Photo via BBC Sport

West Ham ominous and relief for Martin - Sam Parkin's EFL takeaways

Following an uneven opening stretch, West Ham United have vaulted to the summit of the Championship table on the back of four consecutive victories, capped by a commanding 6-0 thrashing of Wrexham on Friday. The side has registered 20 goals across seven fixtures, benefiting greatly from an attacking lineup featuring Jarrod Bowen, Manor Solomon, Valentin Castellanos, and Joel Piroe.

Bowen noted that concluding the transfer period provided much-needed certainty, allowing the squad's offensive firepower to fully click after earlier defensive fragilities.

Swansea City hold second spot on goal difference following a 3-1 triumph against Burnley, securing their fourth victory of the campaign under Vitor Matos. Strikers Zan Vipotnik and Adam Idah—who leads the team with three strikes—both found the net on Saturday, while Celtic recruit Stephen Welsh has solidified a backline that has already recorded four shutouts.

Meanwhile, Leicester City manager Russell Martin earned vital respite as his team rebounded from a prior 4-0 home defeat by securing a victory away to Stockport County.