The Lower League Week – Posh Peterborough slaughter the Royals

Super Cooper?

It was Mark Cooper’s first game as permanent manager of Swindon at the weekend, and he was denied a debut victory by Cody McDonald’s late equaliser. Despite a mildly disappointing result, reports suggest that Swindon’s short passing game was generally dangerous and exciting, rather than the Robins coasting towards victory while offering little.

Midweek was more impressive, with Nile Ranger scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-0 victory over a QPR side that included Wright-Phillips, Jenas, Faurlin, Austin and Zamora.

While the upset is a step in the right direction for Cooper’s reign, there could still be departures as the new board look to cut their cloth. Most notably is former captain Paul Caddis, frozen out by Paolo di Canio after leading his side to the League Two title, seemingly because his newborn baby was affecting the intensity of his pre-season training.

A slightly childish game of ‘he said, well he said …’ has broken out between Caddis and the new chairman Jed McCrory, with the pair conducting their discussions through local radio rather than in person. The chairman has claimed that Caddis refused to take part in last season’s playoffs, as he saw his future with Birmingham, and Caddis has insisted that “There’s been reports I’ve asked to leave the club, which is not true. I want to help the club and I’m not being allowed to do that.”

Despite playing 28 times in the Championship last season, Caddis has been frozen out of first team action this year, and has reportedly turned down a move to Blackpool. Both sides are cutting things close if they want to avoid an outcome that harms themselves as well as each other.

Probably a difficult season ahead for Swindon. Courtesy of Berswin

MK Dons Undone Late On

After a disappointing season last year in which the perennial playoff competitors didn’t even come close to what has been their normal region of the table, MK Dons have started the season relatively slowly. Having scored only one goal in two very winnable ties against Shrewsbury and Crewe (collecting four points) the Dons drew 2-2 in successive matches against Preston and Bristol City, with former Don Sam Baldock scoring twice for City. It’s a mixed start that sees Karl Robinson’s side in 10th place with six points, but still undefeated.

The mixed start continued a slight upward curve with a 2-0 lead at Sunderland, through Patrick Bamford’s strike from range and Izale McLeod racing through the defence before chipping the keeper from distance. But the Mackems’ superior firepower asserted itself in the end, with di Canio’s men scoring four times in the last quarter of an hour to win the tie. A disappointing way to end the match, of course. But MK Dons have scored twice against strong opposition for the third game in a row, and McLeod, scorer of 54 goals in his first spell at the club, has opened his account for the season.

Rest of the News

Leyton Orient continued their strong start to the season, winning their fourth league game of the season to stay top of League One, before losing by a single goal in extra time against Hull.

Bristol City are struggling a little to adapt to League One, having picked up two points from four games, while promoted Gillingham have achieved the same points.

Oxford have proven that their opening day victory over Portsmouth was no fluke, leading League Two with 10 points. Last year’s playoff finalists Northampton have lost all but their victory over promoted Newport, who are in the playoffs with seven points.

Bristol City knocked Crystal Palace out of the League Cup, Notts County pulled a 2-0 deficit against Liverpool back to 2-2 before losing in extra time, while Bury lost to a strong Norwich side 6-3 in normal time.

Burton pushed Fulham all the way to a penalty shoot-out, while Tranmere followed up their weekend 5-0 defeat by knocking Bolton out of the League Cup, 4-2 on penalties.