EFL: Championship leaders Sunderland win again; Leeds, Derby, West Brom & Millwall among winners (2024)

Live Reporting

Jay Freeman, Chris Peddy, Dan George, Luke De Costa & Katie Holloway

1. Goodbye for nowpublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 31 August

   18:20 BST 31 August

   #bbcefl

   That's all from us for another action-filled EFL Saturday.

   Thank you for joining us and come back tomorrow for live coverage of Sheffield United v Watford at Bramall Lane, with that one kicking off at 15:00 BST.

   Enjoy your Saturday evening!

2. 'Proudest performance I have witnessed' - Warnepublished at 18:17 British Summer Time 31 August

   18:17 BST 31 August

   FT: Derby 3-0 Bristol City

   Derby County boss Paul Warne said that Saturday's win over Bristol City was a career highlight.

   The Rams were 3-0 winners in the second league victory of their season.

   "I think this was the favourite of my career here, we lookedlike a team I want," Warne told BBC Radio Derby.

   "The first ten minutes they were much more competent on the ballthan we were and made it difficult but second half we were much better.

   "It was the proudest performance I have witnessed."

3. 'We need to wake up' - Rohlpublished at 18:15 British Summer Time 31 August

   18:15 BST 31 August

   FT: Millwall 3-0 Sheff Wed

   Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield that his side need to halt their poor form in the Championship.

   Saturday's chastening 3-0 defeat by Millwall was their third consecutive loss.

   “Three defeats in a row. It’s terrible. It’s time to wake up," Rohl said.

   “There was high expectation after one win but we are back in reality and that means fighting for every point - that is what I want to see in the next few weeks.

   “It’s a big, big sickener for me that it goes in the wrong direction and not the right direction. I need to find a solution in the next few weeks.

   “Cheap goals (conceded) and also we created nothing up front. We have to improve as soon as possible.

   “We are back a little bit in the past and that is very hard to take. We have a lot of individual players but now it’s about finding the best team.

   “This is my job - to find the best team that is ready. We have to start as soon as possible to make the turnaround.”

4. 'Goodrham is thriving' - Buckinghampublished at 18:12 British Summer Time 31 August

   18:12 BST 31 August

   FT: Oxford 3-1 Preston

   Oxford United boss Des Buckingham told BBC Radio Oxford that he's looking forward to a short break after the opening games of Championship season.

   Their 3-1 win over Preston was the second win of the league season for the U's before the upcoming international break.

   “It was difficult to work out what they might do when theyhave a new manager in, they set up differently to what we thought they would andit took us a while to get to grips with that," he said.

   “Tyler Goodrham’s finish was wonderful, he’s thriving at themoment and there’s a reason we signed him to a long-term deal, long may itcontinue.

   “I think we’ve had a great start in this league, we’ve comeinto the unknown and to get six points out of twelve it’s nice. The break nowis much needed, we’ll have a few days off.”

5. 'Defence is key to away record' - Le Brispublished at 18:06 British Summer Time 31 August

   18:06 BST 31 August

   FT: Portsmouth 1-3 Sunderland

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   Image source, Rex Features

   Sunderland kept up their winning streak after their 3-1 victory against Portsmouth and are currently leading the Championship with 12 points out of 12.

   Boss Regis le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle about the tactics that have elevated the club to the top spot, saying defence is key to winning on their travels.

   "We are happy for sure because it was a tough game and I think the game plan was good but it’s not always easy to apply," le Bris said.

   "I don’t know if we are a team who wants to control the game, who wants to create chances, who wants to create an unbalance in the opponents defence. This part of the game is not our best.

   "I’m not sure we want to be the kind of team that has twenty, thirty or more passes. In the first-half, this wasn’t so clear.

   "I think away especially, the solution is in the defence. If you are able to attract the opponent, recover the ball and then fast attack and counter-attack after that, it’s the best way to score I think."

6. 'Good sides punish you' - Mousinhopublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 31 August

   18:02 BST 31 August

   FT: Portsmouth 1-3 Sunderland

   Image source, Rex Features

   Portsmouth boss John Mousinho said his side "have to be better" after a 3-1 defeat at home by Sunderland.

   “Sunderland thoroughly deserved to win and I’m disappointed tolose the game," he told BBC Radio Solent.

   “There was only very small margins in it I thought, weplayed quite well up until the goal but there were small bits in the secondhalf we didn’t get quite right.

   “You get punished by good sides like this, I think there waslots of small moments that once added up created a gulf between the two sides,it’s nothing I don’t think we can bridge at some point but we have to be betterthan that.”

7. Norwich claim first league win under Thoruppublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 31 August

   17:55 BST 31 August

   FT: Coventry 0-1 Norwich

   In one of the three early games, Norwich claimed their first league win under head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup with a 1-0 win over Coventry.

   "It's something special (to win your first league game)," he told BBC Radio Norfolk. It's something you wish can happen in the first game you play, but that was not the case and we had to wait a little while.

   "At some time you need that win to have positive momentum and belief in what we are doing.

   "What I'm most satisfied about is the attitude and the mentality of the team, we controlled the game - they had chances, but the mindset we played this game with, I am really pleased about.

   "The defensive job was outstanding. If you only have a one goal lead towards the end there will be some moments when you have to support each other and defend with everything you have."

8. Sky Blues have 'plenty of work to do'published at 17:50 British Summer Time 31 August

   17:50 BST 31 August

   FT: Coventry 0-1 Norwich

   Image source, Rex Features

   Of course, it's early days in the season, but Coventry's home defeat by Norwich means they have now lost two of their opening four Championship matches.

   Boss Mark Robins told BBC CWR that the loss to the Canaries was "very disappointing".

   "You've got to match the opponent for their work-rate before you earn the right to play any football," he said.

   "First half there was very little in it, we probably had the better chances and looked like we could go toe to toe with them and go on and beat them.

   "In the second half we got really disjointed, we stopped running and found it difficult to pick people up. The first rule in football, you've got to stay with your runners.

   "There was a disconnect between the players in areas (of the pitch), so we've got plenty of work to do on that."

9. Carrick 'proud' of Boro displaypublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 31 August

   17:45 BST 31 August

   FT: Cardiff 0-2 Middlesbrough

   Image source, PA Media

   Middlesbrough collected their second league win of the season in beating Cardiff, a result that was the perfect response to their Carabao Cup thrashing by Stoke.

   It means Boro are very much in the early pack of clubs who will be optimistic about their changes.

   “It was a really good win," said head coach Michael Carrick. "It was a bit different to the other games we’ve had, not as many shots or chances, but there were a lot of good things in the game.

   “The pitch was slow so it wasn’t easy to play quickly but I thought the boys did that well, largely. There was a five-minute spell [at the start of the second half] we had to weather. Other than that I thought we were good.

   “To get rewarded for the time we spend on set-pieces was really pleasing. After a strange week with the [transfer] window and the result we had in midweek [losing 5-0 to Stoke City in the EFL Cup], the boys dealt with that ever so well. I’m really proud of them.”

10. Cardiff 'have to score goals'published at 17:38 British Summer Time 31 August

    17:38 BST 31 August

    FT: Cardiff 0-2 Middlesbrough

    Cardiff's home defeat by Middlesbrough left them bottom of the table, with only one point from their opening four games. Worryingly, the only goal they have scored came in the South Wales derby draw at Swansea last weekend.

    “We didn't take our chances to score," said boss Erol Bulut. "I think first half it was a game where both sides didn't create chances. Second half, first 10-15 minutes, we had three or four positions to score.

    “Then you concede a goal from a set-piece, then an own goal which is unlucky, but when we get a chance to score you have to score. This is a problem we have right now.

    “How we spoke always about statistics, because statistics are nothing, we can speak about statistics and then everything is different. You have to score goals. And if not you have to run behind the result to get it done. And it's not easy against a quality team.”

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11. 'Fantastic performance' delights Rovers boss Eustacepublished at 17:32 British Summer Time 31 August

    17:32 BST 31 August

    FT: Burnley 1-1 Blackburn

    Blackburn head coach John Eustace was delighted by his side's battling qualities after they held Burnley to a 1-1 draw despite playing the majority of the second half with 10 men.

    Striker Makhtar Gueye was sent off in the 57th minute but Rovers held out to stay unbeaten in the Championship.

    "Very proud of the group, very proud of the effort," Eustace, who saw Andreas Weiman score a stunning equaliser for his side after Lyle Foster's opener, told BBC Radio Lancashire.

    "I thought it was a fantastic performance. We always knew here the first 20 minutes would be very hostile and the way they play with a very fast tempo.

    "The way we conceded was very poor but we grew into the game and we scored a fantastic goal.

    "That's why we brought Andy Weimann to the football club [because he has] great experience. What he brings is class on and off the pitch."

12. Burnley boss Parker 'frustrated' by derby pointpublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 31 August

    17:28 BST 31 August

    FT: Burnley 1-1 Blackburn

    Image source, Getty Images

    Burnley head coach Scott Parker said his side were "frustrated" to only draw the east Lancashire derby with Blackburn, despite playing for more than 30 minutes against 10 men.

    Lyle Foster gave Burnley an early lead, only for Andreas Weimann to level for Rovers before Makhtar Gueye was sent off.

    "I think we're frustrated. I thought we dominated the game at the start," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

    "We were 1-0 up and was well worthy of that. In terms of in and out of possession I thought we looked very good and then a wonder goal from them gives us a little bit of a jab on the nose.

    "The one disappointment from today is, once the sending off [happened], I felt we became a bit rushed. We were desperate to score but it probably went a bit against us a little bit."

13. Big spenders lead the way in League Onepublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 31 August

    17:24 BST 31 August

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    Image source, .

    Stockport lead the League One table, However, they dropped points for the first time this season having drawn with Mansfield.

    Wrexham's win at Peterborough takes them second while big spending Birmingham are third off the back of a dramatic late win against Wigan.

    Lincoln's win against Stevenage lifts them into the top four while Huddersfield lose ground on the leading pack having lost their Yorkshire derby against Rotherham.

    Barnsley, Reading, Bristol Rovers and Exeter City all move up having won on Saturday, the latter of which pulled off an impressive win at least season's play-off finalists Bolton.

14. Sunderland maintain perfect recordpublished at 17:21 British Summer Time 31 August

    17:21 BST 31 August

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    Image source, .

    Well this is how the top of the Championship looks this evening.

    Who had Sunderland leading the way headed into September having won all four games this season?

    West Brom are just behind having beaten Swansea while Leeds make their way up the table and are in fourth having beaten Hull.

    Middlesbrough's victory against Cardiff lifts them to seventh and victories for Oxford, Derby and Stoke against Preston, Bristol City and Plymouth respectively lifts them all into the top 10.

15. Plymouth, Cardiff and Luton still winlesspublished at 17:19 British Summer Time 31 August

    17:19 BST 31 August

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    Image source, Rex Features

    Defeats for Plymouth, Cardiff and Luton this weekend leave them without a league win this season and in the bottom three.

    Wayne Rooney's Plymouth went down 1-0 to Stoke at Home Park, while Cardiff lost 2-0 at home to Middlesbrough earlier on and Luton were beaten 2-1 by QPR at Kenilworth Road last night.

    Sunderland maintained their 100% start to the season with a 3-1 win at Portsmouth.

    They're joined in the automatic promotion places by West Bromwich Albion, who beat Swansea at The Hawthorns [1-0].

    Elsewhere, there was a first league win of the season for Millwall as they comfortably beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at The Den.

    There were wins for Leeds against Hull [2-0] and newly promoted Derby [3-0 against Bristol City] and Oxford Utd [3-1 against Preston], while Burnley and Blackburn played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.

    Norwich took home all three points in a 1-0 win away at Coventry.

16. Gills lead way in League Twopublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 31 August

    17:17 BST 31 August

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    Image source, .

    Gillingham finish August as the only side in League Two this term to reach double figures, courtesy of their home win against Chesterfield.

    But it's tight at the top with Walsall, Barrow, Newport County, Doncaster Rovers and AFC Wimbledon all on nine points.

    Notts County's win at Swindon Town, led by David McGoldrick, sends them seventh and two points off the leading Gills.

    Tranmere's win at Carlisle sends them eighth while defeat for Bradford and Bromley means they lose ground.

17. Full-time League One headlinespublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 31 August

    17:10 BST 31 August

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    Stockport are held to a point by Mansfield after a 1-1 draw and manage to stay top of the table on goal difference.

    But here come Wrexham, who after a comfortable 2-0 win over Peterborough are joint top on points.

    Birmingham are third, now also on 10 points, and left it late, but a stoppage-time goal from Scott Wright saw them beat Wigan to climb the table.

    Elsewhere, there were comfortable wins for Exeter, Bristol Rovers, Barnsley, Reading and Shrewsbury.

    Only Northampton v Burton was goalless.

18. Postpublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 31 August

    17:08 BST 31 August

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    Before we go any further, let's take a look at today's full-time headlines.

19. Albion 'roll with it' into promotion contenderspublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 31 August

    17:07 BST 31 August

    FT: West Brom 1-0 Swansea

    Sanny Rudravajhala
    BBC Radio 5 Live at The Hawthorns

    Thehome fans are heading out of the Hawthorns with Oasis' 'Roll with it' playingthem out and playing their players off the pitch.

    Albion should have put thisgame to bed way before Jayson Molumby's finish into first-half injurytime.

    Swanseawere much improved in the second half with Ji-Sung Eom lively and, Ithink, rightly having a penalty shout turned away.

    Albionmanaged to again find their feet and had a host of chances to add a secondbefore slipping into game management mode to see it out at The Hawthorns.On this showing, West Brom are looking a decent bet to be in thepromotion mix, d'you know what I mean?

20. Have your saypublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 31 August

    17:05 BST 31 August

    #bbcefl, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    What do you make of all that then? Have your say on how your team has got on today by using #bbcefl on X, formerly Twitter.

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