Terry Pierce - League One made the most of the limelight

Published: 12 Oct 2010 - 08:53:51

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With the Championship enjoying a week's break, the focus of the Football League looked towards the bottom two divisions this weekend, with two League One games being screened live on Sky.

It's quite rare for most clubs in the third tier to be given the opportunity to perform in front of the cameras and the watching millions (or thousands).

And it brings some superb Football League matches and stories into the homes of the armchair fan.

Just last night the country's legion of dedicated Football League fans were treated to a rip-roaring West Country derby as Swindon saw off Bristol Rovers.

Headers from young defender Sean Morrison and journey-man striker Vincent Pericard were enough to secure a comfortable victory for the Robins in a game full of commitment and its fair share of quality.

At times in the second half, Danny Wilson's side looked like the side that challenged for promotion last year, but inconsistency has let the Town down so far this season so Wilson will be hoping for more of the same over the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, on Saturday lunchtime, Eddie Howe's Bournemouth robbed a point from their televised trip to table-topping Brighton with a last minute - and very dodgy - penalty.

But Howe deserves every bit of luck he can get his hands on.

The Cherries now sit in the play-offs, sandwiched between League One big-hitters Sheffield Wednesday and Peterborough.

The media are beginning to run out of adjectives to describe just how good a job Howe has done at Dean Court.

And to be competing with sides such as Huddersfield, Wednesday and Brighton - who all have massive budgets compared to Bournemouth - in their first season back in the third tier is another massive achievement for Howe.

They lost their most high-profile player, Brett Pitman, to Championship strugglers Bristol City in August and don't have the money to really replace him, but that hasn’t fazed them.

Instead, they just seem to whip out another young player - this time Josh McQuoid - to fill his boots.

Even the majority of Bournemouth fans would admit their squad isn't deep enough to sustain a real promotion challenge, but Howe's glittering CV is getting better by the week, while his loyalty to the Cherries should also be applauded.

Bantams bother for Peter Taylor

Perennial under-achievers and sleeping giant Bradford City are yet again struggling in League Two.

The impossible job in the Football League even seems to be getting the better of experienced boss Peter Taylor, who - if rumours are to be believed - is one poor result away from losing his job.

So exactly what is needed to bring some glory - or at least some wins - back to Valley Parade?

The fans are there. The players and the budget seem to be as well.

But unfortunately something has been missing for a very long time now, and it could be another long and depressing season for City fans.