The EFL Championship kicked off this weekend with more eyes on it than ever, as celebrity-owned Wrexham AFC and Birmingham City both began their campaigns in the second division. 12 matches kicked across the country, and here’s everything you need to know from the first weekend of EFL Championship action.
Southampton defeats Wrexham in a Hollywood-style scenario
All eyes were on newly promoted Wrexham when they visited recently relegated Southampton in Saturday’s early kick-off. Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney invested in some statement signings over the summer, with striker Kieffer Moore, central midfielder Lewis O’Brien, and defender Conor Coady all starting the season opener.
Both sides started brightly. Wrexham nearly took the lead in the 8th minute when Josh Windass whipped in a cross to Conor Coady at the back post, whose point-blank effort went over the crossbar. Windass looked the most threatening player on the pitch for Wrexham, hitting the crossbar a few minutes later, and linking up well with new striker Moore.
Those two combined in the 20th minute to give Wrexham the lead. They broke quickly as Windass played a well-weighted through ball, which sent Moore through on goal. Defender Ronnie Edwards pushed the big Welsh striker in the back when he entered the Southampton box, giving away a penalty. Windass stepped up and dispatched the penalty to give the visitors the lead.
Southampton had plenty of chances to equalize. Conor Coady cleared Adam Armstrong’s effort off the line in the dying moments of the first half, and the Saints also had a strong appeal for a penalty early in the second half. Shea Charles’s effort deflected off the hand of Max Clemworth, but the referee didn’t see it.
Southampton manager Will Still made several changes in the hope of getting his side back in the game, including the addition of US men’s national team striker Damion Downs, who joined the club last month from Bundesliga side FC Köln.
However, despite conceding 75% possession and over 20 shots, the away side seemed as if they were on their way to securing the three points. That was until Wrexham midfielder George Dobson fouled Shea Charles in a dangerous area a few yards out from the Wrexham box.
It was substitute wing back Ryan Manning who stepped up to take the free kick, the Irishman bent a beautiful shot over the wall and into the top left corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance.
The Saints didn’t sit back on their equalizer. In the 96th minute, Charles played a pinpoint long ball from his half, which floated into Manning in the Wrexham penalty area, who took it down with his chest before playing it across goal. Damion Downs missed it, but Southampton captain Jack Stephens slid in at the back post to win the game at the death. It was vintage Championship drama.
Both sides can take positives from the game. Will Still’s side created loads of chances, finishing the match with 10 shots on target and an xG over 4. They also showed character to come back and win in stoppage time, which is impressive for a squad that lost so many games in the Premier League last year. But Phil Parkinson will be pleased with the way his side battled, showing they’re fit for this division, and especially with the promising link-up play between Josh Windass and Kieffer Moore.
Bristol City delivers the performance of the weekend
In arguably the marquee match-up of the weekend. Sheffield United, who lost to Sunderland in the Championship playoff final last season, hosted Bristol City. The away side was playing their first competitive match since losing 3-0 to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in the playoff semi-final last year.
Ruben Selles’s Sheffield United were the favorites to win the game, and one of the favorites for promotion. However, Bristol City dominated the home side from the off.
It took just five minutes for the visitors to take the lead. Scott Twine won a free kick in a perfect position, centrally located a few yards outside the box, and added to his recent record of free kick brilliance with a stunning effort into the top left corner.
The home side initially responded well, Tyrese Campbell equalizing in the fourteenth minute after new signing Callum O’Hare did well to win the ball in the final third. But after that, it was one-way traffic.
A well-played ball down the left channel found new striker Emil Riis Jakobsen in the 26th minute. The Dane picked out Scott Twine in the box, who laid the ball off for the overlapping right wing back Ross McCrorie. McCrorie’s finish was pinpoint; hard, low, and across the keeper.
Bristol City withstood some attacking pressure to end the half, Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry forcing an especially good save from goalkeeper Radek Vitek.
Their third goal came just 40 seconds into the second half. Poor play out from the back from Sheffield United resulted in a turnover, with Twine picking up the ball on the right side and passing it off to Jakobsen.
Jakobsen beat his man down the line and delivered a nice cross into the box, where winger Anis Mehmeti swivelled and finished first time past Michael Cooper.
Similarly, poor play from the back led to Bristol City’s fourth, defender Rhys Norrington-Davies playing a pass straight to Ross McCrorie, who picked out Twine in the box. This time, his strike wasn’t quite as sweet, taking a heavy deflection which took it over the keeper.
Gerhard Struber will be over the moon with his side’s performance. Their front three of Twine, Jakobsen, and Mehmeti all notched either a goal or assist. Their press frustrated Sheffield United, and they capitalized on the turnovers. While the wing-backs, who are asked to contribute a lot in a back five, did just that. Bristol City fans will be expecting another trip to the playoffs after that match.
Stoke City’s Sorba Thomas shines on his debut
Scott Twine’s two goals and an assist were certainly worthy of the Player of the Week title, but new Stoke City winger Sorba Thomas’s late-game heroics in his side’s 3-1 win against Derby County earn him the accolade this week.
The first goal of the match didn’t come until the 60th minute, when, arguably against the run of play, newly signed Derby County striker Carlton Morris connected well with Corey Blackett-Taylor’s cross to volley home a 1-0 advantage for the visitors.
Sorba Thomas nearly got his side’s equalizer a few minutes later, showcasing his pace to run onto a through ball and take it around the keeper, but his shot went wide and into the side netting.
But a few minutes later, the 25-year-old Welsh winger picked up the ball on the left wing and laid it off for Lewis Baker, who bent it beautifully into the far right corner to equalize in the 70th minute.
It was a similar move in the 95th minute that gave Stoke the lead. This time, Thomas picked up the ball on the right flank and played it to Tatsuki Seko, whose cross found Divin Mubamba to head it in for 2-1.
Thomas got his goal in the final thirty seconds of the match, Jamie Donley playing him through on goal for an easy finish to cap off his brilliant competitive debut performance.