League One winners and losers - Portsmouth looked the side that was quickly cobbled together while Doncaster boss' under-23s contacts paying dividends

Winners

Ipswich

This time 12 months ago, the Tractor Boys were ploughing their pathway back to the Championship.

Paul Lambert's set the pace early on and opened up a sizeable advantage at the summit of the division at one stage.

They'd jettison after Christmas, though, and would eventually finish 11th in the table.

Ipswich will be aware they could quickly slide down the table and won't be getting too far ahead of themselves this time.

But Lambert believes his side are playing much better than a year ago, despite being in an identical place in the table.

The Tractor Boys beat Rochdale 2-0 on Saturday, but that scoreline could have been more emphatic.

Their win included a man-of-the-match performance from a certain Oli Hawkins.

While he wasn't on the scoresheet, the stiker’s hold-up play and prowess to bring others into the game was key to his side’s victory. We've seen that before.

Doncaster

Some were tipping Donny to be in a relegation dogfight when they were struggling for numbers during the off-season.

But Rovers have carried on where they left off when last term was curtailed, after winning their final two games of 2019-20.

Darren Moore's yet again put his contacts in under-23s football to good use.

Youngsters Jacob Ramsey and Cameron John shone last campaign. This time, Taylor Richards and Tyreece John-Jules – from Brighton and Arsenal respectively – are revelling in senior football.

The former was on target in Donny's 4-1 victory over Bristol Rovers to ensure Donny sit fourth on seven points, while John-Jules had another good game.

Rovers are proving prolific so far, firing eight goals period and conceding just three.

Who could blame the genial Moore for cracking one of his wide, trademark grins?

Wigan

Winning was something the Latics were getting used to towards the end of last term.

After a tough start and being embroiled in a relegation scrap, Paul Cook's side eventually picked up results and climbed the table.

They'd finish 13th in the Championship after 46 games – a superb feat.

But, of course, they were relegated after being hit with a 12-point deduction for entering administration.

Their plight has been well documented and Pompey fans more than most know what it's like seeing a club in such a predicament.

If it was any other weekend, you'd have cracked a smile for the likes of Kal Naismith, Gary Roberts, former assistant manager Leam Richardson, physio Andy Procter and head of performance Nick Meace – all part of Pompey's League Two title triumph in 2017 – getting a first win of the campaign

They've been through the turmoil every step of the way at the DW Stadium.

But Wigan’s success was at the expense at Pompey and there were more concerning matters closer to home for the Fratton faithful to concentrate on.

Losers

Pompey

Where do we begin with the Blues?

For all that was said about a fast start being imperative after suffering play-off defeat to Oxford last season, it just hasn't happened.

Saturday's defeat to Wigan was another worrying result for Pompey and piles more pressure on the already under-fire Kenny Jackett.

The Latics are a club in crisis and were forced to cobble a squad together for the start of this season, after being forced to sell all of their prized assets to pay club debts.

Yet it has been Pompey who’ve looked a side hastily compiled over the summer.

Bar the opening 10 minutes, the Blues again lacked attacking cohesion and scarcely threatened Wigan's goal.

For the attacking riches that Pompey brag, they're simply not meeting the standards required.

Although it's still early days, the Blues are once again playing catch up on some of their promotion rivals.

Bristol Rovers

Ben Garner's recruitment over the summer caught the eye of plenty.

When transfer activity at Fratton Park was dormant, the Gas seemed to be announcing a new arrival almost every other day.

But despite 11 new faces through the door at the Memorial Stadium, Rovers are yet to click.

Granted, they've had a difficult first three fixtures. A draw at Sunderland on the opening day was followed up by a home defeat to Ipswich.

Then, on Saturday, Rovers slipped to a 4-1 loss at Doncaster.

But considering Garner won just two of his 18 league fixtures after taking the reins from Graham Coughlan last December, Gas fans might be starting to get a little impatient.

Peterborough

The Posh said they were on a vengeance mission after missing out on a play-off spot when the table was curtailed last term.

However, Darren Ferguson's men have scantly dished out any retribution so far.

Peterborough have accrued only three points from as many games.

They've lost away at Accrington and now Sunderland, while they were forced to produce a late comeback to beat Fleetwood.

To their credit, there have been some encouraging signs from the Posh and Ferguson won't be at panic stations anytime soon.

Regardless, they'd have liked to have garned more points than they have done.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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