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County-ing The Costs
Even before that heavy defeat, having picked up only one point from six games, it was Notts County’s worst ever start to a season. Gary Liddle, last year’s quadruple player of the season, has said that morale is low and it’s understandable that the players would end up in a psychological tailspin after the way the season’s started.
The first win in the wekend’s 3-1 defeat to MK Dons was a slightly shambolic goal. Alan Sheehan headed a ball back and wide of goal on a trajectory that was closer to opposing winger Patrick Bamford than the goalkeeper, forcing the keeper out of his nets, only to be lobbed by Luke Chadwick. It’s the kind of sloppy error that comes about when players are too nervous to think properly.
Chris Kiwomya wasn’t a popular permanent appointment to replace Keith Curle, stepping up from youth team manager. His record last season was decent, winning five and drawing seven of 17, but given Curle was removed after a play-off challenge faded, that was more or less what was expected. With Martin Allen and Curle both being sacked midway through the last two seasons, Notts haven’t been a patient club in recent years. At the moment, Kiwomya’s looking a pretty good bet to be the next Football League manager sacked.
Goals, Goals, Goals
As pointed out elsewhere, it’s been a slow start to the Premier League season, goals-wise.
That’s not been the case in League One, with this weekend being a particularly good one, even aside from Leyton Orient’s 3-2 win.
Wolves won 3-2 against Swindon in what reports agree was a dominant but wasteful Swindon performance.
Peterborough continued their strong start to the season with a 3-0 win at Bristol City. Already one up, Britt Assombolonga was hauled to the ground for a penalty, though Lee Tomlin’s effort was tipped wide. Assombolonga blasted a goal at the start of the second half before dribbling through the City defence two minutes from time, then delicately chipping his second of the match and 7th of the season.
Daniel Nardiello scored twice for Rotherham in a 3-2 win against Oldham with the final goal pouncing on a spilled shot in the last minute.
Brentford’s game against Tranmere was probably the most dramatic. Brentford were 2-0 up before two Tranmere loanees pulled the scores level. Clayton Donaldson headed into the corner, his second of the game, to give Brentford a 3-2 lead, and Tranmere youth product Cole Stockton gave his side a stoppage time equaliser. But Adam Dugdale, the scorer of Tranmere’s earlier equaliser, handled in the box to give Brentford a 92nd minute penalty, which was tucked away.
The high number of goals even seems to extend to youth teams. MK Dons U18s, fresh off a 5-3 win over Southend, defeated Dagenham 8-5, almost outscoring the Premier League in their games alone!
So there you have it – if you want a free-flowing back and forth game, don’t go to a Premier League match, head to your nearest League One ground. Or MK Dons’ youth team.
