winners & Losers - August 9-10
Gab Sutton 
It was a packed weekend for football punters and betting sites as the Championship roared back into action, with League One and League Two also serving up a full round of fixtures to launch the new UK football season.
Free Bets EFL pundit Gab Sutton runs through his winners and losers from the Championship's opening weekend, as well as the standout moments from week two in League One and League Two.
Winners
Bristol City
Every Championship pundit earmarked Bristol City for a drop-off from last season’s 6th-place finish, when they reached the Play-Offs with a record-low total, but that made Saturday’s annihilation of Sheffield United all the more satisfying.
Barely more than two months ago, City were suffering a 6-0 aggregate defeat at Bramall Lane, and few would have guessed they’d be the ones dishing out the punishment next time around.
The Severnsiders have lost head coach Liam Manning, replaced by Gerhard Struber, who favours a more aggressive, high-octane style, but it’s been a smooth transition based on the start.
That said, Bristol City needed some good goalkeeping from debutant Radek Vitek on their way to victory, but Scott Twine ultimately shined with an eye-catching brace.
Exeter
After falling on the wrong side of fine margins at Doncaster on the opening day, Exeter kick-started their season with a 4-1 thumping of Blackpool.
Ethan Brierley has brought fresh creativity to the Grecians, after joining on loan from Brentford, bringing not only talent but also the courage to demand the ball off people and stamp his personality on games.
Meanwhile, Jayden Wareham enjoyed a sensational afternoon up top, showing his ex-Chelsea youth pedigree with a goal and an assist.
A long way to go, but more performances like that and City can haul themselves well clear of the drop zone for a fourth season running.
Tranmere
It’s been an encouraging start to the season for Tranmere, who began with a point at Colchester before thumping Shrewsbury 4-0 on Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.
The experience of Richie Smallwood and the athleticism of Nohan Kenneh complement one another superbly in midfield, while Josh Davison is enjoying a resurgence up top, supported by Taylan Harris and Charlie Whitaker.
With aggressive wing-backs, mobile outside centre-halves and a fluid front three, Tranmere look set to consign their 2024-25 relegation struggles to the past.
Losers
Oxford
Oxford boss Gary Rowett admitted his side were somewhat off-the-pace, in Saturday’s 1-0 opening day loss to Portsmouth, despite forcing opposition goalkeeper Nicolas Schmidt into a couple of decent saves.
It was a performance that did little to dispel the notion that the Yellows need the right 3-4 additions to meet their ambitions this season, including a quality #10.
There should be plenty of faith in Rowett to take care of what he needs to on the field, as one of the best organisers in the Championship, and arguably the division’s most reliable manager across the previous decade – but he needs a bit of help.
Mansfield
As much as Mansfield have had a good transfer window, in terms of the quality of their signings, they’ve probably not done enough to address the key area: up top.
The Stags haven’t signed a permanent striker this summer: they have recruited a versatile forward in Joe Gardner on loan from Nottingham Forest, but they perhaps haven’t prioritised the position in the same way they went big and early in other positions.
Boss Nigel Clough might have reasoned that by arguing that Lee Gregory might return to fitness, having been so influential in the first half of the season, that Will Evans can get into double-figures again, that Dom Dwyer scored four goals in nine appearances last year, and that Rhys Oates is in the mix as well.
However, putting all eggs in the Gregory basket was risky, given that it’s hard to predict how veterans will return from long-term injuries, Evans is likelier to score fewer than 14 than more, Dwyer hasn’t played much football in the last three years, and Oates’ career history has come primarily in League Two.
So, Mansfield could suffer from not doing more to strengthen their forward line, and have started the season with 2-1 defeats to Burton and Doncaster.
Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers were one of the ante-post favourites for promotion, after relegation from League One last year, boosted by the return of club legend Darrell Clarke – but things haven’t started as hoped.
The Gas lost 1-0 to Harrogate on the opening day, before going down 2-1 at Fleetwood through a Will Davies brace.
Clarke feels there’s a fragility about the group he’s inherited, and he may be yet to settle on the leadership core equivalent of the group he found in his first stint at the Mem, so there’s plenty of work ahead.
Luckily, we’re still early in the season, but things don’t get much easier: next week is a trip to Chesterfield, who are two from two.
