Gab Sutton's EFL Winners & Losers - January 3
There was more pain for Coventry as they lost their second game in a row to see Middlesbrough draw level at the top of the Championship, while there was an important win for Portsmouth at the other end of the division.
Our EFL pundit here at Free Bets, Gab Sutton, takes a look at another busy weekend of EFL action across the three leagues.
Winners
Portsmouth's recruitment team
After a summer that didn’t quite go as hoped, contributing to a tough first half of the season, Portsmouth badly needed to get January right, but the early evidence is that they’ve done just that.
In particular, Ebou Adams has brought fresh athleticism to a midfield that had been sorely lacking it, while Millenic Alli has added a potent threat out wide, as he did at this level with Luton last season.
After a 3-0 victory over relegation rivals West Brom, Pompey are unbeaten in four.
The Gray family
The Gray family have produced some fantastic footballers over the years, from Eddie and Frankie Gray, champions of England with Leeds United under Don Revie, to Andy Gray, who also played in the Premier League, to Archie Gray, whose talents cost Tottenham £50M, and now another Thorp Arch product, his brother Harry.
The 17-year-old is rated extremely highly at Leeds, who have named him in Premier League match-day squads this season, and he’s played for England youth teams up to U17s level.
Gray is enjoying an excellent loan at Rotherham thus far, striking up a great understanding with the more experienced Sam Nombe, scoring two goals in his first four games and, very quickly, helping the strugglers to successive wins through his energy and movement.
Ben Thompson
For somebody who’s at times starred in the Championship with Millwall, Ben Thompson’s career hasn’t quite taken the trajectory he was hoping for, with injuries stunting his progress, forcing a reset in League Two.
Bromley, though, has proved a great destination for him to find his feet again, slotting in to Andy Woodman’s compact, well-drilled side, something he’s done superbly in the past under Kenny Jackett at Portsmouth, and Neil Harris at Millwall.
Thompson hit a hat-trick at former club Gillingham on Saturday to ensure a resounding 4-1 victory for the Ravens, who are six points clear at the top of League Two.
Losers
Isaac Price
When Isaac Price first came to West Brom in January last year, reports from Belgium were that he has excellent vision and passing ability, but that his mentality was questionable, and that he played a lot of games with a sense of nonchalance.
That feedback was unrecognizable to Albion fans in the second half of last season, with Price perceived to be giving everything under Tony Mowbray.
However, it seems more accurate this season, when he’s looked lethargic at times and drifted in and out of games, before getting into an argument with supporters in the aftermath of Saturday's 3-0 loss at Portsmouth.
Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient’s 1-0 loss at home to bottom-of-the-table Port Vale means it’s three straight defeats for Richie Wellens’ side, who are one point above the drop zone.
The O’s are clearly missing influential forward Aaron Connolly, midfielder Idris El Mizouni and defender Will Forrester, but they can’t catch a break on the injury front – even experienced Championship goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann got sidelined as soon as he signed!
The East Londoners are capable coming forward when everyone’s available, having scored more goals than top six sides Bolton and Bradford, but a lack of spinal continuity has proved their undoing.
Simon Weaver & Harrogate
Harrogate boss Simon Weaver is putting on a brave face in recent interviews, feeling there’s been green shoots of recovery in the last few performances, but there’s no getting around the reality that the table and the form book makes grim reading.
Not only are Town bottom of League Two, five points adrift having played a game more than most of the sides above them, they’ve taken a paltry four points from a 19-match winless run.
Factor in that several of those away draws have come down to excellent goalkeeping from James Belshaw, now at Notts County, and their chances look slim.
It’s likely Weaver will remain in post regardless of outcomes between now and the end of the season, due to his father being the owner.
Some would argue he’s earned that loyalty for what he’s done for the North Yorkshire club across 17 years, and that his assured, reliable leadership amid budget cuts is one of the reasons why this kind of season hasn’t happened a year or two earlier.
EFL Betting at Free Bets
Gab Sutton provides weekly football tips for Free Bets, featuring a thoroughly researched longshot acca alongside sharp analysis of the key talking points and standout moments from the weekend's action at the start of each new week.
