As the Championship finally kicked off for its long-anticipated return, GW2 provided plenty of entertainment, but here are the standout performers across the three divisions as we announce our Team of the Week.
GK – Nicolas Schmid – Portsmouth
The Austrian goalkeeper started the campaign with a bang, guiding Pompey to a hardfought victory over Oxford United, facing 18 shots across the full 90 minutes, double the total of Portsmouth.
Schmid produced four fine saves, preventing an xG total of 1.85 including a double save from a Will Vaulks long throw a comfortable save from a Cameron Brannagan shot from outside the area and an exquisite tip over the bar late in the second half to retain his clean sheet on the opening weekend.
Schmid racked up a 9.0 rating on fotmob, with SofaScore going a notch higher with 9.1.
LB – Dan Butler – Stevenage
30-year-old left-back Dan Butler put on a stunning performance against Rotherham United, delivering a reliable defensive shift whilst also contributing an assist in the 40th minute with a tidy cross onto Jamie Reid’s head to bag the winning goal.
Butler not only provided the assist but also racked up six successful tackles (the most of any player on the pitch) and won 100% of his duels, both ariel and ground, once again being the highest on the pitch, an ideal performance for any full back!
Butler’s Fotmob rating was an incredibly solid 8.7, with SofaScore matching this total, thinking similar with another 8.7!
CB – Jack Tucker – Colchester United
Tucker has taken advantage of his more consistent starts in recent weeks, following an assist last Saturday, he went one step further bagging a well put away header from an Oscar Thorn cross in the 8th minute.
Not only did he provide the U’s only goal in the game, but he also prevented two goal scoring opportunities from Oldham with goal line clearances, keeping hold of a point for the U’s despite Oldham’s domination in the second half. An impressive performance in both aspects of the game!
Tucker racked up an 8.7 rating on Fotmob, and likely would have been marginally higher if he could have retained a clean sheet, matching SofaScore’s higher score of 9.7!
CB – Jack Fitzwater – Exeter City
The second Centre-Back Jack in this week’s edition, Fitzwater put on a star performance during Exeter’s unexpected hammering of Steve Bruce’s Blackpool side, bagging a goal from a deflected header from a Reece Cole corner, as well as providing the assist for Jayden Wareham from another set piece.
Fitzwater also put in a solid defensive display, albeit not one of the most demanding defensive efforts he will face this season, winning his only tackle he attempted, making 13 clearances and chipping in an interception.
Fotmob gave Fitzwater an 8.8 rating, the highest of any centre-back this weekend, with SofaScore going slightly higher with a 9.2.
RB- Ross McCrorie – Bristol City
The first of two Bristol City players to make this week’s team of the week, McCrorie scored The Robins second goal of four from a tight angle, getting Gerhard Struber’s side off to a flying start on the opening weekend.
McCrorie also provided the assist for Scott Twine for their final goal of the game, with a tidy pass into the box before a heavy deflection led Twine’s strike into the back of the net. His defensive stats were also reasonable, despite struggling with duels throughout, with 17 defensive actions completed during the 90 minutes.
An impressive 8.9 match rating was provided by Fotmob, whereas SofaScore were slightly more conservative with an 8.3
CM – Owen Bailey – Doncaster Rovers
Bailey was the catalyst in their late heroics over Mansfield Town, keeping Doncaster’s flawless start intact thanks to a brace that included a scrappy tap in at 90+6 and a header from a Luke Molyneux cross. Bailey took five shots throughout, not bad numbers for a player that started at right back!
Although not being troubled too much, Bailey nailed his defensive actions, winning all tackles attempted, making two interceptions and clearances throughout the 90 minutes.
Fotmob awarded Bailey with a 9.0 rating for his efforts, contrasting SofaScore who estimated him quite a bit higher at 9.7!
CM – Adam Phillips – Barnsley
In Barnsley’s hard-fought comeback against Burton Albion, Phillips provided the necessary creativity for The Tykes, with his two assists pulling them back from 2-0 down, to winning 3-2.
His opening assist was a classy pass into the box to find loanee Caylan Vickers in acres of space, before he fired his strike home past Jordan Amissah, with his second coming from a low cross into the box allowing David McGoldrick to tap the ball into the back of the net.
Phillips created a total of four chances throughout, the most of any player on the pitch, boosting his final rating on Fotmob to an 8.6.
RW – Omari Patrick – Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers shocked the EFL, with a dominating 4-0 victory over freshly relegated Shrewsbury Town during their lunchtime kick-off fixture, capitalising on Will Boyle’s red card to easily pick up three points.
Omari Patrick was the main man that stood out during their star performance, taking advantage of Shrewsbury’s slower than average centre-back trio of Anderson, Boyle and Stubbs, successfully completing three dribbles, as he bagged from a top-class finish from outside the box and provided the assist for Kristian Dennis to tap home from a low cross after dribbling past Luca Hoole.
Fotmob rated his performance an 8.8, whereas SofaScore were slightly more generous with a 9.2.
CAM – Scott Twine – Bristol City
The second Bristol City player on this list and one of the highest rated players of this weekend, Scott Twine put on a show as Bristol City stunned promotion favourites Sheffield United in Gerhard Struber’s first competitive games as Robins manager.
Twine stuck his freekick into the top corner in the 5th minute, leaving goalkeeper Michael Cooper motionless, with his second goal coming from a heavily deflected shot from inside the box.
He also acted as the provider, setting up Ross McCrorie to slot home from the edge of the box into the bottom corner, which inflated his rating to 9.3 on Fotmob, contrasting his SofaScore rating which gave him a perfect 10/10!
LW – Jack Diamond – Stockport County
Diamond put on a dazzling performance as Stockport County as they conquered Wycombe Wanderers, with Diamond playing a key role in both goals in their 2-1 away triumph.
He almost scored in the opening couple of minutes, dribbling past two defenders before firing just over the bar, redeeming himself barely a minute later, picking up a long ball from their own half, before crossing into Kyle Wooton to score his second goal of the season.
His goal was impressive too, dribbling from around the halfway line, before firing home from the edge of the box, capping off an immense performance, which resulted with him picking up an 8.8 rating on Fotmob, inflated on SofaScore, where he picked up a
9.3.
ST – Will Davies – Fleetwood Town
The final entry on this week’s Lower Tiers’ team of the week is Fleetwood’s striker Will Davies, who picked up his second and third goal of this season’s League Two campaign following his move from Sutton United against promotion favourites Bristol Rovers.
His first came from a tidy pass from Centre-midfielder Elliot Bonds, taking the ball past the defender before slotting it past the keeper into the bottom right corner, and just eight minutes later, he found the back of the net again, latching onto the end of a long ball into the attacking half, before taking it past two defenders once again, this time however, finding the bottom left corner!
Davies has had a dream start for The Cod Army and currently finds himself as League Two’s top scorer. His brace earned him a Fotmob rating of 8.6, earning an even higher rating from SofaScore at 9.3.
