Football's Weekly Roundup #7

Player of the Weekend - Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal)

Our Player of the Weekend in the Premier League this time is Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah who bagged his first hat trick in the competition to lift his side comfortably past Sheffield United. In spite of Bernardo Silva's impressive and controlling display at Old Trafford, Nketiah can't be looked past this week. Perhaps he's more than just steady Eddie.

Championship

But now from misery on one side of the steel city to jubilation at the other as Sheffield Wednesday secured three points for the first time this season with victory over fellow strugglers Rotherham United. It had been the worst start in EFL Championship history with just three points from the opening 14 match weeks and a record which saw former boss Xisco Muñoz relieved of his duties. But under new man Danny Rohl the Owls finally tasted victory and will now be looking upwards.

And the heads continued to roll this week following Muñoz's departure with both QPR's Gareth Ainsworth and Bristol City's Nigel Pearson being shown the door following defeats for their respective sides. With QPR firmly planted in a relegation dogfight and fears that Pearson could not take the Robins to their ambition of promotion both sides have acted early in an attempt to turn their seasons around. Could one last hurrah be on the cards for Neil Warnock?

Elsewhere Leicester City made it to eight successive league victories whilst Middlesbrough's own win streak ended at six leaving the Foxes clear at the top of yet another table. With Ipswich Town coming out on top of a thrilling encounter against Plymouth Argyle the chasm between the runaway promotion favourites and the rest of the league remains, in spite of wins for all the top seven. 

With Coventry and West Brom still to face off this evening we may still see some change to the table but one fact remains certain, the automatic promotion race may be wrapped up by Christmas.

Player of the Weekend - Crysencio Summerville (Leeds United)

And now, for the first time we have a back-to-back recipient of player of the weekend as Leeds United's Crysencio Summerville put in another impressive display to power his side to victory. Scoring two and setting up the others, the Dutchman was flying in the first half as Leeds put four past a fairly uninspiring Huddersfield Town. Can he make it three in a row next time?

League One

Once again League One brought the red cards this time with four across the weekend's fixtures, all of which for sides who went on to lose. Arguably the most important of these dismissals though was the one received by Shrewsbury Town's Chey Dunkley just four minutes into his side's scrap with Wigan Athletic. Of course the Latics capitalised on this, going on to win two-nil. That's three successive victories now for Wigan as they continue to haul themselves away from the drop zone.

Meanwhile, it was more bad news for Reading who's miserable form continued with yet another defeat. In their defence, no side has beaten Portsmouth yet this campaign but, from being two nil up the home side has as good a chance as any. And it was a costly collapse as, thanks to a rare win for Cheltenham (who, let's not forget, hadn't scored a league goal till October), they now sit bottom of the table. The Royal's could be in serious danger.

Up the top of the league, thanks to a somewhat disappointing point at home to mid-table Wycombe Wanderers, Oxford United fell six points off the top and only second courtesy of a marginally better goal difference than Bolton. Can anyone peg Portsmouth back?

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Player of the Weekend - Sean Long (Cheltenham Town)

Our Player of the Weekend in League one this time is Cheltenham Town's unlikely hero Sean Long who bagged both goals as his side came from behind to secure their second win in three games. Following a historically poor start for the Robins they have lifted themselves off the foot of the table and Long will be hoping his contribution in both boxes can help his employers to an unlikely survival.

League Two

In League Two the table is really starting to take shape. Stockport County continued their impressive form with yet another victory and now sit five points clear atop the table.

The biggest storyline of the week though must be the face-off from last season's National League protagonists in a rematch of one of the greatest footballing battles in recent memory. And it was Wrexham who came out on top to draw level with the home side on points thanks to two late goals. Following disappointing starts for both clubs, the turnaround has been impressive with both outfits now back to where many had predicted they would be at the start of the season, including us.

Now to the bottom of the table where a late goal from Harry Beautyman secured a shock victory for Sutton United as they fight to climb free of the clutches of relegation. Thankfully for the U's they are just three points from safety following those vital three points. 

And finally, MK Dons and Swindon Town played out an absolute thriller, sharing five goals between them. It was the Dons who would come out on top eventually, with an 84th minute own goal from former Chelsea boy George McEachran proving vital for the home side.

Player of the Weekend - Michael Mellon (Morecambe)

And to finish things off, our League Two Player of the Weekend this time is Morecambe's Michael Mellon who's hat-trick helped his side bat AFC Wimbledon aside and retain their spot in the playoffs. The 19 year old now has nine goals this season, he may well be one to watch for the future.