MICHAEL JOHNSON: Dyche is proof that young English managers can succeed... unfortunately Kiwomya had to go at Notts County but it had nothing to do with his skin colour

Published: 02:30 EST, 1 November 2013 | Updated: 05:08 EST, 2 November 2013

 

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Sportsmail's Football League expert Michael Johnson returns for his regular look at the goings on in the Championship, League One and League Two. Johnson praises table-toppers Burnley and their manager Sean Dyche and is also impressed with the start Steve McClaren has made at Derby. But the former Rams defender believes Derby's loss is Sheffield United's gain as Nigel Clough gets off to a winning start at Bramall Lane. Johnson was sad to see Chris Kiwomya sacked by Notts County and is keen to see him back in a dug-out soon.

I played against Sean Dyche many times over the years and he was a really uncompromising defender. It is no surprise that he has got Burnley organised and turned them into a force to be reckoned with.

Everybody thought Burnley would struggle after the departure of Charlie Austin but those goals are being replaced with the form of Danny Ings and Sam Vokes. They were already at the club but Sean deserves credit for bringing the best out of them.

The partnership has blossomed and one of Ings' goals against QPR at the weekend came from terrific play by two young British centre forwards against what is the best defence in the Football League. They are confident and enjoying themselves under Sean and their partnership is sending tremors right through the Championship.

Top of the pile: Sean Dyche has guided Burnley to the top of the Championship

It is great to see partnerships like that because the majority of teams opt to play with just one up front. 

Sean is definitely somebody that we could see managing in the Premier League soon. It is imperative that chairmen and owners keep giving young English managers opportunities because, as Dyche and others are showing, there are an awful lot of talented young coaches and managers out there in this country.

They way they have started I am now expecting Burnley to finish at least in the top six.

Steve McClaren has made a flying start at Derby. He worked at Pride Park under Jim Smith so he knows the club and the area well, which can only help.

The sacking of Nigel Clough was a shock (more on that later) but to bring in a man like Steve was a smart move. His history at the club means the fans have warmed to him more than they would have most other managers.

You don't get given the England job if you are not a talented manager and coach. The problem for Steve is that everybody remembers that England era and in this country we have such a taboo about giving people a second chance in football.

England was a step too far for him but he has had success on the continent and will have a brilliant contact list at Championship level.

Derby are unbeaten under McClaren, just outside the play-offs and in with a shout of promotion, but the transfer window could decide whether or not they achieve it.

It will be very interesting to see how the club act in the window because they haven't splashed the cash in recent years, but a few quality additions could see them in the Premier League next year.

Derby may be going well under McClaren but in Nigel Clough their loss is very much Sheffield United's gain. If you look at the brand of football Derby were playing under Clough it was fantastic to watch at times.

If he can start to bring that to Sheffield United then I think they will quickly climb the League One table. It might be too much to ask to get into the top six with the start they have had but they can lay a platform for the future with Nigel.

Man in form: Danny Ings has been Burnley's talisman this season

He will implement discipline and he is just the sort of character they need with the amount of managerial changes and instability the club has has in recent years.

Nigel will be busy behind the scenes improving the academy, the scouting network and the structure of the club, but his calibre means he should prove to be a brilliant appointment for a League One club.

The writing had been on the wall for Chris Kiwomya at Notts County for some time. Results haven't been good and their league position is certainly not good enough. They had to take action and unfortunately for Chris he has lost his job.

I said in an interview recently that black coaches are not being given enough chances because there is a perception that they are not management material.

Making a difference: Steve McClaren has had a positive impact on Derby since taking over

Learning his trade: McClaren worked under Jim Smith at Derby during the 90s

Let's hope that people look at Chris and say, 'Chris Kiwomya had a difficult period at Notts County and it didn't work out', rather than, 'the black manager at Notts County didn't do well and it is as we thought'.

He has gone into a job and it's not worked out. That doesn't mean to say he is a bad manager. There will be reasons it didn't work out at Notts County that only he will know.

I hope Chris gets back in to management and that people will judge him for what he has done and not the colour of his skin.

Ian Holloway held his hands up and admitted he had got it wrong in trying to change too much too soon at Crystal Palace. The same rules apply at any level, just ask Kevin Blackwell.

He brought in over 20 players to Bury in the summer but they are at the wrong end of League Two and he now finds himself out of a job. Kevin was a really good No 2 to Neil Warnock and maybe he is more suited to that role, his managerial career has gone backwards in the last few years.

Making a difference: Nigel Clough has had an immediate impact at Sheffield United

You have to take time with the trasformation of a football club, it doesn't happen overnight. A similar thing happened with Steve Bruce at Birmingham. Half the team that got us promoted wasn't there at the start of the next season and that is one of the regrets that Steve now looks back on.

I think it is imperative that managers learn from lessons and look at what happens up and down the leagues. It is difficult scenario when you bring so many players and they don't understand how each other work.

A wave goodbye: Notts County Manager Chris Kiwomya leaves the pitch at full time

What has surprised me most in the last month has been the continued demise of Bristol City.

They are now rock bottom of League One which I would have never called after they improved under Sean O'Driscoll at the end of last season and added to the squad in the summer.

Also in League One, the way Coventry are continuing to impress is refreshing to see. They have got far more points at this stage of the season than I would have thought given their 10-point deduction and are already looking at the play-off places rather than the relegation spots.

On the rise: Coventry continue to climb the table despite their 10 point deduction at the start of the season

What disappointed me most in the last month was the timing of Nigel Clough's sacking by Derby.

I was at the Nottingham Forest game, Nigel's final match which they lost 1-0, and Derby were the better team. Within a couple of hours he was sacked and he had no inkling. He lost his mum in the summer, the Brian Clough trophy was handed out on the day of the match and it is coming up to the anniversary of his father's death.

If there is a good time to sack somebody I've not seen it yet, but people were appalled at the timing of it and the insensitive way in which Derby County handled it.

What has pleased me most in the last month has been the sheer number of goals in all three divisions.

The Football League Show is an absolute pleasure to watch. So many teams just go for it. It's not like in the Premier League where you see teams backing up and it's very tactical, everybody just rolls up their sleeves has a right good go.

Look at League Two. Just six points separate the top 13 teams and everybody is competitive.

When you have got the carrot of the play-offs and you know you only need to finish sixth or seventh teams do go for it far more. 

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