Gab Sutton's EFL Winners & Losers - November 15-16
Gab Sutton 
Despite the international break, there was plenty of domestic action in League One and League Two over the weekend.
Free Bets EFL expert Gab Sutton highlights the standout winners and losers from the latest round of fixtures.
Winners
Lincoln
Lincoln went level on points with the leaders in League One, thanks to a 2-1 victory over neighbours Doncaster.
There’s not as much star talent in this Imps team as previous ones, but they do have a more experienced spine, and greater depth, under a very technical coach in Michael Skubala.
The third-tier looks weak this season, with big-hitters underperforming, and City have given themselves an opportunity to crash the party.
Bromley
The big reason to believe Bromley can make the top seven, in their second ever season in the Football League, is that they’ve only lost three games in their first 16: the joint-fewest defeats in League Two.
The Ravens don’t give much away, with Andy Woodman’s side possessing an impeccable ability to consistently make their opponents play worse than they do normally.
Going forward, meanwhile, they carry a threat from both set pieces, with 6’6” defender Omar Sowunmi being a key reference point from dead balls, and top goalscorer Michael Cheek, who already has eight to his name – although it was substitute Nicke Kabamba who got the winner in the 2-1 victory over Barrow on Saturday, the South Londoners’ third straight success.
Colchester
Colchester might be as low as 14th in the standings, and five points off the Play-Offs due to a slow start, but they’re also one of the division’s form sides with four wins in six – and that’s with a tough run of fixtures, too.
Danny Cowley’s side have been much improved since athletic forward Micah Mbick joined at the end of the window, although the Charlton loanee had little to do with the 2-0 victory at promotion contenders Walsall, taking a back seat as left-back Ellis Iandolo, midfielder Arthur Read and striker Samson Tovide took centre stage.
Watch out for ColU – they could be late runners…
Losers
Exeter
It’s been a tough week for Exeter, with concerning news off-the-field heightening worries over the financial sustainability of their future at this level.
On the field, meanwhile, the Grecians lost 2-1 at Leyton Orient, having led late on in E10 through a Jayden Wareham first half penalty, due to a turnaround in the final quarter of an hour.
Gary Caldwell’s side don’t have a bad best XI, but their lack of squad depth means they’re hurt by injuries so, when Jake Doyle-Hayes is absent in midfield, full-back by trade Jack McMillan has to deputise centrally – and it’s not ideal, but nor is the situation.
Bristol Rovers
It’s been a streaky first third of the season for Bristol Rovers, after relegation from League One last year.
It was three straight defeats to begin the campaign for Darrell Clarke’s men, then a seven-game unbeaten run that offered hope, followed by another losing run of at least six league matches, following a 3-1 undoing by Accrington Stanley last time out.
Normally, Clarke is able to very quickly establish a group of players he can trust to share his mentality, but right now the Gas are hard to recognize as one of his own, which points to issues upstairs with the Al-Saaed ownership regime.
David Hughes
Newport showed signs of life by finishing October with two wins in three in the league, and back-to-back away victories at fellow strugglers Accrington Stanley and Harrogate, but they haven’t followed that up.
Successive defeats to Walsall and Shrewsbury were enough for the Exiles, and boss David Hughes, to mutually agree to part company with the team bottom of League Two, four points adrift of safety.
There is talent in this County side, in Manchester United loanee Habeeb Ogunneye at right-back, along with Sammy Braybrooke, Kai Whitmore and Cameron Antwi in midfield, but whoever gets the number one gig will look for experienced heads in January – if they can keep the team within touching distance until then.
Gab Sutton delivers weekly football betting tips for Free Bets, highlighting a carefully selected longshot acca while also breaking down the key talking points and major moments from the weekend's action at the start of each new week.
