With no Sky Bet Championship action this weekend, League One and League Two took centre stage. After a typically dramatic day of football, pundit Sam Parkin was on hand to have his say on the talking points from the weekend.
Speaking as a pundit on EFL on Quest on Saturday night, Parkin had his say on mental health in football, Gillingham’s impressive start to the campaign, Joe Pigott’s fantastic form for AFC Wimbledon, Cambridge United and Forest Green Rovers.
On mental health in football…
“I think the change in attitudes to mental health in football is enormous, when you go back five or six years ago when I was still playing, it was unheard of for a player to speak openly in the media or even go to a manager and say they’re not feeling mentally right to go out there and perform.
“So to see the likes of Billy Kee and Marvin Sordell as two examples, to speak so eloquently and so openly I think it’s really moved things on and it’s meant that people in other industries, men, women, children that see their role models talk about that in the public domain, feel okay to go and talk and tell people that you’re struggling”
At @EFL onQuest this #WorldMentalHealthDay we are supporting @MindCharity’s #DoOneThing campaign which encourages everyone to do one thing to better their or someone else's mental health ðŸ’🧠#EFLonQuest #EFL #WMHD2020 pic.twitter.com/Kd64JSrffj
— Quest (@QuestTV) October 10, 2020
On Jordan Graham’s solo performance in Gillingham’s impressive win over Oxford United…
“Graham provided a brilliant bit of ammunition from the left for Vadaine Oliver who’s going to do this time and time again this season.
“And then no one tracked Graham for the second goal, in off the left-hand side and he had the freedom of the Oxford box”
On Joe Pigott…
“Joe Pigott has the best statistics in the whole EFL at the moment, being involved in seven of AFC Wimbledon’s nine goals!
"And I enjoyed that one on Saturday, because it’s scrappy, but to control it when you’re sliding in and get the direction, it was a cool finish.”
On Cambridge United beating Newport County and Paul Mullin’s performance…
“I’m pleased for Paul Mullin because he’s one of those centre forwards that covers so much ground he doesn’t always get the rewards his work ethic deserves.
"But five goals for Cambridge and Tranmere combined last season and five already this year - including a brilliant goal to win it at Abbey Stadium on Saturday.”
On Jamille Matt’s hat-trick for Forest Green Rovers…
“Forest Green have had loads of attempts this season, in the last couple of games in particular, and I just feel that Jamile Matt is such a good signing at this level. If he can get regular goals they’ll be really strong.
“In terms of a League Two striker to come in and replace the goals they lost two or three years ago in Christian Doidge, I think it’s a spot on signing.”