EFL Five Talking Points: Swansea City stumble as MK Dons and Norwich City find form

Hello and welcome to my five talking points for this week. 

We will be looking into what’s gone wrong at Swansea City as the Welsh side have lost three of their last four matches. 

Both MK Dons and Norwich City have responded to difficult starts to the season by winning their last three matches.

We’ll also assess whether anyone can stop Huddersfield Town, with the Terriers setting the pace at the top of League One.

Finally, we’ll look at the pressure mounting on Colchester United boss Danny Cowley, with the Essex side sitting in the relegation zone.

Let’s get into it.

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Swansea losing their way?

Swansea’s recent form has seen them slip down the Championship table, with three defeats in their last four outings.

That run includes losses to West Ham, QPR and most recently Portsmouth, who defeated the Swans 3-1 on Tuesday evening.

Their only victory during that spell came in a 4-0 thumping of Blackburn Rovers, leaving Vitor Matos’ side fourth after previously sitting at the top of the table.

Next up for the Welsh side is a visit to second-placed Birmingham City at the weekend. The Blues have lost just twice all season, so the Swans will need to be on form to get a result. 

Adam Idah has hit the back of the net four times and he could prove pivotal in Birmingham. 

MK Dons revival 

MK Dons had to wait eight games for their first league win of the season, which finally arrived in a 2-1 victory over Luton Town.

Paul Warne’s side then suffered just one defeat – a 2-0 loss away to Blackpool – before embarking on their current winning run.

The Dons have scored 11 goals across their last three matches, starting with a 1-0 victory over Stevenage before a 4-1 thumping of struggling Bromley.

Last weekend, they produced their biggest result yet, thrashing Doncaster Rovers 6-1 in a real Halloween fright for Grant McCann’s side.

Welsh striker Aaron Collins has surprisingly missed out on an international call-up, despite the 29-year-old hitting the back of the net 13 times for the Dons in just as many games. 

Up next for the Dons is a potential banana skin this weekend against League Two side Swindon Town in the FA Cup first round.

Norwich City hit their stride

Norwich made an inconsistent start to the Championship campaign, winning three and losing three of their opening six league matches.

However, things took a turn for the worse as the Canaries suffered five consecutive defeats, piling the pressure on manager Philippe Clement.

The players have since responded in impressive fashion, putting that run behind them with three straight victories.

A 3-1 win over Charlton Athletic was followed by a hard-fought comeback victory against Watford, before Tuesday evening’s 4-0 thumping of Derby County.

Just how far can Norwich go this season? Could the play-offs or even promotion be within reach?

Their progress will face another test on Saturday with a tricky away trip to Bristol City.

Who can stop Huddersfield Town?

Huddersfield have been beaten just once in the league this season, and their confidence will be sky-high after last weekend’s emphatic 3-0 West Yorkshire derby victory over Bradford City.

That defeat came against Bromley, who edged out the Terriers 2-1 back in September.

Martin Drury’s side have since continued to impress, picking up important wins against fellow promotion hopefuls Bradford and Oxford United as they look to secure a return to the Championship.

A midweek 1-1 draw against Luton Town means they sit three points clear of Stockport County and Oxford at the top of the table.

Derensili Sanches-Fernandes and Joe Taylor have been particularly influential, with the pair contributing 25 goals and assists between them as they continue to cause problems for League One defences.

Next up for the Terriers is an FA Cup home tie against Exeter City on Saturday.

Can Danny Cowley keep his job at Colchester United?

Danny Cowley is under increasing pressure at Colchester, with the U’s slipping into the League Two relegation zone after a ten-game winless run.

The Essex side have managed just two league victories all season, with six draws and five defeats from their opening 13 matches leaving them second-bottom of the table.

Three defeats in their last five outings have added to the pressure, including a 3-1 home loss to Walsall, a 1-0 defeat at Newport County and a 2-0 reverse against Northampton Town.

Cowley will be desperate for a change in fortunes when Colchester host Worcester City in the FA Cup on Saturday, with a victory offering the chance to lift confidence and provide some much-needed relief.

That’s all from me this week. Enjoy your weekend, and hopefully your team gets a win!

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