League Two's top 7 tightens up, Lowe sparks Rovers Return, and Boro blow it again...
17 February 2025 | Weekend Notes brings you the biggest stories, stats and insights from the EFL weekend.
● BIG STORIES ● CHEAT SHEET ● 5IVELIGHTS ● THE VIEW FROM ● FORM BOOK ● FANTASY FOOTBALL ●
Head over heels…
I was a witting casualty of ‘limbs’ this weekend. I toppled down the concourse and my cranium connected with a metal safe-standing rail, as a late and arguably undeserved winner flew in. Let the record show that I was returning from a quick trip to the loo and got caught up in the sweep of it all, rather than any problem with a frankly superb safe-standing area.
Head over heels for the EFL, eh? After a weekend like this, who wouldn’t be?
🚨 Big Stories
A selection of decisive moments from across the EFL
🔀 League Two promotion battle: Ali Maxwell on the movers and shakers
Momentum shifted, resilience showed, and the race tightened at the top. Here’s what you need to know.
Thursday: 6th vs 2nd. Port Vale beat Notts County as Ronan Curtis squeezed in the game’s only goal, late on – a nightmare for Notts, who dominated the first half but left empty-handed. Vale’s December slump is so last year: that’s seven unbeaten in 2025.
Saturday lunchtime: 4th vs 7th. Wimbledon’s home fortress held firm in a 1-0 win over Karl Robinson’s Salford, taking them up to 2nd. Wimbledon’s 16th clean sheet, three more than anyone else, underpins their charge. League Two’s top scorer, Matty Stevens, hit Goal No.20 in all comps – but was there a foul in the build-up? Dons fans don’t care: Robinson’s MK past made this all the sweeter, as did Johnnie Jackson having begun his coaching career under him at Charlton. Meanwhile, Doncaster lost 2-1 at home to Grimsby; Grant McCann called it Donny’s worst performance of the season, while Grimsby sit just off the leading pack as we turn for home.
And at 3pm: Walsall hit back after a winless run, coming from behind to beat Chesterfield 3-1. Three shots on target, three goals – two from Nathan Lowe’s replacements, Ellis Harrison and Levi Amantchi. Eight points clear. And Bradford and Crewe played out goalless draws on the road, with the Bantams climbing to 3rd.
🔵 Hoop-erb — QPR 4-0 Derby — In a league where nine of the bottom 12 clubs have changed managers this season, QPR kept faith in Martí Cifuentes – and it’s paying off. A dominant 4-0 win, boosted by Ilias Chair’s sparkling return and an impressive full debut for 18-year-old Min-Hyeok Yang, makes it 21 points from the last 24 available at Loftus Road. John Eustace left a play-off chase at Blackburn for a relegation scrap at Derby, and got a close-up look at the job on his hands.
🍻 Rovers return to form — Blackburn 2-0 Plymouth Argyle — Since Eustace left, caretaker boss David Lowe has won two from two. Adam Forshaw, who left Argyle in January, scored his first goal in nine years – a beauty, to boot – and seemingly celebrated in front of the opposition dugout… except it was actually directed at the player’s family, above it. Still, don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story. Tyrhys Dolan sealed it with a goal and a front flip, helping Blackburn to stay five points clear of Coventry in 7th. Frank Lampard’s side are firmly in the play-off race, though, thanks to a late winner at Hillsborough.
📉 Who wants to be a xGillionaire? — Middlesbrough 0-1 Watford — Boos at half-time, full-time and in between. Frustration boiling over. A season sliding into mediocrity. Boro are 3rd in the league for xG but nowhere near hitting expectation where it matters, and having lost four in a row, they’ve crashed from apparent top-six locks all the way down to 11th, clinging to the top half on goal difference. A game in hand offers a lifeline, at least, though the table shows they’re 50/50 to win it. Were Steve Gibson to ask the audience, they might be encouraging him to phone a friend…
💡 Northern lights — Barnsley 1-2 Huddersfield — Needing a lifeline of their own, Huddersfield were winless in five and 1-0 down before they grabbed two goals in three minutes to turn around this tie and, perhaps, their direction of travel. Josh Koroma and Ben Wiles stunned Oakwell on 59’ and 61’ (Koroma having just replaced the Terriers’ new toy, Dion Charles) for a huge win that kept them in the top six while pushing an out-of-form Barnsley further away from it.
🧹 Defying gravity — Bristol Rovers 3-1 Burton Albion, Cambridge 0-1 Exeter — The improvement from League One’s dropzone-dwellers threatened to suck in other teams like a black hole, but while Posh can’t escape the vortex, the Gas and the Grecians managed to avoid getting pulled into it. Bristol Rovers ended Burton’s six-match unbeaten streak, Chris Martin scoring the opener and assisting another couple; Burton had taken the game’s last eight shots when Fabio Tavares turned in their equaliser, so it can’t have felt great to see Luke Thomas re-establish Rovers’ lead with their next effort on goal. Out-of-sorts Exeter just needed to find a win against rock-bottom Cambridge any way they could, so fine margins were fine by them: Ryan Loft failed to head in a high cross, Josh Magennis succeeded, and that was the difference.
🍤 Shrimply the best — Morecambe 2-0 Accrington — This was a colossal win for Morecambe, who closed the gap to safety by beating their local rivals and relegation candidates. Lee Angol’s header put the Shrimps ahead early in the second half and Ged Garner sealed it late with a volley. Accrington will rue missed opportunities: this latest turn in the relegation battle means they’re only four points ahead of 23rd-placed Morecambe, who have now narrowed the gap to Tranmere in 22nd to just two points. They’ll all be cursing Harrogate’s first win in six, which keeps them just above the drop zone.
📊 Monday Morning Cheat Sheet
From the WhatsApp group to the watercooler: stats to keep you ahead of the game.
🥘 A Hot Pot — Following a 0-0 draw, Preston are now unbeaten in nine home league games (W3 D6), their longest run since November 2019, while opponents Burnley made it 11 consecutive matches in the Championship without conceding – only Manchester United (2008/09) have kept their sheets cleaner for longer.
😎 No sign of a SAD Lamp — Coventry, under Frank Lampard, secured a third straight away win for the first time in a year, with Ellis Simms’ winner making it four goal involvements in his last three away league games (3 goals, 1 assist).
🦖 QuadRiza — Thanks to Yousef Salech’s 90th-minute equaliser against Bristol City, Cardiff are unbeaten in their last five home league games – something they haven’t managed since 2023.
💪 Pomp it up — It’s been coming, and after a strong performance against table-topping Blades last Saturday, Portsmouth finally ended a run of seven consecutive away defeats in the league with a 2-0 win at Oxford.
🔥 Robin the Swans to Stoke the Potters — Stoke boss Mark Robins finally beat a Swansea side at the 14th time of asking, with his side winning 3-1: curse broken.
☯️ Take the draw — Crawley had lost their last seven EFL matches against teams who kicked off 30+ points ahead of them. Wycombe had won just one of their last five league games against sides they led by 30+ points. Inevitably, Crawley v Wycombe ended 1-1.
👟 If the Schu fits — Bolton Wanderers have won four of their last five league games – as many as they won in their final 11 under Ian Evatt (W3 D3 L5).
📍 The Local Authority — With a 2-0 win over Wigan, Stockport are now unbeaten in their last 11 EFL matches against fellow Greater Manchester sides (W7 D4) since a 1-0 loss to Oldham in 2010.
⚽ May I assist you? — Ethan Galbraith nabbed a hattrick of sorts, assisting all three of Leyton Orient’s goals against Lincoln City.
🐕 O’Hare of the Dog — Callum O’Hare wasted no time making an impact: just 70 seconds after coming on, he teed up Anel Ahmedhodzic for Sheffield United’s winner. Cue chaos in the away end, and one unfortunate collision between the author’s head and the concourse.
🎦 5ivelights
In no particular order, a collection of our favourite goals or clips from across the 72.
The Championship provides another “from his own half” goal to add to its growing portfolio, with Lewis Baker bringing swerve and swazz to his entry.
Blowin’ in the wind: the answer, my friends, to this shot was an unbelievable Gabe Breeze save.
Time for a Will Swan song, as his outside-of-boot strike just sings from the moment he hits it.
Don’t eschew Baccus — when at range, never tell him the odds.
And whilst you’re at it, keep it Solo — Jay Stansfield brings the force.
The View From…
Crawley 2023/24 – Lightning in a Bottle?
Seeing Danilo Orsi’s name flash up on the internet’s one remaining vidiprinter was a pleasant surprise on Saturday. I didn’t know it was possible to feel nostalgic for something that happened less than a year ago.
Scott Lindsey’s Crawley Town charmed me in their remarkable 2023/24 campaign, culminating in a play-off final win at Wembley that I was fortunate (and faintly aroused) to watch from the press box. I loved the story, I loved to see them play, and I knew the side would be broken up but accepted that you can’t stand in the way of individual progress.
…they really haven’t progressed, though, have they? Crawley’s promotion-winning team was picked apart before the confetti had been cleared away, and yet it’s hard to identify many, or perhaps any, who’ve truly thrived elsewhere since then.
Yes, Lindsey’s side rode the crest of a stats-busting vibes wave, with Corey Addai breaking shot-stopping records and those in front of him hitting form at just the right time, but the likes of Addai, Orsi, Liam Kelly and Klaidi Lolos looked easily good enough for League One. Surely one member of that starting XI at Wembley must have kicked on since leaving Crawley. Right?
Goalkeeper
Corey Addai – Moved to Stockport. Conceded 16 goals from 13.5 xG (per Opta Analyst). Lost his place after the fireworks of a 5-0 defeat to Wycombe on Guy Fawkes’ Night and hasn’t played a league game since. We’ll always have his play-off semi-final touch map.
Defenders
Laurence Maguire – Moved to MK Dons, having been at Crawley on loan from Chesterfield in the National League, technically winning two promotions in one season. Contributed to 3 clean sheets in his first 18 matches with MK before doing his hamstring on Boxing Day. Not been seen since.
Dion Conroy – Still at Crawley. Still captain. Sustained a pre-season injury that ruled him out until Christmas, but hasn’t missed a game since then.
Will Wright – Moved to Swindon almost immediately, in June, swapping a potential League One relegation battle with Crawley for what turned out to be a League Two relegation battle instead. Takes penalties, but not very well (scored two, missed two). Probably the biggest success in this list, albeit at a lower level.
Midfielders
Kellan Gordon – Moved to Notts County in League Two, where he’s made 8 starts and 9 substitute appearances.
Liam Kelly – Moved to MK Dons. Done very little of note. Recently regained his place after a spell out of the team.
Jay Williams – Moved to MK Dons in mid-season just in time for their crisis. Was previously The Most Hated Man in Brighton, having broken the ankle of new Seagulls signing Matt O’Riley in pre-season. Later had a tendonitis issue himself. Sidelined at Crawley (either willingly or unwillingly) ahead of impending January exit, then joined everybody else at MK.
Jeremy Kelly – Still at Crawley. Has been excellent.
Forwards
Klaidi Lolos – Moved to Bolton, recovered slowly from injury, was restricted to substitute appearances and started his first league game just before Christmas.
Adam Campbell – Moved to Hartlepool, dropping into non-league for a gig back in his native North East, but admitted in October that being out of position or even out of the team has made it “probably the most frustrating four months that I’ve had in seven or eight years of professional football”.
Danilo Orsi – Moved to Burton on the back of a 25-goal Crawley season. Missed some big chances early doors, then scored 6 in 10 games, none in the two months after that, and was shipped out in January… to MK Dons. Obviously.
Manager
Scott Lindsey – Moved to MK Dons at the end of September, enjoyed a six-game winning streak, and has since overseen a run of 9 (nine) points from 14 (fourteen) matches that’s seen MK sink from 4th to 16th. In terms of reputation, the best thing since sliced bread is suddenly burnt toast. Here’s hoping he turns it around. Crawley’s magic formula was a rare one – and perhaps impossible to recreate.
📕 The Form Book
Which sides are topping the four-game form guide and which sides are bottoming out?
Championship
🟩 Sheffield Utd | 12pts | W4 | GD +5
🟩 Leeds | 10pts | W3 D1 | GD +13
🟩 Blackburn | 9pts | W3 D1 | GD +4
🟩 Coventry | 9pts | W3 D1 | GD +2
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
🟥 Oxford | 2pt | D2 L2 | GD -3
🟥 Derby | 2pts | D2 L2 | GD -5
🟥 Luton | 1pt | D1 L3 | GD -2
🟥 Middlesbrough | 0pts | L4 | GD -5
League One
🟩 Birmingham | 12pts | W4 | GD +7
🟩 Stockport | 10pts | W3 D1 | GD +4
🟩 Leyton Orient | 9pts | W3 L1 | GD +7
🟩 Bolton | 9pts | W3 L1 | GD +3
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
🟥 Barnsley | 1pt | D1 L3 | GD -3
🟥 Rotherham | 1pt | D1 L3 | GD -3
🟥 Mansfield | 1pt | D1 L3 | GD -5
League Two
🟩 Newport | 10pts | W3 D1 | GD +5
🟩 AFC Wimbledon | 10pts | W3 D1 | GD +5
🟩 Newport | 10pts | W3 D1 | GD +4
🟩 Colchester | 10pts | W3 D1 | GD +4
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
🟥 MK Dons | 1pt | D1 L3 | GD -3
🟥 Accrington | 1pt | D1 L3 | GD -4
🟥 Carlisle | 1pt | D1 L3 | GD -6
🏆 Fantasy Football
Go head-to-head against team NTT20 in our EFL Fantasy Football league
One simply doesn’t walk into a double game week without a side comprised of players who play twice. That was Ali’s strategy this week, and the defence-first approach paid some dividends.
It was also a team of the few not the many, with Cooper and Johnson both sub 1% picks, whilst Humphreys was 1% and Smith 1.2%. A shame about the goalkeeper selection, but a solid 48 on the board. The top points-scorer so far was the fantastically named Motherwell? Mothersille with Mr Browne’s Boys still well ahead in first place.