In this weekend's Championship fixtures, there were key victories for Watford, Swansea, and Bournemouth.
The biggest win belonged to Blackburn, though, who impressively defeated Derby 4-0 away from home. It was one of their players who recorded the highest individual player rating...
1. Bradley Johnson
Bradley Johnson came back to haunt his former club Derby at the weekend after being released during the summer.
At Pride Park, Blackburn won 4-0 with Johnson contributing two cracking goals. The first was one of the best strikes of the weekend as he collects possession beyond 30 yards out to drill a spectacular left-footed effort into the bottom right corner.
For his second, he latched on to a bouncing ball outside the box again to smash a deflected volley into the roof of the net.
It wasn't just the goals which earned Johnson his status of player of the weekend, but his play in deeper areas, too.
He completed 28/34 attempted passes, won 5/8 duels, 3/4 aerial duels, and made six ball recoveries and three interceptions.
2. ANDRE AYEW
Swansea swept aside Wycombe with a 2-0 away victory which could have been more, with Andre Ayew emerging as the man of the man after playing a part in both goals.
With just 13 minutes on the clock, he opened the scoring with a predatory, slid finish at the back post after the superb left-flank cross from Jake Bidwell.
He very nearly scored again in the first half after dancing his way into space in the penalty area, only for his strike on goal to cannon off the face of the opposition keeper.
Midway through the first period, he assisted the second with a squared cross inside for Jamal Lowe.
Overall, Ayew had 11 touches inside the opposition penalty area which was more than anyone in this round of Championship fixtures. His 23 passes into the final third was the fifth-best tally of anyone this round, too.
3. Jake Bidwell
Staying with Swansea for now, as Jake Bidwell earned his place in the top five after an excellent outing against Wycombe alongside team-mate, Ayew.
It was Bidwell's fantastic, teasing cross from the left wing which was stabbed home by the Ghana international to make it 1-0.
He could regularly be found bombing up and down the left flank, where he won 4/7 duels and sent seven successful crosses into the box.
His overall distribution was excellent as he completed 32/27 balls to team-mates for a completion rate of 86%.
4. Bright Osayi-Samuel
From Bright Osayi-Samuel's stats versus Boro, it is clear to see where his strengths lie.
He completed eight dribbles on the day which was double that of anyone else in this weekend's matches. The next closest was Reading's Lucas Joao with four.
His prowess when dribbling is in contrast to his effectiveness when passing as he actually only completed 14 passes for QPR on the day. But, when you are so naturally brilliant at dribbling, why pass?
He would eventually grab a deserved goal to make it 1-1 after showing impressive instinct to follow in on the keeper after a cross from the left wing, which allowed him to tap home from a few yards out.
Osayi-Samuel worked hard, too, winning 11/18 duels and making seven ball recoveries.
5. JEREMY NGAKIA
Young Watford full-back Jeremy Ngakia impressed against Luton at the weekend even if the Hornets as a whole didn't.
The relegated Premier League side won via a solitary goal from Joao Pedro, but it was Ngakia who was their best performer.
He won 9/15 duels and 5/6 tackles, and made seven ball recoveries and three interceptions
Despite his young age, he touched the ball more than any other Watford player with 80 touches, and sent an impressive 19 passes into the final third and four successful crosses into the box.
Bradley Johnson
André Ayew
Jake Bidwell
Bright Osayi-Samuel
Reading
Bristol City
Swansea
Bournemouth
Watford
Blackburn
Luton Town
Millwall
Birmingham
Brentford
QPR
Coventry City
Norwich
Rotherham
Stoke
Cardiff
Huddersfield
Middlesbrough
Preston NE
Barnsley
Notts Forest
Derby County
Wycombe
Wednesday
Championship
Premier League
