League One, 10 games in...

Table Topping Orient Express as Blades Third 'Tear' Woes Continue

They say that after 10 games in a league season, it starts to take shape and the tone has been set.  If that's the case, we're in for an all action, exciting and close League One season.  We welcomed Peterborough United, Bristol City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bradford City, Rotherham United, Gillingham and Port Vale from the Championship and Leauge Two respectively and they've had contrasting starts to their campaigns.

On the rise

Out of the 4 promoted teams, two have carried on their momentum from last term.  Phil Parkinson's Wembley winners with the firepower of Nahki Wells have lifted themselves into 4th in the table.  With just one defeat and an impressive win at home to struggling Sheffield United and the demolishing of Brentford, the Bantoms look set for a good season.  Wells is currently injured, therefore maintaining their goalscoring prowess and keeping him fit once he returns, will clearly be the key to Bradford's season.

Second in the 'Promoted teams table' is Rotherham.  Under the guidance of Steve Evans, in their second season at their new home, they find themselves 6th, with a steady 5 wins, 4 draws and the one defeat to Peterborough. The highlight for the Millers will be the Yorkshire derby win at home to David Weir's Sheffield United, 3-1.

Next come Micky Adam's Port Vale. Vale have had a quiet start to their League One return, 14 point return leaving them 12th.  Last years' top scorer Tom Pope is once again looking good for the Vale Park outfit, already notching 5 times. Vale look set for a comfortable season back in the third tier.

Lastly come Kent side Gillingham, the Gills took a while to get going after a nightmare season in League One the last season they were there, not winning 1 away game and finding themselves relegated at the first attempt. After 8 games, things weren't looking a lot better for Gillingham but back to back wins over Crewe and MK Dons Martin Allen can feel a lot better. 9 points for Allen's side.  It won't be an easy ride for the Gills but avoiding relegation is well within their grasp.

Weathering the storm

After a topsy turvy season last time around and an exciting final day of the championship side for the neutral, Darren Ferguson's Peterborough found themselves back in League One.  Relegated with the most points on record from the Championship (if you haven't heard Barry Fry state this 100 times already) the Posh were backed by many for a first time return.  Unsurprisingly, Peterborough started like a train, 23 goals in their first 7 league and cup games set the tone and 22 goals in their first 10 league games combined with a tightened defence conceding just 8, Peterborough have been hard to beat.  Record signing Britt Assombalonga has been on fire and the Posh sit second, well placed to have a go at staying in the automatic promotion places.

What a nightmare two seasons for Wolves. Relegation from the Premier League followed by a shambolic season in the Championship saw them end up in the third tier for the first time since 1989. Efficient if not lighting up the league, losing just once in a midlands derby with Walsall. Their most impressive win being a 4-0 hammering of Gillingham at home in early September.  Wolves sit level on points and goal difference Posh under new manager Kenny Jackett, just behind Peterborough on goals scored.

In contrast to these two is Bristol City, their dismal season carrying forward into this term.  They find themselves 20th.  Without a win, on 6 points. With 6 draws and 15 goals scored, it is clear what the problem is for Sean O'Driscoll's side.  As soon as they sort the defensive side of things, a charge up the table looks inevitable.

Surprise packages

Without a doubt, the story of the League One so far this season has been table topping Leyton Orient.  Finishing just outside the play-offs last season, not many would have tipped Russell Slade's side to make the best start to a campaign ever by an Orient squad, with 8 wins from their first 8 games, Orient are the only unbeaten side in League One.  A point clear at the summit, time will only tell if Kevin Lisbie, David Mooney and company will be able to maintain their rampant start.

At the other end of the spectrum is Sheffield United.  2 play-off losses in as many seasons saw Danny Wilson's time at Bramall Lane come to an end, to be replaced by first time manager David Weir.  The Blades board may be regretting this.  With just one win coming on the opening day of the season, Sheffield United lie 22nd having crumbled, losing 7 of their 10 games and the lowest scoring team in the league, nothing looks to be going right for the Steel city club.  They will need to improve fast, or the trap door will start to open.

In the play-offs

Preston are the last side I haven't mentioned in the play-off section so far.  Under experienced manager Simon Grayson who already had 2 League One promotions on his CV, Preston look well set for a good season, like Rotherham they have won 5, drew 4 and lost 1. As they undertake their 3rd League One season, Preston have strength in depth across the pitch with lots of experience. They will be looking for at least a play-off finish this season.

In the doldrums

With just one win apiece and 16 points between them, Sheffield United are partnered in the bottom for by Crewe (21st) Stevenage (23rd) and Tranmere (24th).  Crewe have struggled in their second season back in League One, holding the unwanted record of having the worst defence up to this point in the league, shipping 25 in 10.  A 5-0 loss to Swindon, 4-0 to Notts County and 3-0 losses to Crewe and Walsall have shown they need to stop letting in goals. 

Stevenage in conceding 4 to MK Dons and Oldham, also 3 to Preston and Carlisle have had a similar problem.  Lack of goals and letting them in at the other end has taken its toll.  Their third season in League One looks set to be a struggle.

12 months ago, Tranmere were flying.  Top of the table and looking to be running away with it, oh how things change.  A year on they find themselves propping up the same league they were tearing up this time last season.  Without a win at home and conceding almost 3 goals a game, their problem has been at Prenton Park.  The back end of last season has continued as they've slumped to the basement of League One and Ronnie Moore will have to turn this around.

Best of the rest

If it wasn't for administration and turmoil off the field, Coventry would be finding themselves in 7th place.  Coventry had their play-off hopes ended by a 10 point deduction last season.  They started this term with another and set out to wipe that out early.  Within mid September they'd done this, after a start to the season that reflected the off field situation.  Their first 4 games producing 26 goals, the pick of the bunch being a 5-4 win against Bristol City at Sixfields.  This is great for the neutrals but for manager Steven Presely he won't be happy.  Things have calmed down since and the Sky Blues hold 18th after 5 wins and 2 draws. Without their deduction they would sit 7th.

The team that do currently sit 7th however are MK Dons.  The Dons are looking to improve on a disappointing 2012/13 and made a good start. 7 undefeated before a 2 defeats split by an impressive 4-1 win against lowly Stevenage saw the momentum holted.  In Patrick Bamford, Karl Robinson has an in form striker on his hands and it will be mainly on the young head of Bamford to keep the Dons season going. 

Next in the running are Crawley and Walsall.  Walsall finished just outside the top 6 last season and have looked impressive, a win over Wolverhampton being their best result to date.  Replacing the goals of Will Grigg, Febian Brandy and Jamie Peterson was the objective of the summer for the Saddlers and have managed 11 in 10 games.  Conceding 10, they have had a steady start and will be looking to kick on.  Crawley are similar. With more goals scored and conceded, Richie Barker's men sit a point above Walsall in 8th and have had a fairly quiet start.

Lying in 10th are last season's play-off finalists Brentford.  The Bees were tipped to push the top 2 this season but this hasn't happened. Disappointing results like the 4-0 thrashing by Brentford have been a character of the stop-start nature to the opening months of the West London side's season so far.

After Brentford it's Swindon.  Play-off semi finalists last time around, many people weren't sure what to expect from the Robins as they headed into the season managerless.  Under the calming influence of Mark Robins and with the sly signing of Niall Ranger plus 5 signings from Tottenham, Swindon have been steady, recording a 5-0 win at home to Crewe but also losing 4 games along the way.

Carlisle started very poorly.  It took the Cumbrians till mid September to record their first win but following a 4 game unbeaten run under new manager Graham Kavanagh, Carlisle are 13th.  

Lying in 14th and 15th respectively are Colchester and Shrewsbury.  Keen to avoid last seasons relegation scrap, Colchester have been solid winning 2 and drawing 5.  Shrewsbury have gone quietly about their business drawing 6 of their 10 games, these two look set for a quiet mid-table season.

Oldham have employed the youngest manager in the football league in Lee Johnson, son of Yeovil manager Gary.  Like the U's, Oldham don't want another relegation scrap and have lost 6 of their first 10 landing them 17th.  They will need to improve if they are to avoid a repeat of last season.

Last but not least are Notts County.  A quiet season last year had County fans asking for the top 6 this season.  However a dismal start had them hoping just to be out the bottom 4.  It took till late September for a win to come after just 1 point from their opening 7 league games. Form has improved lately at Meadow Lane lifting them to 19th and the Magpies will be looking to edge away from the bottom 4.

What a start

So, after 10 games each in the Skybet League One, I think we're in for a cracker.  Twists and turns right through till May will be in store and I'm certainly looking forward to the next 10!

League One table:

1. Leyton Orient 2. Peterborough United 3. Wolves 4. Bradford 5. Preston 6. Rotherham 7. MK Dons 8. Crawley 9. Walsall 10. Brentford 11. Swindon 12. Port Vale 13. Carlisle 14. Colchester 15. Shrewsbury 16. Gillingham 17. Oldham 18. Coventry 19. Notts County 20. Bristol City 21. Crewe 22. Sheffield United 23. Stevenage 24. Tranmere