Business as usual for Boro despite Edwards unrest
Middlesbrough 2-1 Birmingham
Speculation about his future had been rumbling on all week and, on Saturday morning, it emerged Rob Edwards had been stood down by Middlesbrough for the visit of Birmingham to the Riverside, amid interest from Wolves.
The decision came only 137 days after he had been appointed on a three-year contract. Later came the confirmation he had been given permission to talk to Wolves.
The Teesside club could have done without the disruption: they were top of the Championship throughout September, but had only won two of their last eight.
But first-team coaches Adi Viveash and Harry Watling, and academy manager Craig Liddle stepped in - and it was business as usual when the Blues came to town, like nothing was untoward whatsoever.
The fans made their feelings towards Edwards clear in the form of a banner that read "Fans deserve to see people who really want to be here" and chants that cannot be repeated here.
And the mood was jubilant after the final whistle, with local boys Dael Fry and Hayden Hackney scoring the goals that sent Boro into the automatic promotion places.
Life will go on if Edwards does ultimately return to Wolves, and after this, Boro will feel as though they will be able to cope without him.
Dan Long
Mason-Clarke provides stunning end to an ugly Coventry win
A goal worthy of winning any game of football, anywhere. Ephron Mason-Clarke with a glorious bicycle kick winner for Coventry City in the 86th minute to steer them to a 1-0 win at Stoke.
It was a brave effort from the winger, who got injured in the act and ended up being forced off. But he may deem it a worthwhile sacrifice as it extended their lead at the top.
Frank Lampard's side now sit five points ahead of Middlesbrough in second, and seven clear of Stoke in third. It was their 10th win of the season after 15 games, and probably their ugliest scalp.
"We worked hard yesterday on having the best possible approach to winning this game." Lampard said.
"We showed that we had really good focus and work rate. The lads worked hard and carried out the approach perfectly. I thought we played really well and our off the ball work today was outstanding.
"We created chances, but not great chances. It needed that bit of extra skill and we got that with the goal. I think we deserved it for the way we approached the game. It was amazing quality for the goal, he has got that in him."
Eustace's winning return to Blackburn bodes well
John Eustace spoke about the long-term potential at Derby when, in February, he left Blackburn to join the club he finished his playing career at.
He succeeding in keeping the Rams in the Championship last term, but one or two Rovers fans will have raised a wry smile when Eustace's side endured a difficult start to 2025/26, with just one win from the first 10 league games.
It is a different story now. For the first time since October to December 2023, Derby have won five league games in succession - the latest of which came at Ewood Park. A pocket of home fans directed chants towards him at kick-off, but they were quietened by goals from Carlton Morris and Patrick Agyemang.
Yuki Ohashi pulled one back from the spot for Blackburn, but, after that, Derby again demonstrated the grit and resilience again that has been so important in this fruitful run, which has seen them also beat Norwich, QPR, Sheffield United and Hull.
To go into the last international break of 2025 in such form, and just a handful of points outside the play-off places, bodes very well indeed.
Dan Long
Louza finally emerges as one of the best midfielders in the Championship
The pass was sensational from Imran Louza to tee up the opener for Watford on Friday night, and you wonder where they would be without him.
Louza, now 26, has finally emerged as one of the best midfielders in the Championship. Based on his quality he always had that potential to be considered up there, but this season he is providing the results to prove it.
The ball to Marc Bola was his third assist of the season, while he has also scored six goals already in the Championship, making him the top scorer for the Hornets.
It is a record made all the more impressive by the fact he missed three games this season after a mad red card against QPR in August. He seems to have learned his lesson, and has largely been in possession of the captain's armband since.
Louza has been at Watford since 2021 and it feels as though he has spent a fair bit of that time either injured or halfheartedly trying to leave the club. Now he's fit and firing, and maybe he's finally realised his best way up is to just show how good he can be.
Simeon Gholam
Burgess suffers nightmare afternoon as he hands double gift to his old side
There are bad afternoons and there are nightmare afternoons, and for Cameron Burgess it was a nightmare afternoon.
The Swansea defender might have been hoping to show Ipswich what they were missing. He only left Portman Road in the summer after a four-year spell that had taken in two promotions and his first-ever Premier League minutes.
What happened was quite the opposite. The 30-year-old had just seen Goncalo Franco pull his side back level after Jack Clarke's opener, before he put the ball through his own net twice to take the game away from the Swans entirely.
It helped Ipswich return to winning ways after an underwhelming midweek draw at home to Watford, and to within two points of the play-off places - with a game in hand on the sides above.
Burgess may have just inadvertently played a role in a third promotion for Ipswich