Lankshear keeps scoring as McLean flags West Ham home struggles and other EFL takeaways
Aaron McLean, former Peterborough United and Hull City striker and Final Score pundit, offered five takeaways following Saturday's matches across the Championship, League One and League Two. His observations covered Middlesbrough's prolific Will Lankshear, West Ham's London Stadium problems, Southampton's form, Luton's winning run and Fleetwood Town's reaction to their Carabao Cup victory.
Middlesbrough sit two points clear at the top of the Championship after a 3-0 home win over Charlton Athletic; Will Lankshear added two goals to bring his total to 13 in 13 league games since his £20m move from Tottenham and has scored in all but one of Middlesbrough's home games this season. McLean discussed the forward's trajectory and the club's need to secure promotion to retain him, speaking to BBC Sport England's Adam Lanigan.
On Lankshear, McLean said: "Before a ball was kicked this season, I said Will Lankshear would be an England international in the next few years. I watched him at Oxford last season and I loved the way he played and the way he scored goals in a struggling team." He added: "Now he's showing exactly why Middlesbrough spent £20m on him. The biggest thing for Boro is making sure they get promoted with him in order to keep him." McLean also cautioned: "I think England is too soon. For his progression, I don't think he needs to be thrown into that limelight yet. He just needs to make sure he has a good season, finish top goalscorer in the Championship, get himself into the Premier League and then those type of questions will be asked."
West Ham's difficulties at the London Stadium continued as they conceded three for the second Saturday running and lost at home to West Bromwich Albion; all three of their Championship defeats this season have come in front of their own fans, leaving the club down in eighth despite Jarrod Bowen's seven goals this season. McLean questioned the team's mentality and selection under current management, saying: "West Ham just don't seem to be handling the pressure. The fanbase is very split in terms of whether they want Nuno Espirito Santo in charge but the thing you have to do when playing for West Ham in front of 60,000 fans is put in a performance and if you're in the Championship, you have to win." He added: "When you have a lovely stadium and playing surface, teams want to go there and enjoy it. If you make your home ground a fortress, that can work for you but at the moment, the London Stadium is not a fortress and teams are going there and enjoying the experience, which is the total opposite of what West Ham need."
Southampton claimed a 4-1 victory over QPR at St Mary's to move into fifth and have lost only two of their past 34 Championship matches, a run McLean attributed in part to the club's decision to keep manager Tonda Eckert after last season's controversy. He said: "Southampton are doing brilliantly. They've obliterated their four-point deduction at the start of the season and without that, they would be sitting second." McLean praised squad members returning to form, adding: "Everyone is playing to their level and that's the difference between them and say, West Ham. James Ward-Prowse is back playing the football we were used to when he was at Southampton before. James Bree, who went out on loan last season, has come back in and is playing out of his skin."
Luton Town registered a fourth straight League One win with a 2-0 victory at Peterborough United to rise to fourth, and face leaders Huddersfield Town on Tuesday as Jack Wilshere's side seek consistency in the promotion race. McLean assessed Luton's prospects cautiously: "League One is extremely tight, but are Luton top-two contenders? I wouldn't say so, just yet. They are capable of being in and around it and being in the play-offs, but I feel there are a few better clubs, who are more consistent." He added: "Promotion is a must for the Hatters this season, I don't think anything else will be acceptable and I'm sure that's what Jack Wilshere's expectations are. But their level of consistency needs to improve."
Fleetwood Town returned to League Two action after their midweek Carabao Cup penalty shootout triumph over champions Arsenal, beating Bristol Rovers 3-1 at Highbury Stadium to move off the foot of the table after starting the day 18th; Aaron Loupalo-Bi, who had scored against Arsenal, opened the scoring. McLean reflected on the cup win and the importance of league form, saying: "What an incredible achievement in knocking out Arsenal. For the club, for everyone involved. I spoke with (assistant head coach) Mark Yeates when the fixture first came out and since the Arsenal result and the place is absolutely bouncing." He warned against the cup run disrupting league aims: "Today was the first of six league fixtures between now and the quarter-final with Everton and it is important to get their League Two form in order. They had lost five out of their past seven in the league so it was really important they got three points." McLean added: "Now they have more five more before welcoming Everton to make sure they go into that in a good league position and don't let the cup run hinder what they're trying to achieve."
Luton travel to leaders Huddersfield Town on Tuesday, while Fleetwood face five more league matches before they welcome Everton in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup.