Pompey and Derby continue their turnarounds, vital wins at the bottom and Sven's honeymoon continues

From strugglers to pace-setters

The last five games have seen Portsmouth and Derby each take 13 points from a possible 15. The transformation is impressive.

In Derby’s case, we are finally seeing the side progress under Nigel Clough. In particular, the attacking players are combing very successfully. As for Pompey, I think they are genuinely dangerous. They have a decent number of talented players and, more importantly, no pressure.

Big wins at the bottom

Relegation zone dwellers Crystal Palace and Bristol both secured important wins. While it’s far too early to talk about either of these sides turning a corner, I think we can safely assume that this season will see a tight battle at the bottom – none of these sides look bad enough to fall a long way behind the rest.

Sven is enjoying this Championship lark

Elland Road is an impressive place to pick up your first win as a Championship manager. The early signs are that the team has responded well to his appointment.