EFL talking points as Sunderland dare to dream and Brereton continues to dazzle

The EFL rarely fails to deliver when it comes to drama.

Tonight saw 18 games take place across the Championship and League One.

And there was plenty of action in those games.

In the second tier, West Brom continue to tick along nicely thanks to a comprehensive victory that sees them leapfrog Bournemouth at the top of the table. Elsewhere there were home wins for Huddersfield, Middlesbrough and QPR whilst the matches at Hull and Preston ended in stalemates.

In League One, there are new leaders after Wigan slipped up at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Here, we cast an eye over five talking points to emerge from this evening's matches.

Bluebirds in a rut

West Brom celebrate one of their four goals at Cardiff as a forlorn Leandro Bacuna looks on

Cardiff fans were far from happy with Mick McCarthy's team selection against high-flying West Brom tonight.

The inclusion of five centre-halves hardly inspired them to think they could get a positive result against such dangerous opponents.

And those fears were realised in a thumping 4-0 defeat at home.

Individual errors and lapses in concentration combined to ensure another forgettable night for City.

Granted, Alex Mowatt's strike to make it 3-0 was an unstoppable hit.

But the other goals were courtesy of generous defending from the hosts - something you rarely associate with McCarthy sides.

Matt Phillips celebrates the Baggies' fourth goal at Cardiff

Even more miserable was that Cardiff did not register a solitary shot on target in an almighty underwhelming performance.

This was a fourth successive defeat for McCarthy's men and the jeers at full-time do not augur well for the veteran boss.

Chilean in lethal form

Blackburn Rovers' Ben Brereton Diaz has scored nine in ten league games so far

Ever since his unlikely starring role in the Copa America with Chile, Ben Brereton Diaz has been a player transformed.

Saturday saw him the Blackburn striker a first-ever career hat-trick in the evisceration of Cardiff.

And he notched two more goals again tonight at Huddersfield. One was a poacher's finish from a few yards out, the other was a penalty.

Sadly, it wasn't enough for Rovers who lost by the odd goal in five to the Terriers.

That will not detract from Brereton's showing though. He is clearly growing in confidence and has already, quite impressively, overtaken his tally for the whole of last season.

He now has a mightily impressive nine goals in 10 league outings and is top scorer in the Championship.

With his contract up in the summer, keeping him in the building will be of utmost importance for Tony Mowbray's side.

Terriers finding their bite

Huddersfield Town edged a topsy-turvy game against Blackburn and look a different proposition to the side from last season

Huddersfield endured a wretched campaign last time out.

In fact, since their relegation from the Premier League two seasons ago they have finished 18th and 20th back in the second tier - ending just three and six points above the relegation zone respectively.

Something feels different about them this year. A full season working under Carlos Corberan and his unique methods looks to finally be paying off.

Tonight they showed patience and perseverance to overcome Blackburn and move level on points with Rovers, who occupy a play-off spot.

There's still a long way to go but Town are surely in for a much-improved campaign than what the previous two have delivered.

Sunderland look the real deal

Whisper it quietly, but this could finally be the season when it all clicks into place for Sunderland.

The beleaguered Black Cats are embarking on an unprecedented and scarcely believable fourth straight season in League One.

They've come close to escaping before but this time around it feels different.

Lee Johnson has a team that is of his making - and they are certainly delivering the goods.

Luke O'Nien toasts one of five Sunderland goals against Cheltenham Town

Tonight saw them easily swat aside Cheltenham 5-0 at the Stadium of Light to go back to the top.

A crowd of more than 28,000 were in attendance to see them turn on the style and, thanks to results elsewhere, go three points clear at the top.

It's still early days but Sunderland fans seemingly have plenty to look forward to.

Wellens' woes continue

Doncaster Rovers continue to prop up League One after a sorry night in Suffolk.

The South Yorkshire club were humbled 6-0 as Town ran riot against Richie Wellens' side.

It was yet another game where his team failed to find the net and with just four goals notched, they remain the joint-lowest scorers in the EFL.

Richie Wellens' Doncaster are bottom of League One and the joint-lowest scorers in the EFL

The appointment of Wellens in the summer was a generally popular move, considering his successful time as a player at the Keepmoat.

He had also impressed in his early managerial career, delivering promotion with Swindon and winning the EFL Trophy with Salford.

But with just one win from nine, it has not gone to plan for Wellens.

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