Birmingham under pressure and Millwall's great form - EFL takeaways

The full complement of EFL fixtures returned this weekend after the international break and didn't disappoint.

Birmingham's 18-month long unbeaten league home record finally went as they were beaten by Hull at St Andrews, while Jack Wilshere had a harsh start to life as Luton boss with defeat at home to Mansfield.

Here are Sam Parkin's Saturday EFL takeaways.

'Expectation at Birmingham'

Birmingham came up with huge backing from their American owners and have been tipped to be in the promotion conversation this season. But one win in seven has put Chris Davies under pressure, especially after they lost 3-2 at home to Hull.

Parkin: "There is pressure on Chris Davies and that shouldn't be a slight on the job he's done at Birmingham given it is his first job. He did so well last season but it shows the difference in level between the Championship and League One, where they were the strongest side by a long way last season.

"Goalscoring has been an issue for them, they've been creating enough but it has been tough converting that into goals.

"They were up against a Hull side that have had a pretty good start to the season when you consider what you expected from them.

"It is about expectation. The owners spoke about wanting them to be threatening promotion this year. To see them in the bottom half and losing that home record is definitely going to bring pressure."

'Problem times' at Norwich

Norwich sit just one point above the relegation zone

Pressure is also growing on Norwich boss Liam Manning, who saw his team beaten by former club Bristol City at Carrow Road.

Parkin: "It was a horrible game for Liam Manning today. It was hugely pressurised because Norwich have lost five home games already this season. To go into that, you'll just want a team that is struggling, but to come up against his previous employers was really difficult.

"He'll know the players and some of the staff; there is a lot of pressure. Home form is imperative because that is where the majority of the fans see you, to lose again today will bring pressure.

"But it isn't just on Manning, there are questions for the Norwich hierarchy too. It doesn't look like many of the new signings have hit the ground running. So, problem times.

"The other side of the coin is Bristol City are still unbeaten away from home and have had a great start to the season. They deserve credit too."

West Brom and Millwall going under the radar

West Brom and Millwall currently sit in the Championship play-off places and continued their great starts to the season with wins over Preston and Millwall respectively.

Parkin: "There was an unknown with Ryan Mason going in at West Brom. He seems to have inherited a squad that has changed a lot, with a new look defence. But there have been similar results. They are hard to beat.

"The Achilles heel has been making chances at the other end of the pitch. The two goalscorers today, Price and Johnston, have shown sporadic quality but need to show more consistency. They've got the players but they've been inconsistent; their strength is their structure and how hard to beat they are.

"Millwall have continued from last season. The big thing is they've been hindered by injuries, they've got Femi Azeez back now and a new look to their front line. Millwall are in a brilliant vein of form and have that outside chance they always seem to of a play-off position."

'There is a disconnect at Luton'

Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere was appointed at Luton last week

Jack Wilshere saw his Luton team beaten by Mansfield at Kenilworth Road in his first game since replacing Matt Bloomfield, and he has a tough task ahead.

Parkin: "Jack Wilshere won't be surprised by the result at all. Obviously he'd have loved to win his first game but he is in that position because of the predicament at Luton.

"It has been a continuation of the last two seasons; losing matches. It will have taken a long time to reset after the disappointment of Premier League relegation. Rob Edwards couldn't turn it round and Matt Bloomfield couldn't do anything either.

"They've won five of 11 games so I don't think it is a disaster but the expectations are so high. To find themselves in League One with their financial backing, you'd expect better. It might just need to be a season where they work with Wilshere, he has to get a style embedded.

"Now they've gone down this route, they've got to trust it'll get the feel good factor back. There is a disconnect between the fans and the club which is sad."

'Surprise' at hat-trick hero Anderson

Amazingly, Harry Anderson became the second player to score a first-half hat-trick for Colchester this season, as they beat Harrogate 3-1.

Parkin: "I'm not surprised Colchester have turned their fortunes around. They've got players back from injury.

"Harry Anderson is someone Danny Cowley had in non league and at Lincoln, he's a really powerful player. He is not known for his goalscoring so I was surprised to see that today, but there is no doubt Colchester are a top half team.

"They will gather momentum and don't discount this being a season where they challenge for play-offs at least."

Sam Parkin was speaking to BBC Sport England's Harry De Cosemo