Five weeks into the Championship campaign, West Ham United have emerged as the team to watch after a blistering run of form propelled them to the top of the table. Following a shaky opening to the season marked by defensive frailties, the club has now won four consecutive matches, culminating in a commanding 6-0 demolition of Wrexham on Friday night.
Former striker and pundit Sam Parkin believes the club's attacking talent is finally being unleashed after papering over early cracks at the back. West Ham have scored 20 goals in just seven games, with forward Jarrod Bowen highlighting the significance of the transfer window closing, allowing the squad to settle. With Manor Solomon, Bowen, Valentin Castellanos and Joel Piroe all available in the same side, Parkin suggested few Championship defences will be able to cope, though he cautioned against reading too much into a below-par Wrexham performance.
Close behind West Ham on goal difference are Vitor Matos' Swansea City, who claimed their fourth win of the campaign with a 3-1 victory over Burnley. Both frontmen Zan Vipotnik and Adam Idah found the net, with Idah now the club's top scorer on three goals. Parkin praised Swansea's recruitment, singling out defender Stephen Welsh, signed from Celtic, as a shrewd addition who has settled quickly. Four clean sheets already this season point to a well-balanced side, and while automatic promotion may be a stretch, Parkin sees a genuine chance for Swansea to reach the newly expanded play-offs.
Elsewhere, Leicester City and manager Russell Martin found much-needed relief with a win at Stockport County, following the disappointment of a 4-0 home defeat to Oxford United the previous weekend. Despite conceding three goals at Stockport, the victory was seen as crucial for restoring confidence. Emil Riis scored twice to prove the difference, while John Lundstram and Liam Cullen also found the net. Parkin noted the value of experienced heads guiding a young Leicester squad through a difficult period, and stressed the importance of building on the result rather than slipping back into old troubles.
In League One, Barnet have made a striking start under Dean Brennan, sitting top of the table and unbeaten through their opening six league fixtures following a win over Accrington Stanley. Brennan, marking five years in charge this month, has built his reputation through a non-league background and continues to field an attacking, entertaining side. Midfielder Charlie Lakin has been a standout performer with five goals already, a marked improvement on his previous form at Walsall. Parkin expects Barnet to replicate last season's strong finish and push for a play-off spot.
Meanwhile, Walsall are attempting to shake off the disappointment of two near-misses in promotion pushes under new boss Lee Grant. The Saddlers remain unbeaten, adopting a possession-based approach that saw them dominate with 70 percent of the ball against Rochdale. Despite failing to score in that match, they registered 24 shots and boast one of the division's best defensive records, with only four goals conceded and four clean sheets from six matches. Parkin believes the changed style could finally deliver the breakthrough Walsall have been chasing.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.