Five talking points from the EFL weekend including Portsmouth's heart-wrenching defeat

Gabriel Sutton
7 February 2022

EFL pundit Gab Sutton has his say on the action from the EFL weekend.

With scores at one apiece just a quarter of an hour into Portsmouth's clash at Oxford, Danny Cowley's side saw Joe Morrell sent off, leaving them fighting an uphill battle for the remainder of the afternoon.

The 10-men, though, showed immense determination to not only hold off the prime play-off candidates, but to also go ahead early in the second half on the counter-attack through Ronan Curtis, with assister Michael Jacobs returning the favour he was given for the equalizer.

Staunch, gutsy defending so nearly hauled Pompey to a priceless three points, only for Cowley's troops to be denied by a Cameron Brannagan blockbuster and a 96th-minute winner from Nathan Holland.

Pride and anguish all in one for Portsmouth, but for Oxford, they'll feel they have the wherewithal to better two prior play-off near-misses.

Blackpool: Tangerines dreaming

Blackpool, Championship, celebration vs Reading

Few Blackpool fans would have guessed their side would be as many as 20 points clear of the drop zone at any point this season, let alone by early February.

True, that has something to do with the issues at Derby plus the inadequacies of Peterborough and Barnsley, but it also shows how well Neil Critchley's troops have adjusted to the second tier.

The high-pressing Seasiders love an early diagonal into Jerry Yates or especially Gary Madine, before bringing wide men Josh Bowler and CJ Hamilton into play as a narrow attacking quartet, which is how they defeated Bristol City 3-1.

With 10 points from the last 12 available - the draw coming at Fulham - the Tangerines are enjoying a dream return to the second tier.

Could Griffiths save Doncaster?

Reo Griffiths scores for Doncaster vs Sunderland

Reo Griffiths scored 41 goals in 44 games four years ago for Tottenham Under-18s but, for whatever reason, the striker did not get a chance to feature for their Development Squad.

Instead, Griffiths crossed the channel to Lyon, where little is known of his fortunes for the B Team, aside from the fact he did not come close to playing in Ligue 1.

He has, though, played in League One for Doncaster, and has scored in his second game for the club - a shock 2-1 victory at Sunderland, which means Rovers have now won two of their last three.

Donny may be eight points adrift, but Griffiths gives them a chance of saving their season.

Oldham's Shezurrection on?

John Sheridan has a storied history with Oldham Athletic, dating back to two caretaker stints in the early-noughties: the first of six spells in charge at Boundary Park.

When "Shez" kept the Latics up from a difficult initial position in 2016, then repeated the trick in 2017, they were coined "Shezurrections".

Similarly, this year the Irishman inherited a side winless in eight league games, seven points adrift of safety, hoping to repeat his escapology for a third time.

It's started well - Oldham have four points from his first two games in charge, and two clean sheets, having won a crucial six-pointer with Scunthorpe last time out thanks to Junior Luamba's late-winner.

Is it Sheridan they have in the dugout, or is it Harry Houdini?

Exeter in the mix

Exeter City's Sam Nombe returned to action this week

Saturday was a great day for Exeter City, not just with themselves coming from behind to win 2-1 at Swindon but also numerous promotion rivals dropping points.

On top of that, Matt Taylor was able to welcome Sam Nombe back into the fray, with the key striker building up sharpness with 30 minutes from the bench.

Matt Jay and Jevani Brown are fabulous technicians, mainstays in the Grecians front three, but finding the complete third forward in Nombe's absence proved challenging.

Padraig Amond has rarely convinced, Offrande Zanzala scored on his debut then got injured, and the club were subsequently unable to sign an additional front-man in January, so Nombe's return is welcomed.

The former MK Dons striker penetrates defences and stretches lines, as well as having the goalscoring nous to poach nine in 21 appearances: can he fire Exeter to promotion? Quite possibly.