EFL news: MK Dons, Burton Albion and Leyton Orient win big as Salford’s Fireball promo backfires
Despite it being the international break – every football fan’s worst nightmare – the English Football League has plodded on.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Charlie Gardner takes a look at what happened in the EFL this week.
League Two
Plenty of games went on in League Two this week, with Swindon Town vs Notts County the only one to get postponed due to the latter’s international call-ups.
Oldham Athletic 0-0 Barrow AFC – Borefest!
Oldham Athletic hosted Barrow in a game that the home side ended up dominating.
However, neither team managed to score and the result was a bore-draw for two sides having underwhelming seasons thus far.
With that said, Oldham fans will undoubtedly be happy to stay up after years away, and it would be fair to say that the club is lacking at both ends of the pitch – ranking low in the league’s scoring charts and sitting atop the conceding charts.
Could being newcomers relieve pressure on the management of Micky Mellon or do the fans need to demand more?
Barrow have experienced a similar story since the departure of gaffer Pete Wild.
The former Oldham coach had the Bluebirds firmly pushing for promotion, and they narrowly missed out the season before his unexpected sacking.
Head coach Andy Whing came in with a relatively decent pedigree, having impressed at Solihull Moors before their eventual defeat to Bromley in the 2023/24 National League play-off final.
Whing has certainly earned the chance to showcase himself in the EFL, leading me to believe Barrow simply had lightning in a bottle with Wild that will be near impossible to replicate with another manager.
Bristol Rovers 0-4 MK Dons – Big expectations
Over the summer, both Bristol Rovers and MK Dons invested heavily after disappointing campaigns.
Rovers switched management, bringing in club legend Darrell Clarke, who achieved back-to-back promotions in a previous stint.
Meanwhile, MK Dons appointed former Derby man Paul Warne, thus bringing Championship pedigree to the club.
The two sides then added to their squads by signing players considered to be above League Two standard.
Those big deals seemed like major statements of intent ahead of the new season.
Despite a slow start to the campaign, losing all of their first three matches, the Gas managed to find their feet and put a winning run together.
That undefeated run lasted until they met current league leaders Walsall as they lost 2-1 to the Saddlers.
MK Dons are not a side to be scoffed at either – investment shows they are a powerhouse team and they have the results to back it up.
Having said that, they have invested plenty in their squad to little avail over the last two League Two campaigns.
Graham Alexander, a known winner, was out of a job just months into his first season.
Hot prospect Mike Williamson then likewise failed to achieve promotion with a flashy style that flattered to deceive.
Current boss Warne is more than just another League Two manager, though, as he seems to live and breathe promotion.
With three yo-yo promotions at Rotherham and one at Derby, all from League One, he’s the man to pick if you want to go up.
Yet, much like their opponents, cracks have still been visible.
Losses to other promotion-chasing sides like Grimsby and Walsall are most certainly not wild results.
Those teams are at the top-end for a reason, but given the level of investment at MK Dons, such results may be a sign that something isn’t quite working.
As a result, it’s all about fixing certain things to reap the rewards of the heavy financial backing in the summer.
For me, it’s too soon to judge where exactly Rovers will finish in League Two this term.
Darrell Clarke is absolutely the right man as he fits the club and knows it well, plus he has the supporters’ backing despite the high expectations.
You can be sure they will have a good campaign, but I’m just not sure where exactly they’ll end up.
Overall, it’s not unreasonable to say that there’s no shame in losing to MK Dons.
But if you’re Bristol Rovers, should there be any circumstances under which you are losing 4-0? I’m not so sure about that.
Then again, MK Dons are essentially a League One–ready side on paper.
On either side, I think this result is one that serves as a bit of a motivator – the Dons now know they are capable of winning comfortably, but they need to keep it moving, while Bristol Rovers will need to put this behind them and move on, otherwise it will be a sign of worse to come.
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Salford’s Fireball promo
This is less about the match and more a lighter bit of news.
Fair play to Chesterfield in managing to bounce back from their unacceptable loss to Colchester last week, but they’ve been overshadowed by a more bizarre story.
Salford City, sponsored by beverage company Fireball, came up with a hilariously creative way to promote their sponsors in a feat that came back to bite them after the full-time result.
Suspended in the air by crane, supporters were held outside the ground in such a way that they were able to watch the match while still able to get around the EFL ruling banning fans from drinking while in attendance.
Take a look at the stunt here in Chesterfield’s comeback post celebrating the 2-0 win.
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League One
Around half of League One was suspended through call-ups this week, but there was no shortage of surprise regardless.
Burton Albion 3-0 Bolton Wanderers – The ‘Nearly’ ones
What a shocker! Going into this one, there really wouldn’t have been many people who’d entertain the idea of a Burton win, let alone such a heavy one.
Burton have been uninspiring to say the least.
After a takeover in the summer of 2024 followed by heavy poaching of some of League Two’s best assets, fans were inclined to expect the dawn of a successful new era.
However, most of those players quickly left, resulting in a collapse last term that culminated in a ‘great escape’ from the relegation spots under the management of Gary Bowyer.
This season could have been different, with a new manager having full control and a smaller dressing room set-up.
Unfortunately, it has started off eerily similar to the last, with the side once again in the relegation zone.
Bolton Wanderers, on the other hand, have similar experiences on the opposite end.
Each year in League One, they seem to come close to promotion without ever making it.
This term, they’ve struggled to put any sort of run together, barring a four-game drawing streak that saw them fail to beat sides who have struggled so far in Blackpool, Reading, and Barnsley.
A win against Plymouth Argyle flattered to deceive, while comprehensive victories came against 10-man Wimbledon and a struggling Wigan Athletic outfit.
Ultimately the result speaks for itself here, with Burton grabbing a big win while hardly putting in their best performance – something good teams do.
Bolton have struggled, yes, but getting such a big win while not being the favourite is something that should provide immense confidence to a Burton side that needs it.
Burton must now use this as a springboard to push on and capitalise against a struggling Peterborough United this week in a game that could change the course of the season.
For Bolton, the 3-0 drubbing is a wake-up call.
They’ve had a couple of decent games so far and possess a great squad, but I don’t think the wins are enough to convince anyone that things are going right just yet.
Losing Evatt felt like what the club needed to do to progress, but the issues persisting at the club point once again to those in charge.
Manager Schumacher has pedigree in League One, though, and it is only his first season, so I say give him some time.
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Leyton Orient 4-0 Doncaster Rovers – Hands off!
Following the departures of Steve Bruce at Blackpool and Matt Bloomfield at Luton Town, Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens’ future has been the subject of intense speculation – and you can see exactly why.
Since missing out at Wembley last year, Leyton Orient are experiencing a bit of a hangover.
After losing key players like Charlie Kelman and Ethan Galbraith over the summer, it’s been a big ask to replace them.
The results show a squad that has been shaken by the shortcomings of last season, losing to sides like Mansfield and Northampton who, with respect, should not be aiming as high as the O’s.
Amongst the opposition have been tough challenges like Cardiff City and Stevenage, sides that are filtering their way to the top of the league as the season progresses.
To cap it all off, Doncaster Rovers started perfectly.
League winners last season, the Yorkshire side came up and established themselves almost immediately, waltzing into September by brushing off countless League One sides.
That run included an impressive humiliation of fellow newcomers Bradford City, something that was interpreted as a sign of the team’s competence.
Unfortunately for them, the wins stopped there and Doncaster seem to have collapsed a little bit, failing to beat Wigan, Burton, and even Wimbledon who had been tipped for relegation in the summer.
Yet, even though it seems like they can’t buy a win at the moment, Doncaster are another example of a side with a tailor-made manager in charge.
Grant McCann has managed them in League One before, making the play-offs before being poached by Hull City.
He knows the club and the fans have blind faith in him.
Indeed, in 2024, the club skyrocketed at the business end of the season from the bottom end of League Two to the play-offs, fell short, and then won the league the next year.
On the other hand, Wellens has been a beacon of success at Leyton Orient, taking them from League Two nothingness to an established League One powerhouse.
If there’s anyone to be at the helm of the club, you want it to be Wellens – you really can see why he is so sought after in the market.
Both of these clubs seem to be in completely different situations but share a sense of crisis while being under the best manager for the job possible.
Strangely, the two sets of fans will be as frustrated with recent results as they are confident with those in charge.
Conclusion
It was a busy week in the EFL, even if there was one league missing.
Everyone’s back in business this week and there’s plenty to keep an eye on.
Most notably, the response from Bristol Rovers will be interesting, while an eye has to be kept on Walsall’s potential for revenge from last season.
Managers in League One are coming and going, but who will be put in charge to steady the ships of Blackpool and Luton? Will Darren Ferguson evade sacking yet again at Peterborough?
Over in the Championship, will anyone manage to knock Coventry off their throne?
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