Robbie Savage wins on Peterborough debut as Middlesbrough climb into top two
October 11, 2026 01:01
After the three-week international break, former striker and Final Score pundit Sam Parkin picked out several talking points from the EFL. The biggest story was Robbie Savage’s winning start as Peterborough United manager — his side beat Leicester City 3-1 at the King Power Stadium, adding to a difficult spell for Russell Martin’s team.
Savage debut
Parkin described the result as “what a start for Robbie Savage, going back to the club where he's probably most synonymous.” He noted Savage’s reported desire to play with intensity and press from the front and said the match “probably worked perfectly the way he wants his team to play.” Parkin added that Savage has inherited “a brilliant scorer in Harry Leonard,” and that the Peterborough squad is young and may need experience in the transfer window ahead.
Boro's statement win
Middlesbrough marked their 150th fixture with a narrow victory over Wolves that moved them into the Championship’s top two. Parkin highlighted Middlesbrough’s need for a goalscorer last season and singled out summer signing Will Lankshear — who has scored eight goals since joining from Tottenham — as potentially pivotal. On the defensive side, Parkin said: “Today Kim Hellberg got his best back four on the pitch,” praising the clean sheet against a strong Wolves side.
Other takeaways
- Birmingham City won the lunchtime derby 1-0 at West Brom, their third away victory this season, which lifted them into the expanded play-off spots in seventh. Parkin said manager Chris Davies has changed the team’s approach to become more direct and forceful from set-pieces, adding: “Davies rolled the dice and at the moment it's paid off in a big way.”
- Graham Alexander returned to Preston North End but saw his homecoming begin poorly as Millwall beat Preston and left them bottom of the Championship. Parkin observed that Alexander’s strength is organisation rather than free-flowing attack-minded football and cautioned that an overnight improvement should not be expected.
WHY IT MATTERS
Savage’s victory provides an early boost and instant scrutiny for a high-profile appointment at a club long associated with attacking football. Middlesbrough’s win, and Will Lankshear’s goal return, underlines why they are being mentioned among promotion contenders after falling short last season.