Summary

  • West Brom come from 2-0 down to draw at Sheff Wed

  • Owls' Reach earlier hit another wonder goal

  • Sharp hits brace as Sheff Utd win at Blackburn

  • Victory sends Blades joint top of table

  • Forest pegged back late on by Millwall

  • Rotherham & Bristol City in goalless draw

  • Derby hit back to draw 1-1 with Norwich

  • Steve Bruce sacked by Aston Villa after two years in charge

  • Your reaction to Bruce's exit - get involved using #bbcefl

  1. Postpublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    A reminder that there is actually some football in the EFL going on tonight as well!

    Five Championship games, to be precise.

    I'll be joined by Tom Garry to start the build-up to those matches just after 19:00 BST.

  2. Bruce sacked by Aston Villapublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    Former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Richard Sneekes on BBC WM:

    "They need to bring in a manager who is going to play a system that suits the players they have got at the moment, or Villa will be spending lots of money in January again, and they can't.

    "They have got really good players there, who have under-performed.

    "They have been paid too much money. It has been too easy at Aston Villa, to earn good money and not perform."

  3. Bruce sacked by Aston Villapublished at 18:44 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    Paul Franks
    Presenter, BBC WM

    Whoever is coming in has to find a way of getting both John McGinn and Jack Grealish in that midfield together.

  4. The contenders: Sam Allardycepublished at 18:42 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    Bruce sacked by Aston Villa

    Sam AllardyceImage source, Reuters

    Like Steve Bruce, Sam Allardyce has pedigree in leading teams to promotion out of the Championship. The former England manager went up with Bolton in 2001 and again with West Ham in 2012.

    If Villa appointed him, it would likely be a short-term fix.

    Everton fans became disillusioned with Allardyce's style of football last season, and with that being one of the main reasons why some Villa supporters wanted Bruce to leave, would Allardyce be a welcome appointment?

  5. The contenders: John Terrypublished at 18:38 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    Bruce sacked by Aston Villa

    John TerryImage source, Reuters

    Another Premier League legend who is yet to take a managerial role, but ex-England captain John Terry is another name in the frame for the vacancy at Villa Park.

    There was some a degree of scepticism when Terry joined Villa in 2017 - was he dropping down a division for one last pay day? Far from it. Would his heart really be in it? Absolutely. He quickly became a fan favourite and skippered Villa to the Championship play-off final last season.

    Like Henry, though, appointing an unproven manager would be a risk.

  6. The contenders: Andrea Stramaccionipublished at 18:34 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    Bruce sacked by Aston Villa

    Andrea StramaccioniImage source, Getty Images

    Reports in Italy last month claimed that former Inter boss Andrea Stramaccioni is on Villa's radar.

    Stramaccioni is best-known for his mixed time at San Siro, where he impressed while in charge of the club's youth teams but could not replicate his success with the senior squad.

    The 42-year-old left Inter after just one season in charge and has since had unsuccessful stints at Udinese, Panathinaikos and Sparta Prague.

  7. The contenders: Thierry Henrypublished at 18:29 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    Bruce sacked by Aston Villa

    Thierry HenryImage source, AFP

    As Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer and a former World Cup winner, Thierry Henry's profile would more than match anyone else's in a Championship dugout should he be the chosen one.

    Henry, who is Belgium's assistant coach, was strongly linked with Villa in the summer and also had talks with French club Bordeaux about becoming their new boss.

    Henry hasn't held a managerial role yet, so his appointment would be considered a risk - but a very eye-catching one at that.

  8. 'I'd like to see Dean Smith given a crack'published at 18:25 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    Bruce sacked by Aston Villa

    Stephen Warnock
    Ex-Aston Villa defender on BBC Radio 5 live

    Personally I'd like to see Dean Smith given a crack at it - when you look at the job he's done at Brentford, he's a Villa fan I believe and the style of football he's playing with limited resources is an exceptional job.

    I'd like to see someone there for the long term and possibly he could be that man.

  9. The contenders: Dean Smithpublished at 18:22 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    Bruce sacked by Aston Villa

    Dean SmithImage source, Getty Images

    Dean Smith is working wonders with Brentford, who are fifth in the Championship. He's been at Griffin Park for almost three years and is widely regarded as one of the best up-and-coming English managers.

    The former Walsall boss was a Villa supporter as a child - could the pull of managing his boyhood club prove too hard to resist if the chance arises?

  10. Bruce sacked: Who next for Villa?published at 18:18 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    The bookmakers didn't take long to put together their lists of who could be in line to take over. Here are five of the prominent contenders...

  11. Bruce sacked: Who next for Villa?published at 18:14 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    It always seems very harsh to start thinking ahead to a new manager when the previous one has only lost his job an hour or so earlier, but Aston Villa fans will already be turning their attention to who will be the next incumbent in the Villa Park dugout...

  12. Bruce sacked by Aston Villapublished at 18:10 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    Paul McGrath
    Former Aston Villa and Man Utd centre-back

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  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:06 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    #bbcefl

    Stuart Plant: On a personal level, Bruce comes across as an engaging fella. But that second half yesterday summed up the serious lack of coaching, leadership and planning. Lack of a game plan when down to 10 men, the Whelan penalty and too many excuses, just not acceptable.

  14. Bruce sacked by Aston Villapublished at 18:03 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    If you're just joining me, a reminder of the news that broke an hour or so ago - Steve Bruce has been sacked as manager of Aston Villa.

    Read more by clicking on the link below...

    Aston Villa sack manager Bruce

    Aston Villa sack manager Steve Bruce after one win in their past nine Championship matches.

    Read More
  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    #bbcefl

    Ash Green: Right decision. Will be thankful for the stability he provided us over this horrible summer, but with the squad we have and money we've spent, we should at the very least be playing like we might get promoted. Early enough to give a new manager time.

    Thetravellingsingh: Feel very sorry for Bruce, he's been through a lot and had to deal with off the field problems at Villa too. But it's the right decision at the right time. We need new ideas and a fresh approach.

  16. 'The club is in a sticky patch'published at 17:54 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    Bruce sacked by Aston Villa

    Stephen Warnock
    Ex-Aston Villa defender on BBC Radio 5 live

    There was so much turmoil in the summer about what was going on with the tax situation - yes the new owners have come in but they came in very late, we don't know how much they are willing to throw into the club.

    For Steve it was a very tough job because he was given all the funds late and trying to get players in on loan deals, I feel for Steve in that way and I feel for the club.

    I feel the club is in a sticky patch at the moment and they need a little bit of leadership off the pitch as well as on it.

  17. 'I was expecting it'published at 17:50 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    Bruce sacked by Aston Villa

    Stephen Warnock
    Ex-Aston Villa defender on BBC Radio 5 live

    I was expecting it because of how things have gone of late but, when you get a cabbage thrown at you, you sort of know that the end is very close.

    The way they have been playing I don't think it's been fantastic football and the fans have shown their disappointment.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    #bbcefl

    Matt Price: Right decision... but the real question is WHO can replace him? They need an attacking manager who will get results straight away and off the bounce. Maybe they should follow Liverpool and Huddersfield's example and go German?

    Jack Malone: Absolutely the right decision. Nothing against Bruce personally but the football was dire across the two years, unforgivable given the resources at his disposal. Over-reliant on magic moments from quality players rather than a distinct pattern or style of play.

  19. Bruce sacked by Aston Villapublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    John TerryImage source, Rex Features

    Former England captain John Terry was the most notable addition as a team strengthened by free transfers and numerous loanees from Premier League clubs was assembled by Bruce.

    They went on to finish fourth and beat Middlesbrough in the play-off semi-finals, but then lost 1-0 to Fulham in the final at Wembley to be consigned to a third season outside England's top division.

  20. Bruce sacked by Aston Villapublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 3 October 2018

    Dr Tony Xia had completed his takeover of Aston Villa in the summer of 2016 and backed his first appointment, Roberto Di Matteo, with significant funds in the transfer market.

    Many of those new signings were not successes, however, and Villa have been counting the cost ever since.

    After finishing 13th in his first season, a promotion challenge was mounted in 2017-18...