In a weekend where a few games were cancelled due to Storm Darragh, those who managed to continue played as normal as they possibly could in the adverse conditions.
Two young wingers scored braces for the club whose academy they came from, and a proper number nine scored a proper number nine’s hat-trick, with plenty of other action across the games and across the team.
Here is Charlie Elliott’s EFL Team of the Week as Christmas approaches and the EFL schedule gets ever busier.
Josh Keeley (Leyton Orient)
The Leyton Orient goalkeeper, Josh Keeley, kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win against Wigan Athletic, making it five in eight games so far this season.
In truth, he did not have a huge amount to do against the Latics, but what made him stand out over others was the fact he got himself an assist.
Having previously scored against another team nicknamed the Latics (Oldham Athletic) recently in the FA Cup, Keeley’s record will be worrying a few strikers who may be embarrassed to see a keeper outperforming them at the top of the pitch.
Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers)
With a clean sheet and an instinctive finish to his name in QPR‘s 3-0 win against Norwich City, Irishman Jimmy Dunne had a great game from right-back.
Alongside his attacking exploits, he managed to keep Borja Sainz quiet, which is something that hasn’t happened very often recently, with the Spaniard having netted 15 goals in 19 games already this season.
Joe Rodon (Leeds United)
Welsh centre-back Joe Rodon has been a different class since joining Leeds United at the start of last season, and in their 2-0 win against Derby County, he proved just why many believe he is the best in the league in his position.
Not only did he get himself a goal from a corner, but he also dictated the play from the back and completed a game-high 96 passes in total.
Leeds’ title challenge needs to be built on a strong defence, and Rodon provides just that.
Torbjoern Lysaker Heggem (West Bromwich Albion)
The Baggies drew yet again, making it 10 out of their past 11 games, but their recent 2-2 draw to Sheffield United will feel like a win, with it being against the league leaders.
Torbjoern Lysaker Heggem himself was a rock despite two conceded, with his fellow defenders being more at fault for the goals – and a goal from a corner to open the scoring was also a big reason why he made it into this team.
The Norwegian has adapted well to life in England after a move from Swedish side Brommapojkarna and will hope his team-mates step up and get some more wins on the board.
Lewis Brunt (Wrexham)
English defender Lewis Brunt was deployed at left centre-back in a three in Wrexham’s 1-0 win away to Burton Albion but gets in this team at left-back as it wasn’t possible to leave him out.
He won absolutely everything, with 12 duels won and three tackles made.
Nothing got past him, and the 24-year-old has the world at his feet at the moment since joining permanently from Leicester City.
Joe Rothwell (Leeds United)
As someone who has struggled for regular game time in recent years, the renaissance of Joe Rothwell is great to see for a neutral.
In their 2-0 win over Derby, he led in true midfielder fashion, with a great assist from a corner as well as a total of three chances created.
Classy, composed and a great partner for Ao Tanaka, Rothwell was immense.
Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland)
What can be said about Jobe Bellingham that hasn’t already been said?
The kid has absolutely everything and is already a great Championship player despite only being 19-years-old.
An assist for Tommy Watson (which in truth wasn’t exactly brilliant playmaking) and some general play that ran the midfield gets Bellingham a deserved spot in this side.
Ben Wiles (Huddersfield Town)
The former Rotherham United defender, Ben Wiles, is realistically too good for League One – with his tidy performances for Huddersfield Town in the Championship last season.
He is a man who is really enjoying his football and with the Terriers moving up to fourth following a 2-1 away win at Mansfield Town, he will have promotion in his mind.
Wiles scored the opener with a neat finish from a tight angle, but his chance creation set him apart from others, having amassed a total of five created in the game.
Rayan Kolli (Queens Park Rangers)
A star is born.
Young Algerian winger Rayan Kolli deserved every ounce of praise he received after QPR’s 3-0 win over Norwich, after bagging a brace in what was a brilliant display from the 19-year-old.
His first was a header that any veteran striker would have been proud of, with his second being even better, having run from halfway into space to then rifle the ball low and past Angus Gunn.
These were his first goals in senior football but almost certainly not his last.
Harry Smith (Swindon Town)
A perfect hat-trick in possibly the most fitting fashion during a weekend ravaged by Storm Darragh.
His first two goals were very scrappy, but his third was a thunderous strike into the roof of the net.
Neither Harry Smith nor Swindon fans will care if it wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing three goals, with the 3-1 win against Fleetwood Town taking the Robins out of the relegation zone.
In typical Smith fashion, he also won 15 duels and showed why he is such a deadly target man.
Tommy Watson (Sunderland)
From Kolli to Watson, young and technical wingers scoring a brace was the fashion this weekend, with the Sunderland prodigy netting twice in their 2-1 win against Stoke City.
He may have been fortunate with his late winner having taken a huge deflection, but this kid is special.
Having glided past defenders like it was nothing all afternoon in only his fifth start of the season, he just seems to have turned a screw to become a great player.
His right foot has a strike in it too and he will score plenty of goals with it in years to come.
