Not even a red card could scupper top-ranked Chris Iwelumo’s Preston party. The 30-year-old striker was dismissed just four minutes after completing his hat-trick in the 3-1 victory at Deepdale which took his side three points clear at the summit for the Coca-Cola Championship. His treble catapulted him to the top of the Championship scorers chart alongside Reading’s Kevin Doyle and ensured he kept his place at the top of the Actim Index for a second consecutive week with a week six score of 65 points.
The Molineux outfit have made an impressive start to the season but they will be keeping a cautious eye on one former player as they attempt to preserve their unbeaten league record against Bristol City next weekend. Robins midfielder Michael McIndoe put in a man-of-the-match performance as he scored two goals in City’s 4-1 victory over Doncaster. McIndoe’s 48-point haul boosts him up 125 places to to 40th in this week’s Index.
However, McIndoe’s exerts did not earn him the title of biggest mover this week as Reading striker Noel Hunt scored two goals in the 6-0 demolition of Sheffield Wednesday to earn himself a place in the starting line-up for the controversial 2-2 draw with Watford. Alongside highly-rated brother Stephen in midfield, Noel scored 53 points this week to move up 321 places from 497th to 176th.
Women all over the world would kill to discover the secret of eternal youth, so it would not be surprising if Burnley full-back Graham Alexander and Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor are employing 24-hour bodyguards at the moment. Scotland international Alexander has defied his 36 years to net three goals in three games, while Blues keeper Taylor, 37, has accumulated 112 points this season as the pair take their place amongst this week’s top 20 to become the Index’s golden oldies.
Two of the league’s most high profile stars find themselves marooned toward the foot of the Actim Index this week. Former England international James Beattie has struggled with injury this season but he will not offer that as an excuse for his current position of 515th out of 520. Meanwhile, wantaway Derby midfielder Robbie Savage matched Beattie’s paltry haul of -10 points last week and is currently lingering in 507th position.
As the Actim Index continues to track the trials, tribulations, successes and failures of the Championship’s finest week-in, week-out, we should spare a thought for those players stranded on the sidelines. But although the likes of top-ranked trio Iwelumo, Doyle and Michael Kightly consistently rack up 20-30 points a week, the player with the best average points haul remains Sheffield Wednesday’s crocked star striker Akpo Sodje. The luckless Sodje was only only on the pitch for 20 minutes of the Owls’ opening game of the season before being stretchered off but still claimed two goals and 46 points. I’m sure I speak for all Owls fans when I say get well soon, Akpo.
His side may be bottom of the league and his fellow defenders may well be leaking more goals than the Kazakhstan national team, but Stephen Foster continues to be a shining beacon of hope at Barnsley. The Tykes may have collected just four points this season but Foster’s impressive performances have earned him 72 Index points.
