Our Completely Honest EFL MW16/17 Review

It was full steam ahead in the second, third, and fourth tiers of English football this weekend - 36 games, endless drama, shock upsets, and stirring comebacks, the English EFL once again showed exactly why it is one of the most unpredictable and exciting football pyramids on the planet.

However, it would be irresponsible to attempt to cover all 72 participating teams - sorry Stevenage and Doncaster, your 0-0 draw isn’t making the cut - but there were more than a few points of interest, results that raised an eyebrow, and players that caught the eye.

So, without further ado, here is Football Park’s completely honest review of gameweeks 16/17 in the EFL.

Comeback Coventry Maintain Momentum … Just

The natural place to start is at the pinnacle of the Championship, where, after the weekend’s action, Frank Lampard’s Coventry City are sitting pretty with a seven-point buffer to second-placed Middlesbrough.

Since a shock defeat to Wrexham at the end of October, Coventry had responded well, winning their two subsequent games against struggling Sheffield United and promotion hopefuls Stoke City. However, the challenge they faced from West Brom on Saturday almost saw them toppled for a shock home defeat.

Following Saturday's results, Coventry City are now seven points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough at the Championship summit. 🔝

It is the biggest advantage the leader has had 16 games into a Championship season since the EFL was restructured back in 2004/05. 👏#PUSB pic.twitter.com/DeO3WOIMhZ

— The Championship Chat Podcast (@Champchatpod24) November 24, 2025

With the Baggies sitting 14th prior to kick-off, Coventry were expected to breeze to another commanding win - with 40 goals in just 15 games, it is easy to see why fans and pundits alike were leaping to conclusions.

However, the CBS Arena was quickly stunned into silence by a Michael Johnston assist/Aune Selland Heggebo goal double within the first 32 minutes, putting the runaway league leaders in more than a spot of bother.

However, they are leaders for a reason, and four minutes before half time, midfielder Josh Eccles halved the deficit with his first of the season, as the Sky Blues looked to rally.

Then came the turning point - booked in the first half, it was the turn of a West Brom midfielder in Jason Molumby to take centre stage, with his naive pull back on Eccles resulting in a second yellow and an early bath. Coventry now had the upper hand, and it didn’t take long for them to profit.

Just five minutes after the red card, Ellis Simms nodded smartly into the corner of Joshua Griffith’s, levelling the scoreline, and just another five minutes later, a Victor Torp-edo of a volley gave Coventry the lead on the hour mark, met with a seismic roar from the home crowd.

Coventry have turned it around! 🤩

Victor Torp's deflected strike puts the league leaders in front. pic.twitter.com/udiu6ltMrO

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 22, 2025

In truth it could have been more, and without Griffiths in goal and a little help from the woodwork, the scoreline could have been far more comprehensive. However, it was a scare for Coventry, and despite the three points, Lampard will want to ensure his side avoids falling two goals behind at home in future.

There were other comebacks across the EFL; Watford turned a two-goal deficit at Derby into a 3-2 win, while League Two MK Dons managed to draw 2-2 despite trailing 2-0 in the 78th minute, and being a man down for the final 10.

However, Coventry’s comeback was by far the most important of the weekend - the result ensured that the momentum stayed with Lampard’s side, and with a vital clash with chasers Middlesbrough on Tuesday, the Sky Blues will need all the momentum they can get.

Luton’s Honeymoon Phase Comes to An Abrupt End

Remember the early hype of Jack Wilshere’s early days at Luton, back at the end of October? The former Arsenal and England midfielder was the talk of League One after winning four of his first five games at the club in all competitions despite the Hatter’s failing to deliver on the obvious talent at their disposal over the course of the first three months of the season.

However, those memories can now be banished to the distant past after Wilshere’s side suffered a 5-0 tonking at the hands of ninth-placed Barnsley.

Glad to see Jack Wilshere doing well https://t.co/v0WpXmOqYM

— Ethan Muggers THFC (@_ethanthfc_) November 22, 2025

The Hatters managed just seven shots on goal despite almost a 70% share in the possession stats, and though their total passes (475) were almost triple that of their opponents (177), it was Barnsley who picked their way through when it mattered.

Sloppy defending saw Reyes Cleary and Patrick Kelly give the Colliers a two-goal advantage, and a superb Luca Connell free kick on the stroke of half-time saw a veritable mountain placed in Luton’s way, let alone a molehill.

Half time came and went, and soon enough, Luton saw the gap widen to four thanks to a calamitous own goal from Gideon Kodua - slicing the ball into your own net while attempting to clear it up the other way is never a good look.

Wilshere could be forgiven for thinking things couldn’t get any worse, but 13 minutes later, Davis Keilor-Dunn’s slick counterattacking finish put the finishing touches on what can only be described as Luton’s worst nightmare.

How our five-goal showing against Luton Town unfolded at Oakwell 🤩 pic.twitter.com/u7zIbZaWiz

— Barnsley FC (@BarnsleyFC) November 22, 2025

Unbeaten in their last five games, Wilshere’s side had all the momentum they could possibly need to arrest their freefall through the EFL pyramid, but Saturday’s abysmal showing will have fans bringing up the same questions that were being asked before Wilshere’s appointment.

A depressing collapse, and back to square one for the Hatters.

Out of the Frying Pan, Into The Fire

From one new EFL manager to another, Christian Fuchs was greeted with a baptism of fire in his first game in charge of Newport County, as his side slumped to a poor 3-0 defeat away to Oldham Athletic.

A member of Leicester City’s heroic 2015/16 Premier League-winning squad, Fuchs knows exactly what is required to overcome substantial odds but, in taking the Newport job, may have pushed his luck a step too far.

Prior to the game with Oldham, Newport sat bottom of the table by three points, and while fellow relegation candidates Cheltenham picked up a vital three points to move them clear of the drop zone, Newport struggled to deal with midfielder Josh Hawkes, whose brace, alongside striker Joe Quigley’s second-half strike, condemned the Exiles to a fourth straight defeat in all competitions, and saw the gap to 23rd grow by a point.

Newport County are rooted to the bottom of League Two after yesterday's 3-0 loss to Oldham Athletic 👇

New manager Christian Fuchs says the Exiles have to "go back to basics" 🔙 pic.twitter.com/3739CJ5d3I

— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) November 23, 2025

There were question marks about Fuchs’ appointment from the start. The role marked the Austrian’s first senior managerial role, having been mentored by Dean Smith at Charlotte FC in the three years since his retirement, but despite learning his trade under a former Premier League manager, inexperience was the last thing Newport needed at the helm.

Mirroring Oldham’s 4-4-2 formation, it was a mistake by Fuchs from the outset, as in a direct man-to-man scenario, Oldham’s quality was always going to see them come out on top. This emphatically proved to be the case: 42% possession, 0.49 xG from 10 shots, just three attempts on target, Newport were outmatched in virtually every metric, and it showed in the eventual scoreline.

Of course, every manager needs to start somewhere, and good on Christian Fuchs for taking on the challenge in a bid to get the wheels rolling on his managerial career. But history shows that the EFL learning curve is one of the steepest anywhere, and Fuchs will have to be switched on to absolutely everything.

Christian Fuchs' managerial career has got off to a terrible start.
- Newport County lost 3-0 to Oldham
- Lack of fight, energy or quality
- The Exiles now sit six points from safety and are bottom of League Two

Read more here on @FP_CentreCircle:
📑https://t.co/sFeKdYmVHh pic.twitter.com/AOWe5s8N2t

— Ashton Cox (@ashton_cox_) November 22, 2025

Managers who don’t adapt, and do not learn quickly enough, do not last long.

Around the Grounds

Those may have been the three main talking points, but there was plenty of other action that took place around the country.

Surprise Championship and League Two promotion contenders Bristol City and Bromley both picked up vital clean sheet wins - Bristol’s dismantling of Swansea saw them move fourth, and while Bromley’s 2-0 win over Salford saw them move to third, occupying the final automatic promotion spot.

Sheffield Wednesday saw their problems go from bad to worse as they comprehensively lost their Steel City Derby clash with Sheffield United. The Owls, who are sat on -4 points after their 12-point deduction, would have hoped for a result to maintain their slim hopes of a recovery, but after such a comfortable defeat to their city rivals, their season looks as good as over.

A new starlet also burst onto the scene in phenomenal fashion as 18-year-old Harrison Bettoni came off the bench to score a classy five-minute double to hand the Latics a crucial away win against Wimbledon. His first goal, a marvellous free kick into the top corner, was his first touch of the game, having been subbed on just seconds earlier. Not a bad way to announce yourself on your EFL debut!

First touch. First goal. Match winner. ✨

What a dream debut for Wigan's 17-year-old Harrison Bettoni! pic.twitter.com/wHQST63A1S

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 23, 2025

The League One relegation battle also turned up the heat - both Plymouth and Peterborough picked up priceless wins, while Blackpool battled to a draw. The results leave the three clubs all on the same points tally of 16, and while all three currently occupy relegation positions, all will be eyeing up Exeter, Doncaster and Reading as they look to displace them.

Finally, League Two was packed with goals this weekend - four separate games turned out to be four-goal thrillers, while Crewe Alexandria and Chesterfield played out a six-goal spectacle, with both teams going home with a point.

The EFL never fails to disappoint - the only regret about so much quality football occurring at the same time is that, more often than not, there is simply not enough space to cover each and every game. If we missed your team, we are sincerely sorry, but also, what else did you expect…?